Has anyone experienced trying to get fit by exercise only to find you become ‘run down’ break out in cold sores, mouth ulcers and flare ups of other autoimmune such as Oral Lichen Planus, Lichen Sclerosus.
I have had Hashimoto’s for 37 years and osteoarthritis.
Whenever I try to keep strong I become ill I can’t keep it up for more than 3 weeks and was wondering if others shared similar experiences.
What sort of exercise are you doing?
What's your FT3 level like?
If you're doing hard exercise it will use up what T3 you have and if your level is low it can't be replaced easily. As T3 is needed by every cell in our bodies, we need a decent level.
The last test I had was July 2017
TSH 0.34 (0.4-5.5)
Free T4 16.3 (11.5-22.7)
Free T3 3.3 (3.5-6.5)
TPO antibodies 198 (0.60)
I do weights because I can just do 15 mins and walking
Oh my goodness, did you realise that your FT3 is below range? No wonder you feel ill. And your FT4 isn't even half way through it's range. How do you feel! You are undermedicated. What Thyroid meds do you take? Your conversion is poor and you would benefit from taking T3.
Your test was too long ago i.e. July! When symptoms arise if they've been stable before, you have to make a new blood test. Blood tests always have to be at the very earliest possible, fasting (you can drink water) and allow a gap of 24 hours between last dose and test and take afterwards. If dose is increased you need another test six weeks later etc. etc.
Your results are dire (except your GP will take account of the TSH alone) you need an increase badly to bring FT4 and FT3 towards the upper part of the ranges.
As SeasideSusie has stated exercising depletes T3 and it is the only Active Thyroid Hormone needed in our millions of T3 receptor cells. T4 (levothyroxine) is inactive and has to convert to T3. Once your dose is optimal and you feel well with no clinical symptoms you can start gentle exercises.
Thyroid Hormones enable our whole metabolism to work in uniison. Due to thyroid hormone problems everything is thrown out of sync.
Hello Blondiejayjay,
Exercise is my biggest challenge. Prior to my Hashi symptoms and eventual diagnosis I was a big gym and cycle fan. Although my T3 levels are good I find any exercise now just exacerbates my upper body pain and stiffness. From what I read and understand exercise tolerance is a very individual challenge and is so dependent on what your symptoms are and as Seaside Susie points out, T3 levels. If T3 is lowish and it often is with Hashi sufferers, you will suffer fatigue and weakness quickly. Exercise needs to be gentle. Trial and error as to how much is also a good barometer.
Exercise intolerance is a common symptom of being hypothyroid. I've experienced an attempt to raise activity and a big crash that lasted for months several times during my illness.
I've now spent the past year trying to raise my activity again, but I'm very very cautious. I walk a little - at first I used to just pace in the house, but after several months of managing that, I now walk outside, too. And I do a tiny amount of yoga. At first used to do less than 5 minutes, now I do 10 minutes about 5 times a week. The big gains I've had in how much I can do are with dose increased and getting closer to my optimum dose.
I used to lift weights before I got sick, and I wouldn't recommend it for a hypo person. The idea of weightlifting is to use up a lot of energy (both during, and later on with the bigger muscles we hope to grow!) , and plenty of energy to spare is one thing a hypo sufferer doesn't have.
Gentle exercise like walking, yoga or Pilates, tai chi, gentle swimming, are an easier place to start.
Hi
I used to be a gym addict for 4.1/2 yrs 2-4 times a week HIT, weights, boxing, stability ball and step. Did the works until my TSH was raised, my joints were crippled, I was short of breath, felt faint and my weight was ballooning despite the exercise. I was so ill but I tried to continue until I got a frozen shoulder and could do nothing. I stopped the gym and started NDT.
I am now 3.1/2 st lighter and much fitter with no exercise. I have Hashi's and although it seems to go against the grain I now believe exercise is not for us. Being kind for ourselves, taking the right medication, eating the right diet and taking supplements seems to be what works best for us.
Hi mycorr
Do you have NDT prescribed? In uk?
Kind regards
Im in Northern Ireland and have to buy my own NDT (I use Thiroyd) from Thialand and I self medicate. I don't bother with the Drs at all. Been on it since Nov 16, I started with some trepidation but it has been the best decision I have ever made regarding my health.
It is odd that your TSH was so low while your FT3 was below range. When we need more thyroid hormone normally our TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) rises to make our thyroids work harder. Your TSH hasn't risen. Have you any symptoms of pituitary disfunction? If you get another similar test result your doctor should investigate the possibility - this kind of hypothyroidism is called secondary/central hypothyroidism. You would need to have more than one blood test to confirm this kind of problem, it could just be that your results last July were an anomaly.
Eeng. The doctor referred me because it was the third test In a row with below references for TSH FT4 and FT3. The previous test was all below low reference.
The endo however didn’t feel the need to see me again he just told doctor not to look at TSH and not to lower my dose from 100mcg and aim for FT4 of 16.
What are symptoms of Pituitary/thyroid?
Google says: "Poor appetite, nausea, weakness, vomiting, low blood sugar, low blood pressure, dizziness, body aches
, weakness, cold intolerance, dry skin, constipation, heavy and/or painful menses, weight gain, memory loss, mood disturbance" and I'm pretty sure that having tried and failed to breast-feed is another one. I think one of the blood tests they do is prolactin.
Levothyroxine was making me so ill, need some advice
thyroxin 50 makes me ill
Gp keeps making me anxious:( 
Is my new job making me feel ill? 
