Hypothyroidism and Training--A Recent Disgnosis
Hi All,
About a month ago I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism. I could kick myself for waiting so long to get checked out, because now that this has been revealed, I could weep with relief. SO much of what has been going on--physically, mentally, and emotionally--is tied to this. I have been on this downward spiral for more than a year, and now I know a major reason why. Here's a short list of what I have been saying to my DH for many months now:
"I can't find the leg strength I once had"
"I have this 'anxiety lump' in my throat"
"My hair feels weird"
"My running times are getting slower and slower"
"Where did these 6 pounds come from, and why can't I get them off"
"Everything feels meaningless"
"I just want to cry all the time"...and on and on. I think he thought an alien had taken possesion of me. I know I did. It's all related to this diagnosis. Now I think EVERYONE who is experiecing a story of decline should have their thyroid tested! Now I'll be like the evangalist. 
I have a few simple questions, but mostly I wanted to put it out there to ask people here who have experienced this to tell me their stories. I'd like to know how you recovered from this. Since I started on Cytomel, I am feeling glimmers of my old self returning, and I am greatly relieved.
A few questions, if you don't mind:
Will I get back to normal?
How long does it take for the Cytomel to kick in fully? It's been a month of being on a very low dose (5 mcg). I bet that could be increased. Is it too soon to ask for a follow-up blood test?
I've been taking the Cytomel before bed so it's on an empty stomach. That OK? Or is it better to take it in the morning?
Can this cause heart palpitations?
Can/should I train for Ironman given this?
Is there a link to major endurance athletics and messed up thyroids?
Even more than great training results, I just want my old darn-good self back.She was pretty awesome, but this new way of being is something I can't wait to shed.
Comments
Hi Linda
Glad you are starting to feel better. My doc waits about 6 weeks before testing. I am about to go get tested today. I see my endocrinologist tomorrow, so I will ask her about a link between endurance sports and hypothyroid.
I have been hypothyroid all my life, and have completed 2 ironman, muliple 70.3s, olys and sprints too many to count. Have also done a bunch ultramarathons both 50 k and 50 milers. I don't see why you can't do Ironman because of being hypothyroid. That being said, maybe during higher training stress, we may need to have levels checked more often
As far as cytomel is concerned, It does not last as long in your body ( biologic half life). Just wondering if you feel better by taking in am. Because it is not protein bound like synthroid, don't think( & was also told) that it does not matters if you take on empty stomach or after eating. When they added cytomel to my synthroid, I take the cytomel 2x/day because of short half life. So you may be right, you may need to have dose increased ( or frequency). My morning dose, since i do take synthroid in am with cytomel- I take it before I take a shower and have breakfast at work. This is from a a cytomel wikipedia found on web
Pharmacology
Liothyronine is the most potent form of thyroid hormone. As such, it acts on the body to increase the basal metabolic rate, affect protein synthesis and increase the body's sensitivity to catecholamines (such as adrenaline) by permissiveness. The thyroid hormones are essential to proper development and differentiation of all cells of the human body. These hormones also regulate protein, fat, and carbohydrate metabolism, affecting how human cells use energetic compounds.
In comparison to levothyroxine (T4), liothyronine has a faster onset of action as well as a shorter biological half-life, which may be due to less plasma protein binding to thyroxine-binding globulin and transthyretin.
Palpitations-Never really get. occasionally if taking a nap and startled awake with phone ring or doorbell, my heart feels like its races just briefly. End of january was not feeling palpitations but, when I climbed stairs, the intensity of my beat was increased( briefly), At that time my TSH was still WNL, but on low side heading toward hyperthyroid. My dr decreased synthroid dose, have not felt the pounding since. Right now, it is best I have felt in a long time
. I'm definitely not as weepy,my hair is softer again, periods are better, energy better, but best, my thinking is better- the fog has lifted as well as more motivated to get things done. My weight is slow to come off, but not gaining. I also have not been completely good about food logging. My body bugg goes back on now and will start logging
Linda- I think you will start to feel better, but may take time. It is always better to start at lower dose with meds and adjust .( being hyperthyroid is not fun either) I know for me- whatever todays labs results show, I will make note, because this is where i want to be.
Hope this helps. let me know if I can answer any other questions
Thanks Tracy! I know you can appreciate how awful I felt--and how impatient I am to feel better. I know a part of me is trying to rush the process. Since there may be a little back and forth on all this, I am curious to see how my level has been impacted, and start adjusting ASAP if necessary. I know I have to wait and give it time, and I will. This glimmer of normalcy, however, is feeling very, very welcome, and I want more.
I will change the Cytomel to the morning, given that I have a bit more leeway with eating. If that will give me a boost throughout the day, then that's even better. Thanks for sharing your info here and in the other post. I appreciate it v. much.
