Physical exertion causes profuse sweating and s... - Thyroid UK

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Physical exertion causes profuse sweating and subsequent weakness and fatigue, any ideas what's wrong with me?

cc120 profile image
29 Replies

Undiagnosed hypothyrodism for 10 years. Finally on T3 alone to see if it benefits me better than just T4 or NDT. Been taking T3 alone for about 2 months. Previous 1 and a half years on NDT alone, T4 alone and T4 and T3 together. Currently on 25mcg of T3 x day, taken on an empty stomach in the morning.

However, am still suffering fatigue, especially after I've eaten which can lead to sleeping for over 4 hours, unintentionally.

Any physical activity, especially if done hurriedly or lifting heavy weights, has me sweating and puffing heavily, followed by a period of an hour or two of weakness and fatigue.

Any ideas / suggestions appreciated?

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cc120
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29 Replies
greygoose profile image
greygoose

You're probably not taking enough T3. Do you have any lab results?

Did I understand correctly, you went from NDT to T4 only, to T4 + T3, to T3 only all in the space of 18 months? You don't give things much chance to work, do you.

cc120 profile image
cc120 in reply togreygoose

Hi greygoose, probably was about 2 years and was on each for about 6 months. How much T3 do people usually require?

Also it's difficult for me to split dosage as after the morning my stomach is never empty.

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply tocc120

Who said you should split the dose? I don't split mine.

Difficult to say how much people require, we're all different, and we need what we need. But 25 mcg isn't a huge dose, when on T3 only.

And if you were only on each regime for about six months each, you hardly gave them time to reach and optimal dose. How long have you been on T3 only? What dose did you start on?

cc120 profile image
cc120 in reply togreygoose

2 months. Started on 12mcg with 25mcg for a month. now have been on 25mcg T3 alone for approx 2 months.

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply tocc120

Try increasing it a little - say 6.25 mcg? If that's not enough, increase again after two weeks. :)

cc120 profile image
cc120 in reply togreygoose

6.25mcg would be a quarter of a tiny tablet, could I add half 12mcg? Also, when I have been on too high a dose previously I've found I sweat and puff a lot, though I don't have the dizzy feeling now that I've had on too high a dose?

Clutter profile image
Clutter in reply tocc120

CC120,

Buy a pillcutter and should be able to quarter the tablet.

cc120 profile image
cc120 in reply toClutter

Yes that would help, but such a tiny, tiny piece, gets stuck in my throat.

Clutter profile image
Clutter in reply tocc120

CC120,

Probably better than being overmedicated though.

cc120 profile image
cc120 in reply toClutter

Yes, I will take your and greygoose's advice. Take another 6mcg for 2 weeks to a month and see how it goes. Thank you.

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply tocc120

Quarter tablets don't get stuck in my throat. Perhaps you're not taking enough water with it.

cc120 profile image
cc120 in reply togreygoose

I found I need to wet the whistle then swallow the tablet taking more water at the same time. I will follow your advice greygoose, thank you.

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply tocc120

Disperse in a glass of water and swallow that.

cc120 profile image
cc120 in reply tohelvella

Would worry it would stick against the bottom of the glass if crumbled unless it dissolves.

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply tocc120

cc120,

The Patient Information Leaflet suggests dispersing in 20ml of water if trying to use less than a full tablet. (Then taking it up in a syringe and squirting that into your mouth.) The tablet probably doesn't fully dissolve but should disperse adequately. I'd consider dispersing, swallowing, topping up glass, swallowing that, repeat if you feel the need.

BadHare profile image
BadHare in reply tocc120

Drink water before as well as during & after taking your meds.

I find I need 50mcg of T3 when the weather’s warm, or 62mcg if I’m doing anything strenuous, plus a grain of NDT in winter. I’m supposed to have a normally functioning thyroid. 🙄

cc120 profile image
cc120 in reply toBadHare

Thank you BadHare.

cc120 profile image
cc120 in reply toBadHare

Do you take that dosage in one go BadHare?

BadHare profile image
BadHare in reply tocc120

Yes. First thing with water & a pinch of ascorbicacid powder. Nothing else for well over an hour.

cc120 profile image
cc120 in reply toBadHare

Hi BadHare, how does the vit c / ascorbic acid help?

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply tocc120

cc120,

There is at least one report which suggests possibly better absorption.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/246...

cc120 profile image
cc120 in reply tohelvella

Thank you helvella. I see the trial uses '120 mL water containing or not containing 500 mg vitamin C' , I suppose that means per intake of levy/t3/ndt?

I do take 1 or 2 tablets of Digestive Enzymes with each meal/snack, that contains Betaine HCI 250mg (promotes better digestion of protein-rich foods such as meat, fish & eggs); Amylase extract 100mg (promotes better digestion of starchy foods such as bread, cereals, potato & paste); Papain extract 15mg (promotes better digestion of proteins, particularly meats); Lipase extract 10mg (promotes better digestion of fats, oils and fat-rich dairy products). So 'hopefully' my digestive enzymes are improved/increased for when I take the T3?

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply tocc120

The paper doesn't say anything about T3 or desiccated thyroid. It is so very easy to assume the effect would be the same as (or at least, not worse than) plain water, but even easier to be wrong. :-)

BadHare profile image
BadHare in reply tocc120

It increases stomach acid, so the meds are digested & absorbed better. A squirt of lemon juice or apple cider vinegar will work, too.

I use the powder as it’s neat ascorbic acid (synthetic vitamin C) as vitamin C tablets contain fillers that would hinder absorption.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply tocc120

Take it with water

mischa profile image
mischa

How are your adrenals?

cc120 profile image
cc120 in reply tomischa

Hi mischa, I do believe my hypothyroidism is secondary condition following years of adrenal fatigue. I initially took nutri adrenal extra before beginning thyroid meds.

And more recently took Adrenal Cortex 1 tab x day for 2 months, finishing approx 3 weeks ago. Found them expensive but plan to start on them again soon.

mischa profile image
mischa in reply tocc120

Hi

Have you had a saliva test done for cortisol? Before starting the cortex it would be helpful to know how well your adrenals are in producing cortisol.

From what I've gathered, not being able to tolerate thyroid meds can be due to wobbly adrenals. Although T3 can stimulate adrenals it can also be hard on them or that is what I have read.

But until you see what your adrenals are capable of without a saliva test you will never know.

cc120 profile image
cc120 in reply tomischa

St Georges did test to see if I was producing cortisol and results were OK. But couldn't get them to do a saliva test. Can't remember what the type of test they did, I would have to go through my letters to find out.

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