Cycling/Fitness and Hypothyroid

Hello. I'm hoping to find some other girls that may have this condition and are into cycling. I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's in January and have probably been hypo for 3+ years.

Do you experience day to day fluctuations in your symptoms? Is this normal? Also, what about when to take the pill? Since I have to wait for an hour after I take the pill before eating, I think its a great opportunity to work out. But I've begun to wonder if this affects how I digest the pill.

I've been on Synthroid since May (just upped to 88 this week). I had lost my symptoms after 6 weeks, but now they seem to come and go. I work out 6-7 days a week for 1 hour at a time, 2 hours on the weekends. Today I rode with a friend for 75 minutes. I felt strong during the ride, but I'm wiped out now. I'm also freezing!! Yesterday, I was not cold. The tempurature at work is the same.

Also, any tips on how to determine my metabolism? I have set my basal to that of an invalid and I under count my exercise calories burned. Then I deprive by 500 calories a day. Still I am only maintaining my weight. I'm wondering if I should cut back even more? Geez, I'm going to STARVE!

My mom has Hashimotos and she takes her pill an hour before she gets up in the morning. She says she now puts one pill next to her bed, takes it at 6 a.m. and then goes back to sleep for an hour. It took a few months to get the dose right. If you don't feel good go back to your Doc and you probably need to see someone who specializes in thyroid disorders. My mom's regular Dr. missed it. She never knew why she was tired all the time but since being on the meds she's great.

I was born with my thyroid non-functional, and it never will. When I was born (late 60's), it was not a blood test done on every new born as it is today. I was fortunate enough that my mother had common sense enough to realize I had some abnormal features, dry skin as an infant that was like fish scales, and a cry much like a cat, she diagnosed early enough, got me to the doctor for his diagnosis. I could have become a veg. as thyroid hormone is very important for many functions of your body.
I take Armour Thyroid- Forrest Pharm.Co. -180mg daily.
Armour is a natural thyroid made from dessicated swine (oink) glands. As sick as that sounds, it is the best that one can get, as it offers both T3 and T4 hormones which you can not get both from a synthetic, ie levothyroxine. Generic brand of this Armour is generally made from dessicated bovine (moo) glands.

I had my thyroid removed 17 years ago and have been on different doses of synthroid since depending on what my annual blood test shows. To be honest when I first began taking the pill there were no directions as far as when to take it. I just take it in the morning. Sometimes I even it right after taking it. My last couple of perscriptions have been the levothyroxine brand and I have also been testing as running too high. So I am now at a lower dosage and a few pounds heavier over the past couple of months. I am not happy about it as I was maintaining a feeling great for all these years at the .125 dose. Well, I am do for another blood test which I have to make before my last refill.

Anyway, in most air conditioning I am cold as I have a space heater under my desk here at work that I run winter, spring, summer and fall from the time I come in. I love the 90 degree days and don't mind the humidity. I am at an age where I get the hot flashes and don't find it a big deal. I found it interesting that you said you were always cold. I never thought that as a sympton but just me being me.

My best energy is when I am biking. Even if I start my ride I say this will be a "leisurely" ride and I end going my regular speed.

I am sorry if this message got a little mixed up. This was an interesting thread to start as I never heard anyone come up with the subject anywhere. I feel like my writing is all over the place.

~ JoAnn