Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the number of moments that take our breath away...(unkown) • Go With The Flow • Thyroid Support Group
Hello!!!
Wow, it is so nice to find this forum. I am reading a lot then will come back and post about me.
Just want to say thank you for having this resource, I am hypothyroid runner who is struggling with this medication, levothyroxine.
MaryKay
I found this group after being diagnosed with hypothyroidism. I am still waiting on results of the antibody test, but so far we know that my TSH levels are 35.5 (I was told that around 4.5 is normal??) I was shocked at the news, to be honest, but after taking it all in, I realized that I have had symptoms for years that have gone unchecked.
I worry about running while I'm still figuring out what my treatment will be. I got random bloodwork done b/c I've been SO tired, sluggish, etc. My hair is brittle and falls out and lately, on my longer runs, I feel like I can't breathe! I haven't gained that much weight, but I haven't lost any either, which I should have since I've been upping my mileage to prep for a marathon.
Any suggestions on what to do? I worry about injury - I can't drag myself out of bed for my morning runs, and I am so tired in the afternoon that although I push through my runs, I just feel like crap! And running used to make me feel wonderful That's why I do it!!!
Just wanted to get some advice - I know NOTHING about all of this except I've always heard that hypothyroidism makes you fat and tired. And I do NOT want that!!!
The most important thing you can do is listen to your body! I don't mean not exercising at all - most likely it's going to be an effort to get started until you get your levels straightened out - but you might need to scale back on how much you are doing. Can't see your log, so I don't know how much training you are doing, but you might want to slow your pace, and try to go by time on your feet rather than miles run. Try to incorporate some form of XT to sub for a run or two until you are feeling better. I find if I don't have energy to run, I can usually bike and I work at maintaining the same cadence as for running. Watch your diet carefully and make sure you make every calorie count, and you might want to look at foods that are considered goitrogens - I posted a link in the "articles" thread.
I would also get checked for anemia and try to get a ferritin level done. Low levels could be causing/compounding some of your symptoms. There are links in the article thread about ferritin, thyroid and running. Take a full day off when you need to. Try not to get to the point where you are completely exhausted - that's when it becomes easier to get injured.
When you start on thyroid meds, it could take awhile to find the best dose for you, and it takes 6 weeks to reach steady state drug levels. The longer you have been hypothyroid, the longer it will take for your body to recover even after you have reached steady state. One of the most frustrating things about thyroid disease, is that everything takes so darn long!
Running might not feel good for awhile - just do the best you can and know that when you are balanced again, it will get better!
Good luck, feel free to ask questions or just vent, and please keep us posted on your progress.
Driver, Runner, Bestie
Thanks so much, guys!! I am seriously so happy to see response! I'm a little nervous about all of this, especially after reading through a lot of the posts in various threads and seeing issues with medications (generic v. name brand, dosage levels, etc.) I thought that I was just training too hard for months. Now its to the point where I am just exhausted all the time, so I can't wait to feel better. A month ago, I blasted through a 14 mile run averagin under an 8 min mile, which is great for me. This morning, I could barely make it through a 5 mile run!! UGH!
I don't know if my iron levels were checked or if my ferritin levels were checked. I honestly don't know what ferritin is! I'll ask when I speak with my doc tomorrow. And I'm thinking I need to really ask him about which medication and dosage is right for me. I had a TSH level of 35.5 on Monday, but the doc wanted to retest that plus my antibodies level. That should be back tomorrow. I'm hoping it was some kind of mistake!
PS - is it true that you cant eat for at least an hour after your meds and you can't have any vitamin or mineral supplements for 4 hours afterwards? Even fortified cereals? What do you eat??
Thanks so much for the support - I think I found the right group. Now I have to figure out how to get my Garmin 405 to talk to this website so my log transfers over
Top 'O the World!
Hey Running Mama! Welcome (sorta - I wish ;none of us had to deal with this)
Sounds like you're telling my "story" I'm fairly new to the forum myself. The lab threw a flag on my TSH levels during my annual back in April. #'s not as high as yours but, still above range. Doc acknowledged that they've been that way for awhile (years maybe) but, since I hadn't been 'complaining' of any real symptoms (never heard me grumble abt my weight apparently!) & I "seem" to be energetic - what I am is driven by obligation (Mom's are like that) & guiltily sneaking off to take naps on some days...I'd thought that sluggish = lazy+age & I just needed to suck it up & keep going...then there was DH saying, "get up! you'll feel better." truely, sometimes, a good brisk walk, run will actually wake me up for a bit...then (hopefully) I can get a better quality sleep later! othertimes, I just.can't.get.there!! feel like I'm on cold meds or something, trying to run through knee-deep water! And as tired as I am, can't sleep well....
