I have been hypo for about 10 years, currently on 75mcg levo, and 10mcg lio but drop to 5mcg twice a week, otherwise my heart rate goes up from 60’s to 90’s. TSH 0.01, FT4 16.1, FT3 4.6, both 41% through range. Vit D 85.
I find if I do even pilates, ligaments and bursae get easily inflamed. Eg an ankle the physio said would take two weeks to improve is still lingering a year later. I end up with multiple irritable joints from simple stuff, when I used to be able to exercise freely.
Do people think this is thyroid or just age related? Or vitamin related? As stated above, if I try to increase my dose, my heart goes from normal to super fast, but it’s just so frustrating to be unable to exercise without damaging myself. CRP very low, but highish ferritin(150) so could be some inflammation?
Any suggestions welcome.
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Most people on a combination dose need both FT4 & FT3 at around 70% of range.
T3 should be taken consistently every day to be effective. It works immediately and is not like Levo that is a storage hormone.
Have you tried raising Levo?
Can I ask if you are double jointed or joints more flexible than others might be? You sound like someone who might be hypermobile. See link for diagrams.
Thanks Jaydee. I tried 85 levo and 5lio per day but I had a return of fibromyalgia type pain. Realised I needed higher lio, but just can’t take 10mcg every day without heart rate going way up etc.
folate 11.84 (3.89-19.45)
Active B12 88.9 (37.5-188)
I only supplement occasional D at 1000.
But… although not Ehlers-Danlos, I am very flexible and that might well be the issue, combined with the aging body, more worn joints, thinner ligaments. Perhaps just have to be careful etc.
If you are very flexible then its likely your connective tissues are the issue.
Have you tried going strictly gluten free? This helps many with hashimoto's. Some also need to go dairy free. This is especially true if hypermobile and may well help yor pain levels.
Your folate could be higher. You could try a good methyl B complex which would further raise B12 as well.
I have EDS and niggling injuries have definitely become an issue, if I overdo certain exercises I will pay for it. Had to give up running a few years ago as it was just too hard on my body. I stick to lower impact now like cross trainer, walking, resistance, rowing etc. Plus obviously stretching, proper warm up and cool down. I have found using a daily collagen powder seems to help.
I noticed that when both FT4 and FT3 were below range in December I felt about 90. I was struggling to get out of the chair as my knees were hurting so much. Since these have improved my knees have stopped hurting.
Thank you for your input. I used to do aerobics, now I’m like you and do rowing, cycling, walking. If I do anything too repetitive to build up strength (eg sit to stand exercises) I pay for it.
But, collagen powder sounds fascinating! Could even help my skin if I’m lucky! What brand/ where purchased please.
I bought it in my local Home Bargains so nothing fancy. I've also got some from Amazon, no specific brand. I take 2 scoops. Also I take plenty of vitamin C as that is involved in collagen production.
How old are you (as you're wonder if it's age related). I note from a post 8 yrs ago that it took ages for you to be diagnosed with thyroid issues. It could be that a lack of thyroid hormone in the time leading up to being diagnosed meant your muscles weren't getting enough thyroid hormone and consequently they got inflamed. I believe I was undiagnosed for about 3 years and was practically bed ridden by the time I got Levo. I had similar achy muscle problems and 6 months after diagnosis was referred to a Rhumatologist who said I had "Hypothyroid induced myalgia'. I ached all over but he said it wasn't fibromyalgia. Since then, I have ultrasound guided steroid injections into both my hips and shoulders due to bursa problems/ tendinopathy and also one wrist. I can now do pilates again without pain. I also take T3 alongside Levo. The T3 had a miraculous effect on my fuzzy and depressed brain and also, to a lesser extent, my aches and pains. It was the steroid injections that cured them but I had to wait 6 months for an ultrasound investigation. Do you see a Rhumatologist?
Yes it took years for me to be diagnosed because my TSH seemed high normal (I now realise) but not high enough to treat. When it reached about 6 they tested FT 4 which was way out of range. By that time I had given up my lovely job. I saw a rheumatologist who said not fibromyalgia (even though another doctor had said it was), and he prescribed amitriptyline which gave me screaming tinnitus. However, like you, the liothyronine thankfully helped enormously at a dose just under 10mcg.
I’m not sure my ligament pain needs injections; it’s just painful to walk upstairs, do certain exercises. There always seems another bit of me that sets off!!
Anyway, thank you for your reply. I think it’s a combo of being flexible and not coping with higher thyroid doses. Going to try supplementing B12 and B9.
I already split my 10mcg dose into two. However, if I take the second dose too late, I suffer insomnia.
Unfortunately as I have mercury T3, 20 mcg tablets, it’s pretty tough to split them into 4, and impossible to split into 8 so a 2.5mcg dose won’t work. Other brands give me awful indigestion due to excipients.
What I do to even it up: if I get a larger piece I use that on my lower dose days, split if possible.
Believe me, I have tried every which way to get to my sweet spot.
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Exercising with underactive thyroid
Terrible DOMS after exercise 
Frequent infections
Exercise with Hypothyroidism 
Very high heart rate after exertion/exercise
