Hi
My TSH is within range and I'm feeling ok. My question is can I use the gym and use the weights? It's not going to make my Thyroid worse is it?
I've seen advice on other threads saying just brisk walking as anything else puts a strain on Thyroid. Just want advice as I really want to tone up and exercise.
Thanks 😄👍
Actually, we say only gentle walking until your FT3 is optimised. Do you have a reading for your FT3?
It's not that it's going to make your thyroid any worse - your thyroid is probably beyond redemption, anyway - but it uses up your T3 very fast. And, if you can't replace it rapidly, then you are going to crash and stay crashed for several days afterwards. It won't have any effect on your actual gland. 
Is this why my body aches so much ? I've been on Levo 3 weeks and i feel so much better but my body aches like I've done a massive work out, i used to be very active running etc
It could very well be, yes. Three weeks is only a very short time. It's doubtful if you'd optimise your FT3 in that time.
Thanks grey goose I'm not back for my 8 week blood test until 21st April and i doubt the GP tests my T3? I'm thinking of getting a medicheck bloods done so i can find out exactly what's going on?
No, I don't suppose he will. But it might be a bit too soon to spend money on private tests. You know you're hypo - what is your TSH? It's when your TSH gets down in range that it's a good idea to have a private test, so see where your FT3 is. At the moment, it's bound to be low.
My TSH was at 40 when Doc started me on Levo range was 0.4-4
OK, so you can be pretty sure that your FT3 is very low, right now!
I've cut right back on exercise only walk my dogs a couple of miles per day and am looking at doing yoga but would love to be fully active again, i guess patience is the key?
I've been thinking about taking a yoga class as well. I've also been thinking about trying some water aerobics.
Hi grey goose
I'm interested in what you say here. I am planning a long distance cycle ride from France to Spain...ok it's on an e-bike so not as heroic as you imagine, however I am worried about how I maintain a constant energy level. Are you saying that medicating with T4 only gives a more constant level of T3 (assuming conversion isn't a problem) ? Is there an argument for taking a 'top up' amount of T3 during periods of high exercise ? How quickly is T3 available to the cells once it's ingested? And how long does a dose of T3 last at the cellular level ? Does a high antibody count affect conversion? Sorry so many questions, but you seem to be so well informed.
Thanks
Not well informed enough! I can't answer many of your questions. But, I can tell you that Hashi's people often have conversion problems - although I don't know if it has anything to do with the antibodies - probably not.
I have no idea what an e-bike is! lol I'm very out of touch with that sort of thing. And I'm not saying, at all, that T4 gives a more constant level of T3, because I don't know - I doubt anyone does. I doubt much research has been done on all of this. You would have to experiment yourself, to see how these things affect you. That's how most of us find stuff out, by experimenting on ourselves, and noting reactions.
Do you even know your FT3 level? I would have thought that would be the right place to start. And compare your FT4 and FT3, tested at the same time, to see how well you convert. If you don't convert very well, then it would be foolish to under-take such an enterprise without adding T3 to your T4. I presume you're taking T4 only? How do you feel on that? How well do you react to exercise? So many questions you need to ask yourself.
I hope you don't mind me quizzing you, but I'm new to this. Before I started trying out T3 my T4 was 22.41 (12-22) my T3 4.17 (3.1-6.8). After 3 weeks of adding a wee bit 12.5 mg of T3 And reducing to 125 mg T4 from 150 I had results of T4 20.81 and T3 4.79. After seeing a private endo I went back to just same dose of T4 as his view was that the first result was near perfect! Also I found I wasn't suited to all the complexities of T3 dosing. I was just wondering if when I'm on my long distance bike ride I should supplement a small amount of T3 without reducing the T4. But from what you say it's all trial and error....
Any thoughts ?
My thoughts are that your FT4 is too high, your FT3 too low, you don't convert very well, and need that T3 all the time, not just when you ride your bike, and your endo is a moron.
You're going to convert to too much rT3 with all that unconverted T4 sloshing around, and it's going to make things even worse.
Really interesting....what happens when there is too much rT3 and does anyone ever get it measured? Are there specific symptoms of high rT3 levels? Again so many questions ...sorry.