Yup, my pharmacist was pretty specific about the whole "make sure you take your meds 1st thing in the morning, on an empty stomach, w/a full glass of water, and don't eat anything for at least one hour. Then, take multivitamins - particularly iron rich, much later in the day (I switched to evenings). I'm still trying to dial in some way of taking them @ approximately the same time every morning. my life is never all that consistent... Foods too - do miss spinach quiche for breakfast! I'm a steel cut oats kinda person anyway. There's lots of stuff you can have. & maybe nothing you can't. You just have to eat some things later in the day.
btw: my next marathon - 9/20/09
What marathon are you running? I wanted to do the Richmond Marathon so badly this year. Its just not my year. But I am running a half marathon on 9/20 So I'll think of you!!
I know exactly how you feel - I've found out that not one but two of my doctors could have caught tis much earlier. I've had classic symptoms for years and no one thought to check my thyroid. What meds are you on? That's the part that's confusing me now. I was hoping they'd start making me feel better, but now I can't sleep, have to pee all the time, end up wanting to throw up and eat ravenously at the same time (very awkward!) etc. etc.
Does it get better? Let's hope so!!!!!
Hi Running Mama - it might be a rocky road for you for awhile. It's a little tricky getting the right dose worked out, but when you do, you will feel a lot better. The antibodies that you have with Hashis interfere with the thyroid meds - the antibody levels tend to wax and wane - and at times, some people fluctuate between being hypo and hyper. At least you know what you are dealing with now.
Good luck with your half and let us know how it goes!
Mtnchk - good luck with your marathon - would love a mini report from both of you!
HI all! Boy am I glad I found this group.
I am a 34 mother of 1 and was first diagnosed with hypothryroidism 3.5 years ago. (First post pardum thyoriditis then to hypo). I have struggled with my weight and health ever since then. I have 30 lbs that I just can't lose. I am now going to a new doctor to monitor my levels (moved and had to change). I hope that some of my symptoms such as leg cramps, feeling sluggish and cold issues all go away.
I've been running again for about 2 months now. I do 3.5 ever other day, and one "long" run on the weekends, around 7 miles. My goal is to compete in a half marathon in January.
I have started a low carb diet, and I eat mostly whole veggies and high protein. Hopefully this weight will start to come off. Looking forwad to everyne's tips for doing so!
Hope
Hi Hope and welcome! Glad you found us, and good luck with your new doc. Your diet plan sounds good and hopefully you'll see progress with your weight issues soon.
Cheryl
Hi, I am very glad to find this forum. I am a 46-year-old woman who in my 30s happily and easily ran 35+ miles a week. For 10+ years I have struggled with keeping to even a 10 mile/week schedule: hair loss, fatigue, weight gain, muscle pains and twitches, joint pain, etc. Although my primary care doctor tested TSH levels four times since 2002, with levels that increased from 4.76 to over 17.75 (combined with 0 vitamin D, anemia, inexplicably high glucose and cholesterol, etc) she did not view this as a problem and instead sent me to a ridiculous number of specialists (rheumatology, spine center, neurology, etc.) - a bunch of condescending fellows who insisted that there was nothing physically wrong with me that some anti-depressants could not cure. Sorry to rant but ...
Like others, I am now feeling like a new person on synthetic thyroid hormones! And I am being treated by an excellent endocrinologist who will be testing antibodies in 6 weeks. Because the thyroid is quite small she thinks my issue is Ord's Thyroditis.
I recently started running again and could not be happier. Thanks for setting up this forum, I look forward to hearing more about others' experiences.
Hi Anna! You have certainly been through alot in the last 10 years. I'm glad you finally have a good doctor and are feeling good once again. There is a lot of good info in the various threads of this group.
Don't make excuses for why you can't get it done.
Focus on all the reasons why you must make it happen.