I got talked into paddle boarding. Under some illusion that it would be a pleasant and sedate upright paddle along the river. How wrong I was!! 🤣🤣
I found it basically to be an intense quad work out in pretty surroundings. (Not good for someone with joint pain) Combined with a feeling of almost instant death if I fell in the waist height water! Lol (I didn’t 👏🏻👏🏻 Phew!)
It was for an hour. I finished with a migraine. Got home (miracle in itself) threw up, slept for a couple of hours. Got up felt ‘odd’. Upset stomach. Thought I’d feel better by the morning. I do slightly. Now, almost 24 hours later I feel bit jittery. Heart rate is increased. Terrible tinnitus. Still unsettled stomach
My question after reading some old posts is has anyone had an experience of this? I see research says t3 dips after exercise but I am assuming that is cardio. Paddle boarding wasn’t cardio but as mentioned I found it very strenuous on legs and I feel like I’m hyper and so maybe t4 is raised? I don’t feel like anything’s depleted more that it’s all gone up
I am asking because more than one session was booked and so I’m going again next weekend. Obviously I’d rather not experience this again so I am seeking tips although I realise the obvious one is CANCEL IT! 🤣🤣
Any experience/advice much appreciated.
Written by
Yeswithasmile
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
All the cells in the body use t3. The more you use your body be it exercise, brain power, digestion the more hormones you need. In a normal person their thyroid will work to produce those hormones to meet demand.For hypos we need to ingest enough hormones for our activities. If your levels are such that there is no spare for additional exercise then you will feel awful as you have experienced.
Hyper symptoms and hypo symptoms are similar so it is difficult to guess what is happening.
Yes I had read that it depleted levels but that isn’t honestly how I felt/feel. There have been times when I haven’t known the difference but I honestly felt over not under. Weird as I thought to myself if all it took was a bit of paddle boarding I could have taken that up years ago rather than take pills!
… and you’re right. I should definitely not be going back for more!!
for a nicer day out, preferably swap paddle board for an inflatable canoe .. failing that , claim to have twisted your ankle and sit down on the paddle board (might need to find a shorter paddle lol ). Then things will probably be much more like what you had in mind.
I did read that thread and your link Tattybogle. Thanks and thanks 😊
I looked at the passing canoes and was very envious of their seated position even though I was looking down on them 🤣. Would have been so much nicer. That said I was getting into the swing of it about 40 mins in lol. 40 mins of sheer stress every which way!
I think coupled with feeling extra crap this past year I am just totally unfit. A softly softly approach may be more appropriate though!
Agree with Lalatoot I had a similar experience recently after physical and emotional exhaustion and eventually ended up in A&E! I was sent home with pain killers! It dawned on me a few days later that I had " burned" up my cellular T3. It has taken time to restore T3 level but I've now recovered to pre crash health....but I am 75 and have RTH.
Well that is a clear explanation there DippyDame. Thank you. Although I must say, after going to a talk on ‘pain and prejudice’ this week it is another study done on the male of the species. Sorry just thought I’d take the opportunity to draw attention to medicine inequality whilst it’s still foremost in my mind!! Not that it ever isn’t. In my mind that is!
I’m so sorry to read of your hospital visit. I hope you’re feeling better and it hasn’t taken too long to feel well again? I’ve read your posts before and realise that you were struggling to find what suits you with RTH. Have you managed to get somewhere with it? From memory (which you’ll understand isn’t great) you were trying a higher dose? Wondered if you found it helpful?
As for once bitten, etc I almost feel like doing it and testing my blood after to see what happens within but I haven’t quite decided yet!!
Testing your blood in the hope of finding active T3 level after exercise won't answer the question I'm afraid.
You would need to test for the amount of T3 in the nuclei of the cells where the "action" takes place...unfortunately no test exists! I wish it did because it would make dealing with RTH a lot easier.
T3 just sloshes around in the blood doing nothing until it reaches the cells, via T3 receptors, where it then becomes active. Any remaining is eventually expelled by bowel and bladder.
Thank you, I'm back to my " normal" but won't be turning cartwheels....or paddle boarding!!
After reducing my dose a few months ago ( doc got involved and insisted!) - I knew it was a mistake but did it to prove a point - I started to increase again, now on 100mcg and better. After much digging it looks as if I've had RTH for all, or most, of my life most likely inherited from my maternal grandmother.
Don't apologise for raising " medicine inequality", here, I guess we all understand.
The scandal that is current thyroid treatment is my soap box subject...
