Hypothyroid and Endurance Exercise?

Laura Searle

I'd love to get a response from this group. I have been hypothyroid for almost 18 years (I'm 46) and was put on Synthroid. After some dietary changes, vitamins, and consistent exercise I feel really good. I can't take Cytomel (T3) because it makes me have heart palpitations, so that's not an option. I have now ramped up my training with an OS program and feel really good. I"m 5 weeks in, but the other day I got REALLY cold (like in my bones cold) like I used to when I was hypothyroid. I still feel good, but it made me wonder if I need to up my medication a bit due to the increased work load. I try to keep to the lower heart rate zones when I'm told to, and my biggest goal is CONSISTENCY. I have an appointment in a few weeks and can have my thyroid levels checked then. I know it won't work to take extra meds just before exercise because that's not how thyroid hormone works- you store it for later use. I'm a little hesitant to increase my dose because I've had too high a dose in the past.

Has anyone had experience with this? I'd like to go to my doctor with information, but when I researched this there is almost nothing out there. I do know, from my biochemistry classes, that exercise decreases T3 and increases cortisol, but usually this is temporary as long as calories lost are replaced.

Thanks for reading!

Coach Patrick

I am going to bump this @Laura Searle -- and if we don't see more, maybe we move to General Discussions....  

Robert Sabo

  Interesting topic but I have no expertise too answer your question.  I wouldn't think that one episode of feeling cold would be reason to worry or feel the need to change things up.  Good luck and let us Know.

Danielle Santucci

Hey Laura,

I too have hypothyroidism (Hashimotos) and have been on medication for about 6 years now.  I started my protocol with synthroid but then switched to a more natural option (armour thyroid) which I have been on for a few years now and all levels (when tested) are normal.  I train a lot, almost excessively and have experienced your feeling of being "chilled to the bone"quite often.  I never really thought about it until I listened to this podcast recently:

https://bengreenfieldfitness.com/2017/01/the-paleo-thyroid-solution-book-with-elle-russ/ 

Highly recommend listening and also buying her book as it is a wealth of information.  I struggle with the symptoms everyday yet have found that adding a few supplements to my diet and eliminating sugar and gluten have had a profound effect overall.  

I hope this helps! 

Turby Wright

@ Laura, I've been dealing with low thyroid for about 8-9 years. My original symptoms included some fatigue but mostly being cold. Until fairly recently I would literally wear a jacket and a hat around the house except during really warm weather. Also open water swims were  an adventure. During a couple of long swims (2.4 miles) I became really hypothermic ( crazy shivering for like an hour) while wearing a full wetsuit, booties, gloves and warm cap with the water in the high 60s to low 70s!! I started around 50 mcg of levothyroxine and have gradually worked my way up to 137 mcg with testing about every 3 months. I'm finally feeling normal in terms of body temp and good in general. As I'm sure you know it's really important to find a doctor that knows about this. Many don't, especially as it relates to athletes and training. Really important to get the right tests (not just TSH) T4 and free T3 also. I even saw an highly recommended endocrinologist that really didn't get the training thing even when I said I didn't feel right. Now that I'm around where I need to be I don't have any issues with my training being compromised but I think the ongoing testing is really important. An interesting book is The Paleo Thyroid Solution, it talks about the authors struggle to find a doctor that understood for years and also how diet can help. Good luck! 

Laura Searle

Thanks for the feedback everyone! I have a great doctor that actually believes in gluten free and paleo diets, as well as supplements, to help heal. I am lucky that way. I am eating more carbs as I train harder, but still within a fairly low carb range. @Robert Sabo It's not just a cold feeling- you would have to experience hypothyroid symptoms to know what I'm talking about. I agree one instance doesn't mean much, but it got me thinking, and I've experienced a few other symptoms as well. @Danielle Santucci Love those resources- I've actually found a lot of success with supplementing Vitamin D, zinc, Mg, NAC and vitamin C, which were all low on my testing. Unfortunately I can't take Armour because it caused a huge increase in my anti-thyroid antibodies (I have Hashimoto's). @Turby Wright Yes I agree the testing is so important! I'm on 112 mcg right now- they increased me to 125 from my 100's and I had the worst hyper symptoms- couldn't sleep, heart palpatations, anxiety (I"m never anxious), etc. 112 seems to working for now. I guess I'll keep testing every three months and adjust if needed. IT seems like if I'm burning more energy, I'll need more thryoid hormone, but who knows! I actually feel better with exercise.

Again, thanks everyone!

Danielle Santucci

Laura Searle said:

@Danielle Santucci Love those resources- I've actually found a lot of success with supplementing Vitamin D, zinc, Mg, NAC and vitamin C, which were all low on my testing. Unfortunately I can't take Armour because it caused a huge increase in my anti-thyroid antibodies (I have Hashimoto's). 

Two other supplements you may want to consider are B12 and Selenium, both are recommended by the author in the BG podcast.  I supplement with Selenium especially because of the increase in antibodies-Ive noticed the same with Armour as I too have Hashimotos.  Apparently it helps in lowering the antibodies.  Additionally, Im not sure if you see an endocrinologist or a functional medicine doctor, but Ive noticed with a func med dr they tend to look at the entire picture rather than just your typical thyroid numbers (TSH, T4's, etc).     

Laura Searle

@Danielle Santucci I take B12 too- forgot that one! I'm a little worried about selenium because I eat a lot of selenium rich food and don't want to overdose- one of the side effects is loss of hair and I've already lost enough! Thinking of trying it though. I go to an endocrinologist but she does all the testing that a functional med would. I love Michelle Crorey and Isabella Wentz- have you read either of their books?

Danielle Santucci

I haven't read either book but will for sure.  I've never heard of selenium causing hair loss.  I've heard of low iron having that effect.  In fact, I had my blood work tested through InsideTracker and was surprised to find out my overall iron count was good but my ferritin numbers were low.  Brought the info to my dr and she put me on Vitron-C to up my ferritin levels and so far I've noticed a huge difference in my hair loss (for months it was really bad-this was pre selenium supplementing).  Highly recommend the InsideTracker tests...very informative.