Hypothyroidism-Do any of you have it?

[denda]

I just found out today my thyroid level is a little low.
The doctor put me on levothyroxin. Does anyone out there take this and if so, can you still exercise at your same level as before? Do you have any side effects?
Thanks.

[maillotpois]

I have an autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) that causes me to be hypo (my thyroid is essentially non functioing) and I take levoxyl every day. I can't imagine there would be ANY effects from this on my ability to exercise, and indeed, I have observed none.

[makbike]

I too have Hashimoto's. My daily medication has done nothing but improve my life.

[solobiker]

I have been on thyroid medication since 1988 and it never affected my ability work out. Sometimes the dosage has to be adjusted.

[Triskeliongirl]

I also have Hashi's. Same as the others. For me, when my thyroid is undercorrected I am too tired to cycle, but with proper correction (I take a combo T4/T3 therapy) I have loads of energy.

[crazycanuck]

Another person with Hashi's. Prior to being diagnosed, I had little energy. I'm now on Eutroxig & have lots of energy.

Do not to a crazycanuck & stop taking the medication :rolleyes:

[newfsmith]

I have plain thyroid failure (mild) and have taken levothyroxine for a little over a year. In all, I have not noticed any changes in my energy level, appetite or thinking. Except for the annoyance of not being able to eat for an hour after I take it, and being sure to wait at least 4 hours before I take any vitamins or calcium supplements, I wouldn't know I was taking it.

[7rider]

I have plain thyroid failure (mild) and have taken levothyroxine for a little over a year. In all, I have not noticed any changes in my energy level, appetite or thinking. Except for the annoyance of not being able to eat for an hour after I take it, and being sure to wait at least 4 hours before I take any vitamins or calcium supplements, I wouldn't know I was taking it.

Same here (but about 5 years).
But my doc just upp'ed my dose again. I've been on a slightly higher dose for about a week now. I seem to be hungrier (but maybe that's just the season). :mad:

[Zen]

Same here.
I find that my thinking is a little fuzzy but on the other hand now I can fly!

[wnyrider]

I too have hypothyroidism. I have taken Levoxyl for over 10 years. I had been started on Synthroid originally. Even taking my medication daily religiously I never did notice great improvements in energy levels. In fact, it had even spiraled downward instead. Weight has crept up over the years. Been consistently not feeling my best. The most bothersome side effect was the hair thinning. It happens when my levels fluctuate. Thankfully it is temporary and grows back. Only a month ago I started also taking Cytomel. I am finally noticing an improvement. Whew! I even lost several pounds without making conscious diet changes. Did you find out why your thyroid level was low? Are you scheduled to have your level checked again soon after beginning the levothyroxin? I was lax in being proactive about my thyroid treatment... I wouldn't like for anyone else to do so. Good-luck!

[denda]

Thanks for all of the replies. Yes, I go back in 6 weeks to be checked again and then in a year.

[wannaduacentury]

I just found out today my thyroid level is a little low.
The doctor put me on levothyroxin. Does anyone out there take this and if so, can you still exercise at your same level as before? Do you have any side effects?
Thanks.

I do, but I was born w/o a thyroid, so I've always used thyroxin. I didn't have to make any physical exercise adjustments. I am blessed through genes w/ having a fast metabolism though, so I like that :) I get checkups twice a year to keep my levels even. Jenn

[omerkm1]

I was diagnosed a couple of years ago with hypothyroidism. Been on a high dose of Levothyroxin ever since. I have been racing professionally during the time before and after. It took about 2yrs for the Levo to build up in my system so I could notice a difference/change. You have to eat, train etc differently than someone without thyroid problems. I would be happy to chat about it offline with anyone interested. omerkm1@yahoo.com.

[Red Rock]

How nice to find this thread. I think this is happening to me. Ugh. I must be getting older or something...I came back borderline today, will go back in 3 months for a recheck. No meds yet.

How do you deal with taking vitamins and supplememnts on this med? Exercise and diet changes? How do you deal with all of that?

Thanks for your help.

Red Rock

[JennK13]

Oh my, where to start!
Hashi's here also - if they didnt test you for autoimmune disease and only took your TSH, get your antibodies checked. I went almost 10 years on levoxyl for "just being" hypo when I do indeed have Hashi's. Although the medication is the same, the "treatment" should be different and finding a Dr to do so can be very difficult.
The medication doesnt affect my ability to exercise other than allowing me to do so, but my disease does affect me. My hashi's is pretty severe with a LOW antibody count of 900+ - I was almost 3,000 when diagnosed. Supplements and food choices do make a difference if it's autoimmune as opposed to functional hypothyroidism, so you do need to know.
Good luck, and PM me if you'd like further info. I've done tons of research to try to get well after being told I was "CRAZY" by one Dr, and several visits to the ER following my change to a new Dr as he helped me get better.