Have a fun week-end whatever you decide, and take care.
Oh I am glad you’re feeling back to your ‘normal’. One thing to take I suppose is you really know now? I’m so sorry it’s been such a difficult process. And yes thyroid treatment is a scandal and we are still labelled ‘hysterical’ they just updated their terminology as far as I’m concerned.
As for the blood thing - that’s a shame about the cell testing but even with what’s in the blood not being necessarily representative of what’s in the cells, I still think it’s be interesting. But I suppose I’d have to do one before and after and then other things play their part too so probably symptoms is more productive.
It’s thyroid hormone resistance. Or the other way round lol. DippyDame unfortunately really struggles to feel better. I am sure she will clarify but I think levels in the blood are raised but it doesn’t effect her on a cellular level. It must be very difficult 😞.
Oh of course DippyDame. I was hoping you would give a better reply than mine. I am not well read at all on it but I do know that it must be incredibly hard for you. It’s hard enough to medicate anyway without resistance to it. I do feel for you. I really do x.
Thyroid Hormone Resistance....a very complicated condition.In order to become active and to carry out it's function T3 must be transported from the serum to the nuclei of the cells via T3 receptors. For various rare and complicated reasons if this fails, the patient has low cellular/tissue T3 which results in (symptoms of) undermedication. Labs suggest sufficient T3 but the cells are deficient....there are no tests to measure cellular T3.
Put very simply (and it's not a simple issue!!) to overcome this resistance a supraphysiolgical dose of T3 is needed, this acts as a "battering ram" which forces some of that T3 dose into the cells thus overcoming the resistance. The dose depends on the degree of resistance, the late Dr John Lowe, a T3 expert took 150mcg. The dose of T3 required by an RTH patient would make a non RTH patient very ill.
Dr Lowe and other T3 proponents are referred to here
It does help. So you are taking 100mcg t3 only which I think would make me feel awful and yet you feel improved on this dose 🤔 we are all so different aren’t we?! I can only thank you for your post and provided links and also wish you all the best to feel better and get it all worked out really soon. I can imagine how disappointing it must have been for you to start to medicate and still not feel better. The frustration you must have felt 😫. Trying to find the positive, even though it’s stating the obvious… at least you understand what is happening now and although you have obviously suffered ill health, I am glad that you managed to fathom some way of helping your poor body improve a bit. Lots of luck with it DippyDame x.
125mcg levo in the morning along with 20mcg t3 also in the morning with another 5mcg about 3/4pm. It’s a recent levo at this time.
I have decided it is low as I wasn’t going to take the extra 5mcg t3 today just going by a wait and see strategy but have just popped it as feeling more shaky so I concede…. It depleted t3. I am hypo not hyper.
Thanks Slowdragon. It takes me a while to work these things out!
I did in the beginning but I seemed to be ok on twice a day. Obviously that was when I wasn’t exerting myself.
Thank you for reminding me that I can do 3 doses. I feel like that may well be a way forward if I am to up my activity levels. I can only give it a try.
I also suffer from migraine and what you describe could also be migraine / post-migraine symptoms. If you haven't experienced it before, migraine can change over time.
I get headaches that if I don’t catch them in time get to the nausea/have to sleep stage but maybe it has changed as you mentioned. This was another level.
40 hours later I am back to normal 👏🏻👏🏻 Probably one clap is more apt as normal isn’t all that! Lol.
Shame about the paddle boarding experience. There’s no harm sitting or kneeling on it, and in fact if there’s no current, not much need to paddle either. I tried it in Cornwall this year,( alone so I didn’t have to keep up with anybody!) when the sea was like a millpond, it was actually meditative. Nice to have different viewpoints in life. Hope you’re fully recovered 👍
There was no current. It was on a river which was marginally bigger than a stream 🤣.
I am glad you enjoyed it. I bet doing in a calm sea was lovely. The 10 mins or so after I had calmed down and my legs stopped shaking was enjoyable. Not demanding at all. I think next time I may get in the water first. Show my brain it hasn’t killed me and stand from the start. The kneeling absolutely wrecked my knees.
I can imagine on your own is pleasant too and easily become meditative if there’s nothing to crash into! Lol.