~LP
LP,
No medical advice, just wanted to let you know I'm glad you found out what was wrong. Here's to your return to your old self (insert two smiley faces with beer mugs)
Dave
X2
Thanks for posting...I'm going to get mine checked out too.
Docs, correct me if I'm wrong, but *make sure* you get the Free T3 and Free T4 levels in addition to the TSH. Not sure if they do that routinely, but just getting the TSH isn't good enough, IMO. (Three week expert that I now am.) Everytime I've asked for a midly more in-depth blood test, it's been done no problem.
smile... yep I got it too and just today found out I am hypothryoid and synthroid dosages are getting changed again (been on it 18 years)... have been to see doc sept/dec and now april. I think I have been tired since June 09!! or recovering in some way since then! here is what happens, you get used to feeling tired, used to pushing through workouts, used to pushing through everyday chores, used to putting needs of others before yourself and basically think what is wrong with me?? the constant need to be organized cuz it seems like you are forgetful, seem slower to get out the door and not as efficient either, tired in swims, longer to get ready in mornings, more coffee! worn out on bike rides, wanting to walk more on runs!, blue, just don't feel like you have it all together...and basically thinking... can I even do another Ironman? because really all you want to do is lay down! weight goes up and with that the need for more comfort food cuz you are too tired to get the weight off! and the vicious cycle..... my internal map doesn't work as well and I take wrong turns in my car, forget things on my lists, and my mind seems stuck sometimes or somewhat dumb! I have laid in bed thinking... okay I gotta get up! and my morning routine I have been a bit later or a bit more forgetful... and you can't fathom meeting people at 7 am.for bike ride and say instead, "i gotta get some sleep!" and then one day.. you say to yourself and you ask your friends.....(thanks!)... "I am tired of being tired" I am going to see doc! and get my bloodwork tested! and lo and behold, you are not crazy! "there is something wrong with me!"" what a great feeling! and patience on new meds kicking in....smile. ** my real cincher.. this past Saturday... no wind, blue skies and sunny and I was too tired to run, or bike! and instead napped after 10.5 hours of sleep. Husband said to me "you have got to tell the doc that!"
....
we have great people on the forum and thanks to those of you that said "yep, something is wrong M"!! some of you didn't know, cuz again, it creeps in and can be linked to so many other things..... if you are like me, you wanna know the symptoms cuz maybe you aren't feeling so hot right now!!
sources.
Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormone.
Early symptoms:
Knew it! What you described in email was classic. And, guys, this is NOT limited to women. I too was on a huge downward spiral with this wondering where the hell the real Linda went. The meds have finally kicked in, and I am feeling MUCH better. Took about 6 weeks to feel a difference, however. So don't be surprised if it takes a while. So glad you got it taken care of. You'll be on the mend, and I really can't imagine doing IMWI without you.
Karen Smyers went through a ton of hard times before she got diagnosed, although hers was full-blown thyroid cancer. I talked to her about it several times in the locker room at our gym. I can't help but think that this degree of endurance athletics has got to throw things out of whack. There are some studies, but nothing really conclusive. So I will contine to put my head in the sand.
It's a concern of mine, that all this intensity-based training will have long-term health implications. This concern underlies a lot of the Maffetone/Mark Allen/Gordo approach to long-course training; it's all too easy for a strong will to overcome our often delicate glandular systems. EN is a self-selecting group; those that can't handle the high intensity go away, leaving a skewed vision of how things "are".
On a separate note, Karen Smyers came to talk to our tri club last week for our yearly season kick off. She's awesome! I'm jealous that you get to talk to her regularly.
@ Linda- Did switching to day time cytomel make a difference? Glad you are feeling better, meds are kicking in
Marianne-Glald you have an answer. Wondering if maybe you need a cytomel/synthroid combo as well? yep on all the symptoms. Now that my levels are good for me amazing how much clearer my thinking is. last year just felt slow, more hair in shower and comb, nails, brittle, but for me, cry at the drop of a hat when things are off, & had very itchy skin, heavier & longer periods. last fall thought I was getting perimenopausal. Oh also the comfort food, ate lots of Mac and cheese over last year, add that weight gain of being hypothyroid and not being able to run=Tracy being FAAAAT. I'm down 10lbs since january, so heading in right direction. Now that can run, hoping weight will come off a little faster
Last week saw my endocrinologist, asked about training possibly effecting thyroid fxn. She did not give me a clear answer. Only thing she said that with people with normal thyroid fxn, their body can better adjust to the ups and downs of body's needs better than someone on a fixed dose of thyroid replacement. Given that, I guess there good be times under stress, increased demand, people taking meds for thyroid fxn may not be able to regulateas well. I need to do a lit search on that. She told me that my numbers are in a good range, I should be fine. I plan to keep track of symptoms as my training increases, get levels checked. My doctor has given me a few labs slips to get checked ( as I lose weight, my dose requirements may decrease, so need to check about every 15 -20lbs). maybe you guys can ask your dr for lab slip, so you can get levels checked prior to appt if feeling symptoms?