[Red Rock]

I guess I am a new student to all of this. More learning to do. I've been reading the threads on here about all of this. It is kind of scary. Diabetes and thyroid are connected? Argh. I certainly do not want that! I do have a good diet and have to have a sugar fix now and then. I hope this is not anything to major. It would be nice if it was just the thyroid.

[JennK13]

Lol - i didnt realize the age of the original thread!
There is a lot that interferes with your body's absorption of the medication. Most Drs will recommend that you take it first thing in the morning on an empty stomach (unless it's Armour, which can be taken with food to slow its absorption since it's a combo med)
Iron hinders absorption. I'm also anemic and take my iron in the evening with dinner.
Soy has also been shown to have an impact, and if you're autoimmune, gluten can affect you - that's why I previously said it's important to know if you're functional or autoimmune. A lot of people will recommend iodine/kelp, but again that depends on why you're hypo. Iodine can adversely affect you depending on the reason for your thyroid dysfunction.
At any rate, I take my meds right when i wake up. I avoid soy. I take my vitamins with breakfast about 2 hrs after my medication, and my iron with dinner.

[JennK13]

Unfortunately, hypothyroidism is connected to a bunch of different things, as a symptom, a result of something else, or a "companion". I have a few "minor" issues affiliated with it, and when it flares up new things present and my Dr runs new tests checking for other autoimmune diseases as it's very common for Hashis patients to have something else. Diabetes hasnt been any issue for me, though.

[Catrin]

I have surgical hypothyroidism, my thyroid was removed a little over 20 years ago because of an aggressive case of Graves Disease (auto-immune thing that attacks the thyroid).

It is certainly true that it matters a lot when you take the thyroid replacement. It seems like everything effects the absorption of the medication, too close to a meal, soy products - also be careful with calcium supplements. You can take them, just not at the same time

Sometimes I take my thyroid medication when I get up, or right before I go to bed. That empty stomach is important, because it seems that ANYTHING interferes with your body absorbing it properly. That is a little overstatement, but not much - I've learned the hard way over the 23 years since my surgery.

I have always had an occasional problem with hypoglycemia. I now have diabetes that I am managing with diet/exercise (it isn't really improving but it isn't getting worse). I do not know if there was any real connection with my thyroid, or lack thereof. Thankfully I have an endo who is very supportive with my efforts to control this without medication for as long as I can.

There are many reasons for hypothyroidism, and how you manage this will be determined by that. They do know a lot more these days than they did 23 years ago when I had surgery.

[Red Rock]

Thanks for all of the collective input on this. I really apprecaite it very much.
I will continue to ask questions and do more research on all of this. I guess my body had other plans for myself:( oh, well.

[sarahspins]

Diabetes and thyroid are connected?

Autoimmune diabetes (type 1, which is less common) and Autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's and Grave's) are more strongly related than T2 diabetes (the more common kind) is.. because by having one autoimmune disorder someone is at a higher risk of getting another (which also includes things like Lupus, RA, Celiac, Addison's, etc).

I have both diabetes (type 1) and a Hashimoto's.. I was diabetic before I ever had a thyroid problem though, but I wasn't surprised when I was diagnosed with Hashi's. I'm sort of expecting to add at least another one at some point in the future.. not that I want to, but it won't be a big shock.

[Chile Pepper]

I've been taking a low dose for just over a year. I was very skeptical at first, as my doctor said I have subclinical hypothyroidism. It sounded like she just wanted to put me on something. I was therefore pleasantly surprised when I hit the six week mark and--bam!--I felt really, really great for the first time in years. I was also able to lose weight remarkable easily (I had to work at it, but my body responded more than it had before). So, I'm a believer now. I forget a lot of things, but I never miss my morning tablet.

[Red Rock]

Since I posted, I since found out a lot more on this.

First of all I'm subclinical hyperthyroid and my doc is not giving me any treatment. I do not know if this is good or bad. I have another appt 2 months from now to check blood levels. My hair is beginning to fall out. I did a run/walk for a mile and quarter and was totally exhausted that afternoon and into the next day. I mentioned these things and the Medical Assistant (who is not the doc) said that it basically didn't matter, the doc was not going to treat anything until all of my levels dropped off. So I am very frustrated.

Red Rock

[Chile Pepper]

Since I posted, I since found out a lot more on this.

First of all I'm subclinical hyperthyroid and my doc is not giving me any treatment. I do not know if this is good or bad. I have another appt 2 months from now to check blood levels. My hair is beginning to fall out. I did a run/walk for a mile and quarter and was totally exhausted that afternoon and into the next day. I mentioned these things and the Medical Assistant (who is not the doc) said that it basically didn't matter, the doc was not going to treat anything until all of my levels dropped off. So I am very frustrated.

