Exercise and slightly high TSH

[Hellodoll]

Hi, new to the site so excuse my ignorance. Just before lockdown in Spain a routine blood test found TSH slightly high 6.6 (0.4 - 4.5). No medication as Dr said it's not too bad but will be having a repeat blood test hopefully in Sept. My question is I like to do a lot of running and regularly take part in marathons & half marathons through out the year so quite a lot of exercise. Obviously over the past year I have noticed a change in my capabilities ie reduced strength & energy, lethargic, extra weight etc but what I am concerned about is I am still trying to maintain fitness and my training (not very well) for races in Nov & Dec but if my thyroid is not working properly am I doing more damage to it or to any of the other glands by attempting this exercise? Thanks. Ps I'm 55 yr woman if this is relevant.

[fuchsia-pink]

Welcome to the forum!

I feel for you - seems doctors in Spain are no better than in the UK

With a TSH outside the reference range, you are hypo-thyroid. In many countries they would treat you when your TSH gets to 3. A high TSH means that your body is struggling to make enough thyroid hormone (TSH itself is a message from the pituitary, not a thyroid hormone) - but to see how bad it is, you would need to test the actual thyroid hormones - free T4 and free T3. [and ideally test your thyroid antibodies and key nutrients - ferritin, folate, vitamin D and B12]

When you don't have enough thyroid hormone, your body prioritises where it is needed most - so major organs etc (brain uses a lot) get some - and "rations" other bits of you - so you may get cold fingers and toes, your hair may suffer, and - often - your ability to do exercise like you used to manage is reduced.

At the moment it's pretty bad. Your TSH is more than 15 times higher than the bottom of the reference range. A euthyroid person (ie with no thyroid issues) would have a TSH of no more than 2.

I recommend you get full blood testing - and post the results here for the lovely people to comment - and to see what's really happening to you.

Good luck x

[Hellodoll in reply to fuchsia-pink]

Thank you for info! I do also have poor circulation in my fingers and toes and have done for some time. Depending on the resuming of normal services at my health clinic I will push for a full test (at the moment I'm only scheduled for a basic test) and will post results.

Thanks again.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

On levothyroxine you are highly likely not to be able to do that degree of heavy exercise

Suggest you get FULL thyroid testing and get vitamins optimal to see if low vitamins are affecting thyroid

Menopause is common time for thyroid to play up

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) diagnosed by raised Thyroid antibodies

Ask GP to test vitamin levels

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

[Hellodoll in reply to SlowDragon]

Sad re levothyroxine and exercise as I exercise as much for my mental wellbeing as for body health.

Thanks for the info and crib notes on tests/vitamins.

Could the thyroid/hormones etc just be playing up and rectify themselves or is this not likely?

Thanks.

[fuchsia-pink in reply to Hellodoll]

I think there is as much chance of me winning the Euro lottery as your hormones "mending" themselves, I'm afraid. And I fully acknowledge that my chances of winning the lottery are not helped by my not buying a ticket ...

But once you're on the right medication, there is no reason AT ALL why you shouldn't get back to your "usual" self.

[Hellodoll in reply to fuchsia-pink]

Hahaha thanks!!

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Hellodoll]

If you tested just after a marathon it could be temporary while you recover

If you have high thyroid antibodies that would suggest autoimmune thyroid disease and thyroid getting slowly destroyed

First step is to get full testing

[Hellodoll in reply to SlowDragon]

Good point re marathon....I had recently ran a half marathon. .....