If you go to the date March 24, 1999 for an explanation of RT3. This is an excerpt:
During one year, I tested 50 fibromyalgia patients to see if they had laboratory values that would suggest that they had impaired conversion of T4 to T3 with elevated reverse-T3. I've also tested other patients since 1994. However, I have not found laboratory evidence of impaired T4 to T3 conversion in a single patient.
web.archive.org/web/2010103...
Whilst that does explain the mechanism - although not very clearly - of rT3, it doesn't really answer the question. He's talking about euthyroid fibromyalgia patients. We're talking about taking excess T4.
Wantie , as you can see, there a lot of discussion about what exactly happens when you have excess rT3. Dr Lowe is right in saying that in euthyroid people, it is temporary, but, if you were continually taking too much T4, the production of rT3 would also be continual. Do we have any proof that, under those circumstances, the rT3 would not continually be 'stuck' in the T3 receptors? I don't think we do. But, if the rT3 is blocking the T3 receptors, then the symptoms would the same as hypo symptoms, because you would, in effect, be hypo - the T3 wouldn't be getting into the cells.
There are tests to measure rT3, but the NHS doesn't do them - far too expensive. And frankly, of limited use. It's just the fashion, spread by another site that shall be nameless, to believe that you absolutely have to get your rT3 tested.
Hi Wantie, I did a similar thread 'exercise and TSH' a few days ago, I was primarily interested in avoiding skewing my test results, but there were some interesting replies on how different people react to exercise, I and some feel much better others crash. There was also one from a lady who does long cycle rides and adjusts her levo to compensate so she may be able to help, happy cycling 😃
I'll check that out. I did a long distance ride last year and I don't remember paying badly for it in the days that followed but then my health only started to deteriorate with the onset of gluten intolerance issues which have crept up on me in the last couple of months...so possible it will be different this time. Thanks for the tip anyway,
Hi I'm Optimally medicated have been for a few months now and feeling really good. This is why I want to try another form of exercise besides walking. I will see how I go and if I'm exhausted I will pack it in. I can only try. Thanks for great advice and information 😄👍😄
You're welcome. It's all trial and error, where thyroid is concerned.
Hi HypoHelen2867 I have been going to the gym for years! Didn't even know that it might affect my readings! I am still going to be going because it keeps me trim and makes me feel better. If we listened to everything on here then we wouldn't do a thing lol! I say if it feels good for you then you then stick with itxxx
Thanks I just didn't know what to do. Yes I will try and see how I feel. I'm feeling good but want to tone up more. Thanks 😄👍
" uses up your T3 very fast. And, if you can't replace it rapidly, then you are going to crash and stay crashed for several days afterwards" this happened to me Friday and Im still recovering.
I only want to use the weights, cardio I will get from my walking. I'm still undecided as what to do. I don't want to use my T3 up like you've said and I've read about that before. But jewels above answer has no problems.
Just don't know what to do 😄👍
HypoHelen2867,
Do it. You won't know how you feel until you try it. If it's too much, ratchet back and start more gradually.
Thanks I will try 😄👍
Hi I started using the gym on 01/03 and I am one of the lucky ones that does not crash, it improves my fatigue and mood very noticeably. I only have one word of caution, if you are doing weights go slow and steady and I literally mean that from a speed of movement perspective. Our muscles do not contract and relax at the same speed they should (Look up achilles reflex test for hypo). I tore my calf muscle doing a step up with hand weights, no warning, no sense of strain just went as both legs came straight wish I had known about possible muscle issues before I started! From reading I think it is likely that after the contraction to lift me up the muscle could not relax quickly enough for my knee to straighten and you cant really do it slowly! I can now do 3 sets of 12 reps on 7 different weight machines and have no other problems, hope it works for you to 😃
Thank you 😄👍
I'm sorry your exercise has backfired.
I've not tried the weights yet only lots of walking but I want to tone up 😄👍
Walking is good an if you feel energetic that's good as well.