Honestly though I think yoga is much more demanding. So I’m not surprised you feel shattered. I made the paddle boarding experience what it was! Yoga is a no no for me as my joints sublux. Such a shame as I find stretching such a nice feeling but then I over stretch and it’s ouch! I’m pleased to read that you are able to do it even though it wipes you out. Hopefully it won’t always be that way for you 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻
It’s funny, other people have said the same thing about yoga. I think my problem is that, until thyroid issues took their toll, I used to do serious gym work with some yoga as a more mindful occasional addition to my exercise schedule. So I still think it should be easier. But it’s really not.
And, thanks, I’m relieved to be able to do something again, even if I am finding the after effects difficult as yet.
I can imagine, despite feeling so awful after paddle boarding, that it was a bit of a laugh at the time. And God knows we hypos sometimes benefit from some laughter in our lives. At least, I know I do. 😊
I sympathise. It’s hard to go from being active to being limited. It’s such a bummer finding things tough which we would have sailed through in the past. I do know how you feel and I’m know we aren’t alone either.
As for PBing, it was a laugh. In a hysterical slightly unhinged sort of a way 🤣🤣🤣. But yes, we all could benefit from a bit of laughter and it was nice to do something a bit different from my usual Groundhog Day!! Lol.
I’m afraid I’d be similar. The fear of falling in would put me on edge so much I’d burn up all my energy before I left the house.But on a serious note, this is what happens if I over do it too. Once my energy has been used up I have to rest until the thyroid meds rebuild it all.
To be honest, if I didn’t have a small amount of T3 every day with my thyroxine I’d barely leave the house.
I made my son’s wedding cake nearly 3 weeks ago, the wedding was 2 weeks ago tomorrow, I’m still struggling to find many hours of energy and had several days of migraines and fatigue.
I also agree with you saying we are a bit less fit after last year (me, probably a lot) and therefore start doing less energetic and scary sports first.
Thank you, yes, the wedding was lovely. I was rather stressed about the Covid situation, which helped to deplete my energy levels too. But thankfully it was not a big wedding and everyone had been vaccinated.
I do a very small book keeping job (from home) and look after my grandson (one day with a 2 hour break when he naps, and one morning). I probably do fairly well, but do feel inadequate quite often. Housework does get done a lot less often than I’d like these days. The thought of having a day out is depressing as I really struggle in the mornings, and then I’m tired by 6pm. But I suppose I should be thankful I do get the odd day where I feel ok 🙂
You carry on doing things and then post so that it can inspire me and others to keep going, knowing that one day we can do more too.
I know that you are not inadequate as you manage to help with your grandsons childcare. I speak from experience (albeit from years ago) but that would have been massive for me so I know they must be very grateful.
So pleased the wedding was a success. That’s just brilliant to read. Obviously covid was always going to be a concern but you did it and have a fab memory there too 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
I’ve always been a night owl really. Always rubbish in the morning but find that taking larger dose of t3 with levo at 6am helps dramatically with getting me out of my pit. I’m not going to say I’m raring to go but I can get up! Bonus!
Admittedly I have always tried to push myself. I am in a household of men who are rarely sympathetic so you just have to get on with it. They have never really understood my issues but I have to say I feel that isnt a bad thing. There have been and are times when I could easily wallow indefinitely but I have never really been allowed to.
This last year I have found difficult physically. We have all avoided covid which was great. But my sons moved home and I was exhausted just shopping/feeding/etc after everyone again. They’d been gone 3 years so it was a shock to my system. But now ones moved back out and the other one travels a lot for work so it nice to feel the motivation to actually do something for me and long may it last. I still have pain and am symptomatic but I am so grateful to feel like I want to do stuff again. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
The morning of the wedding I did really struggle, but I took and extra 2.5mcg T3 on waking (maybe it was psychological?) and actually managed to have a little dance with my mum, (83), my daughter and little grandson. So that was lovely.Like you I will keep going as much as possible.
I’m a qualified ballroom and Latin dance teacher, have stopped all that too. Just no spare energy. Hoping one day I’ll get back to it. I just have other things I need to concentrate on first with the family and myself.
Oh that must be so hard for you!! To have to give up dancing which you must love, can’t be good for your mental health at all and I am so sorry! You’re right of course. There comes a time when you just have to prioritise and if that putting family first then they are very lucky to have you. I am sure they know that though.
As for the psychological… whatever works for you as far as I’m concerned. If that little bit extra gave you the boost you needed then 👏🏻👏🏻 Whatever it was allowed you that dance with you mum. How lovely ☺️
I wish you the very best with feeling better and getting the energy back especially. The very best of luck x.
