Returning to exercise.

[MikeR]

Hi was diagnosed with Hashimotos around 12 months ago. I have felt pretty unwell for most of that time. I am taking 3 to 3 1/2. Grains of NDT per day. I also take 3 Nutri Adrenal Extras per day. For several months I took iron, vitc, selenium in a mega mineral complex. I stopped all the iron vitc and minerals as they seemed to elevate my pulse.

I still seem to have odd patches when I feel rotten, I've played with the dose on occasions by lowering to 2 grains per day until my pulse lowers. I suppose it hasn't been until the last few months that I've notice an improvement but it's the first light I've had down what has been a very dark tunnel.

I am gluten, dairy and sugar free.

As a very active person before I became ill (triathlons, fell running, marathons, gym, yoga, skiing, walking, hiking), I wondered if anyone on here had been able to get back running? And if so how long was it from taking your meds? How long did it take to start feeling better on your meds?

I still have days where I feel unwell, this is accompanied by aching limbs, stiffness, brain fog, shakes, frothy urine, hoarseness and high pulse. Thankfully these aren't every other week like they were to start with.

Sorry wittering on! Your insight would be valued. Thanks.

[greygoose]

It all depends on your T3. Exercise - running, etc - uses up your T3 at an alarming rate. And, if you are hypo, you cannot easily replace it. So, it needs to be at a good level before you start exercising. Have you had it tested?

[MikeR in reply to greygoose]

Had my T3 tested? Do me a favour we are talking NHS and GP's here!

I had mine done in June T4 was 21 and T3 was 6.9 felt rubbish at the time so I wanted to see what was going on. I'd dropped dose before test after a week of dropping dose I felt very well.

I can gauge if I've had a hashi attack pulse goes awol generally been bette since the drop. I was trying to find my sweet spot. Difficult with Hashimotos due to fluctuating hormone levels after an attack.

I rolled back from 4 grains just before the test, 3.5 seems too much after a few weeks. 3 seems too little after a few weeks.

I'd say my I'm on 115 of T4 and 30 of T3. My TSH is suppressed.

[greygoose in reply to MikeR]

Well, that's where your TSH wants to be, with Hashi's. But the other numbers are meaningless without the ranges.

Seems a little strange to change your dose just before a test. One usually does it after. That means that you never really know what your levels are at any given time.

[MikeR]

I'd only been on the 4 grains for a day or so before the test.

Ranges T4 12 -22

T3, 3.1-6.8

Mine were T4 22.21, T3 9.6.

[ColinK]

Mike like you I was down the gym 6 times a week even when I was on levo and feeling pretty good, until it all started to go wrong. I switched over to NDT and worked up to 3 grains, my T3 was high at just over range, but my RT3 was also well over range. Now at week 11 of T3 only and things seem to be getting better, but very slowly. Not had a blood test for a while so thats next on the to do list. Might not be a bad idea to see where your RT3 is.

[salsapixie]

When I started on levothyroxine it took over a year to get back to exercise properly. I run half (and occassionaly) full marathons. Since then I've took up open water swimming and swim 5-10km in a week. At first, starting exercise was hard, I'd ache for a week and be overly tired. I kept going and gradually increased the level of exercise and eventually I started to feel OK with it. Persist with it and slowly increase the intensity or time and hopefully you'll be fine.

[MikeR in reply to salsapixie]

Do you have Hashimotos? Did you have any set backs etc?

[ColinK in reply to MikeR]

Yes, Hashi's, was doing really well on Levo for a couple of years doing spin and circuit training plus 3 or 4 gym sessions per week. 1st setback was being put on statins which was like being slowly poisoned, they absolutely crippled me and I eventually took myself off them, started to get back to my old self then noticed a decrease in energy then other symptoms which my quack said were non thyroid related. Got rid of a lot of the symptoms but no weight loss yet and still have aching muscles and painful hip joints. Moved over to NDT but went too high and high RT3 so its a question now of see how it goes, but I think I feel like I'm missing T4 so I might end up going back on a small dose of NDT + T3.