@Tracy--First of all,I can't thank you enough for all your help on this. It's helped me greatly, and I apprecaite it so much. Yes, the Cytomel in the day definitely helped. Not sure I should, but since it has such a short half life, I also decided to split the dose--morning and mid-afternoon. I feel more even. This week I feel much, much better. The bike feels really good, the running not so much. Pretty slow, the legs feel sluggish. I will simply try and get back at it slowly, be kind to myself, take breaks in the LRs if I need to, just do the best I can and not sweat it. Will follow-up with doc on lab slips--great suggestion.
@marianne--I really agree with Tracy. I bet the combo of Synthroid and Cytomel would be good for you. Google Cytomel, and the effects of taking straight T3 and you'll see what we mean. Worth exploring, IMO.
@Bill--so hard to know what causes what, isn't it? I wish it was a straight line. I've always been checked for whacky auto-immune things, but they come up negative. In terms of stress on the systems, yes, I have been at this endurance game for many years, but I have also had 5 pregnancies and 4 births--that's gotta count.
This old bod has been through a lot! Your reference to Maffetone, et al...did you mean their approach is kinder to the glandular systems? Say more. 
What think you?
@LP-Glad I could help, very glad you are feeling better
. I think you will continue to do so. The cytomel is usually prescribed as 2x/day for that reason. Your body just needed a little boost probably. My endocinologist said my t3 was in a good range, when it gets up higher even in the normal ranges is when problems with irrgeular heart rhythm/afib can start.
My running is sluggish as well ( but I'm running) I plan to do 5:1 run walk at IMLP ( at least for now)
@ M- if they do add cytomel at some point, expect that they will lower synthroid dose
Hang in there M- Things will start to feel better soon! Believe me , I KNOW what you are going through! Continue to do what you are doing- get it done when you can, rest up and nap when you need it
I'm going to get rechecked tomorrow and see what my levels are. I am feeling better (much), but not entirely. Now we really have to discuss this weight thing. Penny told me to increase calories to 1800 from 1400, so I did to get out of "starvation" mode. I have promptly gained another 1.5.
I read on the web story after story of people who gain the weight before the diagnosis, go on the meds, get regulated, then it still doesn't come off. Is that really true? What the hell am I supposed to do here? That seems to be exactly what is happening. I have been tracking things do diligently, so I know I'm not kidding myself about the intake and the output. It's mostly all settling in the abdomen (ugh), and Feel like a bag 'o water. Most of this must be water weight. I thnk I'm going to have a resting metabolism test done so I can base calorie intake on how slow my basal burning rate really. It must be down to nuthin'.
Also, I think I get a few heart palps on this stuff. Is that normal too? Lots of questions for the doc tomorrow.
There is a long discussion about training and hypo over at the evil empire--ST.
Linda-
Don't shoot the messenger. For me, n=1, I have aways had to work hard at maintaining weight., but I do get it off. Since grad school, graduated 3 yrs ago, it has been especially hard. With everything over last year, it went on quickly, very hard coming off.
I am going to be super duper diligent this week, write evrything down, see what happens, but may contact Penny for assistance. Even monday, after my 4 hr ride, sunday and 1:45 ride sat with run/walk, i was up 2lbs on Monday. Could be water. I measured my waist, and I am down about 1 in on waist.
As far as palpitations, I mentioned before, only thing I ever have isthe startle awake, I get a little flutter, but if i check pulse, its ok. The other thing my doctor always looks for is a tremor. I never have, even with all the coffee I drink.
Talk to your Dr tomorrow. I think it will come off, but may be slower than what you want. Could also be the muscle gaining?
Hang in there. very frustrating, I know. i wish I could say something that would help. only other thing I could tink of that people talk about is adrenals. Ask your dr about that. Also, what are the female hormones doing? I may have to check out ST.
i'm going to get in touch with my friend Trish, she was having hormonal issues a few yrs ago, affecting her running, can't remember what it was but last time I spoke with her things were better. I'll check on it
Finally am being a good patient and had tyroid levels re-done due to fatigue. I am out of whack again and my dose is being doubled. Constant vigilance is required.
Wow Michelle, sounds like you were out of whack
. Amazing how it can creep up on you. So many things can make us fatigued. Glad you got it checked. Hopefully you will be feeling back to yourself soon