I do lots of walking but it's not toning me up so need weights I reckon 😄👍
See how it goes - you might be on an optimum of hormones that you have normal energy so can do what you want. If you feel the 'after effects' you could reduce exercise slightly.
Thank you will do 👍
I think everyone is different, I used to be at the gym 6 days a week and loving it, Now a 2 mile jog/walk would make me feel cream crackered.
Your right we are all different , I won't know how weights will effect me until I try though so I will give it ago 😄👍
Hi, I started using the gym on 01/03 and I am one of the lucky ones that does not crash, it improves my fatigue and mood very noticeably. I only have one word of caution, if you are doing weights go slow and steady and I literally mean that from a speed of movement perspective. Our muscles do not contract and relax at the same speed they should (Look up achilles reflex test for hypo). I tore my calf muscle doing a step up with light hand weights on day 3, no warning, no sense of strain just went as both legs came straight wish I had known about possible muscle issues before I started! From reading I think it is likely that after the contraction to lift me up the muscle could not relax quickly enough for my knee to straighten and you cant really do that exercise slowly! I can now do 3 sets of 12 reps on 7 different weight machines and have no other problems, hope it works for you to 😃
When I was on levo only it was no problem, now I'm on T3/NDT it runs out quickly.
I go to the gym. I use the running machine for 35 mins. Then use 9 weight machines at low weighs. Then the dumbbells, lightest ones. I take Levothyroxine, never even knew that going to the gym could cause problems. In the last few weeks I've been power walking in the morning as well. I use the gym 3 to 4 times a week. No-one has made any comments at the surgery regarding the gym, they are aware i use it. I've only seen the nurse from the start of blood tests. The doctor did a telephone confirmation of my diagnosis. Yet I'm hardly ever ill. NHS cutbacks I suppose 😔 anyway I do feel much better x
I go to the gym 3 to 4 times a week. I use the running machine, power walking, 35 mins. Then use 9 weight machines, low weighs. I use the dumbbells as well, lightest. I'm taking Levothyroxine only. But I wasn't even aware there could be a problem going to a gym! In the last few weeks I've improved so much that I've even been power walking, 4 miles at least, in the morning. I've been amazed at how much information that comes out of this wonderful site. The doctor doesn't tell you, she has never ever seen me regarding my condition, not even when I was diagnosed. It's been the nurse for blood tests and then doctor telephoning regards results. Shocking really when you consider i was one of the people who are 'never ill' ! NHS cutbacks 😑 anyway i do feel much better. X
Glad your feeling well and thanks for your message. I'm going to try the gym and just see how I get on now 😄👍
Pauline could I ask how much levo you take and what your blood levels read at? You sound like a true success story!
If it's to stay or get toned what about yoga or Pilates. I go to and have tried many different exercises classes but the one that I have found gives me good definition is yoga. I was going to spinning 3-4 times a week and loved it but have recently lost my motivation.
Yeah I've heard Yoga is good , thanks will think about that 😄👍
I was diagnosed whilst training for an ultra marathon! I was doing 18/20 mile run then boom... All of a sudden i couldn't even walk to the shop. It was such a shock for me. I continued trying to do my beloved distance running but eventually had to stop and took a long break. I'm back doing up to 3 miles max now, once or twice a week. Maybe gym once a week. I know that when i don't want to exercise i need to get checked. I miss my long trail runs now, but they take far too long to recover from and I'm generally pretty busy. If i do a 10k i have to make sure i have nothing else on for a day or two.
Wow your super fit compared to me. I'm glad you can still do your running even though it's not as far as before. I'm going to try the gym and maybe yoga and just see how it all goes 😄👍
Haha, used to be, unfortunately. I need to be active, and I find it helps with my mental health.
Gym and yoga sounds good, not too strenuous, but will keep you toned up. Enjoy x
Helping with mental health is always a good thing 👍
Yeah I will let everyone know how it goes x
Exercise uses up precious T3 and if you don't convert well then it is not replaced.
Thanks 😄👍
When levo was working for me everything was fine, I think the only problem is when and if you start getting conversion issues. Bear in mind a lot of people stay fine on levo so you might be OK.
Thank you Colin 😄👍
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