It wasn’t. Believe me. We only went about 100’ and most of that was gliding across the top of the river 🤣. It was more core and leg strength whilst suppressing panic to stay on the not so small board. I’m sure it was a massive beginners paddle board. Thoroughly enjoyable 😂🤣😂🤣
The people who talked you into that should be ashamed. But they don't know any better. Those who are healthy seem to think that exercise is the reason for their health. When in reality, being energetic is a symptom of being healthy. You don't catch a virus or other illness from lack of exercise. You lose interest in physical activities when you are ill. Forgive them for they can only learn by experience and we wouldn't wish that on them. I call them amateur doctors.
Nothing personal but paddle boarding has got to be the stupidest fad I have ever seen. And I've seen a lot come and go. Instead of sitting in a safe boat and rowing, which we are taught to never stand up in for safety reasons, they stand on a board with a big paddle and nothing to rest on. Then when you're done you can find something relaxing to do such as lay down and rest. 🤣
Oh I have to be fair… my friend isn’t a picture of health either. She has a tsh at the top of the range and lowing t4, mediocre t3 but managed it ok. Doc says she has to test again in 3 months as if he gave her levo she could have heart damage. Honestly you couldn’t make it up could you!
As for paddle boarding being stupid, at this time I would have to agree 🤣🤣 but for a fit and healthy person I can see it could be great for so many things from core strength to cardio. However I think tattybogle said it all when she said ‘try a canoe’ 😂😂
Any additional exercise floors me. I went from a competitive sportswoman to couch potato after my thyroid was removed. I never gained my fitness back, I still get fatigue and joint pain even on 100mcg t3 only. I walk the dogs, gardening and yoga but low impact exercise. If I do too much I am in bed for days after, my mood sinks and my temperature drops, its mostly low averaging 35-36 degrees but after exercise it drops to 34-34.5 it is something to do with low cortisol for me, I get adrenaline surges and feel jittery. Of course now I am not fit like I use to be even cycling makes my legs shake. The 'spoons theory' makes sense to me, limited energy each day and I have to prioritise what I do with it, I can no longer do everything. x
I am assuming you are hormone resistant like DippyDame? I am sorry. I find t3 quite hard to take so I can bet that mono therapy hard to get right and used to. I expect it has been a long road for you too, finding out why nothing appeared to be working for you.
As for being a sportsperson and now knowing your limits…. Well I can only imagine how you feel. That’s tough.
It’s a pain in every way to have to have to pace yourself. I find it infuriating and sometimes find myself refusing to accept. That doesn’t end well 🙄 and then I try to maintain the pma and keep going knowing things are far worse for countless others but 🤷♀️ our problems are our own.
I wish you and me and everyone else here luck for continuing to find good health and making the most of what we have. Thanks so much for posting x.
Admire your intrepid spirit and sorry you had such payback.Ex personal trainer and dancer here. Fibromyalgia had already forced me to reframe my expectations re exercise (5 years of physio have helped me correct postural distortions and regain strength) but the exercise ‘hangover’ I experienced before my Hashimotos diagnosis 18 months ago was like nothing I’d ever experienced - headaches, brain fog, severe fatigue and ravenous empty feeling which lasted 3-5days after a 20-30 minute swim (crawl). Had to wait a week before I could swim again - rinse and repeat. Now on Levo and walk and do Pilates regularly but trying to gently resume my swim programme has left me completely wiped out again. So glad you raised the issue as find the advice about exercise and hypothyroidism quite vague and generic but perhaps I’m looking in the wrong places. Not sure if we are supposed to accept that cardio / higher intensity exercise is off the menu forever.
Rather than giving up on SUP altogether, perhaps taking a graded approach and going out for a 20 - 30 minute session would be less demanding and allow you to develop stability and technique more gradually?
I do like your terminology of exercise ‘hangover’! That nails it. It felt just like I had downed several bottles of wine!
It seems your experience is echoed throughout this thread and it is unfortunate that we have to seek out this info without any guidance at all. I tend to think it’s because impaired quality of life is of little interest to the professionals. They can’t cure it but it won’t kill us overnight so off you trot.
Thanks for your reply and I do hope that you can reintroduce your swimming successfully soon but you’re right about doing it gradually. Unfortunately I am stupid and pig headed. I’m off to SUP again this weekend but if I feel it’s too much I will cut it short. I don’t expect anyone to wish me luck as I know I am being a bit mental but I am sooo fed up with life passing me by I’m doing it!! Lol.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
What's happening to the Levo I swallow?
Any idea what may be happening?
Breathlessness on exertion and rough burning throat