Red Rock

Oh, Red Rock, that is so frustrating! Do you know what your TSH level was? Mine was only 1.59 (the "acceptable" range is a very broad 0.35 to 4.94), but my doc insisted that it should be around 1.00. That's where it is now, and it really has made an incredible difference in my mood, energy level, hair and skin health, weight, and all sorts of things. Is your doc a man or a woman? Maybe women are more sensitive to this issue.

[Catrin]

Since I posted, I since found out a lot more on this.

First of all I'm subclinical hyperthyroid and my doc is not giving me any treatment. I do not know if this is good or bad. I have another appt 2 months from now to check blood levels. My hair is beginning to fall out. I did a run/walk for a mile and quarter and was totally exhausted that afternoon and into the next day. I mentioned these things and the Medical Assistant (who is not the doc) said that it basically didn't matter, the doc was not going to treat anything until all of my levels dropped off. So I am very frustrated.

Red Rock

Is this your primary care physician or an Endocrinologist? I have not HAD a thyroid since 1985 so I know what a bother all of this can be, but if you are seeing worrisome symptoms then perhaps it is time for a second opinion.

[Red Rock]

Hi All,

My TSH is 0.0, T4 is normal 0.74, and my T3 is low normal at 3.4. I would have been sent to an endo if the T3 was below 2.4. Yes, this is my male primary care doc. I have been doing searches on the net to try and figure out WHY they do or do not treat this. My DH and I have been talking about a possible second opion too. I explained this to my dad and he could not understand it either. If something is broken why not fix it? He was thinking in terms of machinery. Like if your transmission fails fix it so the rest of the engine works. It's not that hard to figure out. I do not think this is rocket science.

Red Rock

[jezbael]

Medical doctors are sometimes slow to change. Most won't even bother testing T3/T4 if TSH is not indicative. There is a lot of recent research out there that is showing that TSH labs alone miss hypothyroidism. It's more important to look at the t3 and t4 levels, as well as listen to the patient's symptoms.

In January, my naturopathic doctor listened to my history, symptoms, and family history of obesity and suggested we test my thyroid functioning (despite it being tested before and always came back "normal"). Indeed, my TSH was normal, but my T3 was low. I started taking a natural replacement and almost immediately noticed increased energy, mental clarity, mood and easier weight loss. Six months later, I feel like what I think other "normal" people feel like for the first time in my life.

Even if your T3 is "low normal", that doesn't mean that *you* are a person whose body can tolerate low normal. Clearly your symptoms are suggesting so.

I encourage a second opinion, and perhaps consider seeing a naturopathic doctor. They are usually more interested in treating the root of a problem, and increasing a person's health further than a doctor would. Doctors generally are interested in treating disease... ND's generally are interested in promoting health to its greatest degree.

[JennK13]

RedRocks,
Now that your hair is thinning, that's a sign it's not magically healing itself on it's own. Hairloss is classic hyperthyroidism, and happens to us hypo patients when we're over medicated. You're exhausted because your body is on overload 24/7 from all the thyroid hormone racing through your system.
We've "talked" offline about this. So sorry you're going through it. I'm working on adjusting to my new dosage as prescribed last week.
Take care

[Jalen]

Hypothyroidism is a thyroid disorder, select the best diet that can help you reduce your symptoms and lose weight. First and the foremost thing you have to do are to cut the unwanted foods and bring in the good foods that should have iodine. Include carbohydrates and fiber rich foods in your diet to increase the metabolism.

[JennK13]

Diet alone does not always help. If you have functional hypothyroidism, it can be helpful. However, you need to correct the reason for the hypothyroidism, and for those people who are hypo because of autoimmune disease, iodine can make matters worse. Yes, it's true that iodine defiency is the primary cause of hypothyroidism in developing countries, but that isn't the case here in the US. Iodine can actually cause an increase in antibodies in Hashimoto's patients, thus worsening one's symptoms.

Anyone with thyroid issues should seek the assistance of a qualified medical professional WHO IS FAMILIAR WITH treating such things - just because someone is an endocrinologist doesn't make them an expert in thyroid disorders; seek a referral and work with someone who knows what they're doing. Otherwise, you end up frustrated, sick, or if you're like me, HOSPITALIZED because of an angry little butterfly shaped gland in my neck.

[hid558]

I have been diagnosed with hashi & hypoglicemia. I feel terrible my hair is falling, y keep exercising and can't loose weight . I don't know what I can eat and what not. Feeling my vision blurry and constant headaches.