[utahrunner]

hello all,

I have run through happy times and sad times and just for feeling at peace with the world, the one consistency in my life has been running, now I'm struggling to do simple things around the house and not revert to sleeping all day long having just been diagnosed with an over-active thyroid. I've been put on beta blockers and anti-thyroid medication. I wish I could run to reduce the throid related anxiety but I'm not sure how my body will respond. Has anyone have any experience, pearls of wisdom as I'm feeling at a loss.

 

[Nellie]

Hi Utahrunner

I am no expert but my neice has an over active thyroid and is on medication also and she is running every day and covering a lot of miles....she is planning to run the Belfast Marathon in May 2007....I would suggest speak to your GP

 

[Grant]

I had an over-active thyroid and was on beta blockers as well. I ended up having the radioactive drink to kill it off, so I now have an underactive thyroid.

Speaking to you GP is a must, as your heart rate is clearly very high, so exercise is probably something your GP would advise against (mine did).

When I returned to training, I also spoke to a couple of trainers in the gym about the situation and they helped me with training programmes.

 

[Trinity]

I had an over-active thyroid and was on beta blockers as well. I ended up having the radioactive drink to kill it off, so I now have an underactive thyroid.

Speaking to you GP is a must, as your heart rate is clearly very high, so exercise is probably something your GP would advise against (mine did).

When I returned to training, I also spoke to a couple of trainers in the gym about the situation and they helped me with training programmes.

I've been diagnosed with an under active thyroid, and my meds haven't stabilised it yet...I'm due for another blood test on Tuesday.

How do you cope with the symptoms and training?

I'm not doing much mileage at the moment, mainly due to the fact that I'm coming back from an injury (which I'm sure is linked to my thyroid problem...before I was diagnosed). But normal mileage for me would be between 35 and 50 per week and I'm not sure I'll be able to do that with the tiredness that I've been experiencing.

And before you start wondering what I'm doing up at this time... I slept for about 12 hours last night/this morning.

But I guess I shouldn't stay on here any longer tonight...

 

[Grant]

Until you get the dosage of thyroxine correct, you'll feel permanently shattered and you might put on weight, regardless of how many miles you put in.

Once I got the dosage right, I was pretty much back to normal.

My main advice would be to treat like any other illness until you get the medication right. Also, build up your mileage slowly - this might take longer than you think - and keep going back for the regular blood tests with your GP.

 

[indianrunner]

hey there all of u with under and overactive thyroids....grant has nailed the issue to the bone when he says that until ur dosages of meds are not balanced out you will experience ur symptoms ......

utahrunner ur anxiety and ur lack of sleep are all a result of ur overactive thyroid....also remember that the meds uve just started will wash you out as well...dont fret too much and yes do go and see ur GP u may be referred to an endocrinologist already!!!remember that in time this too shall pass and that you will be alrite.....believe u me!i have seen plenty of people with overactive thyroids.....

trinity ur symptoms are classical of an underactive thyroid and i guess the same advise holds for u too!!!except that u need some thyroxine to kickstart ur metabolism.....which i am sure ur GP/endocrinologist will in due course!!!

lotsa hugs to both of u!!!

 

[Trinity]

Thanks for those replies...
I went to see my GP yesterday to get me signed off work for this week because I work nights and I can't even function in the day, let alone work all night.

Anyway, she gave me a note, but also said that she thinks my symptoms are more likely due to depression! She even wanted to give me a prescription for anti-depressants!

I'm already taking Levothyroxine and have been for a month, but the GP reckoned that my thyroid level wouldn't be low enough for all the symptoms that I am experiencing, which are

constant tiredness
feeling cold
confusion
depression
aching joints
tingling in my hands


Suffice to say that I said thanks but no thanks to the anti-d prescription...after all, I've got nothing to be depressed about, except the above symptoms!

I have a blood test booked for today, so hopefully that will show the truth...so long as the GP is willing to be proved wrong

 

[utahrunner]

Gosh it is so nice to hear from all you folk

Hi to you to Trinity, funnily enough I had the response about having some anti-d's as well but since I was happily training until this came along I'd hardly given up on life! It is just depressing having the symptoms as they wear you down after a bit, especially if it involves not sleeping enough. From what I have read your symptoms sound classic under-active but the blood levels will help confirm. Maybe the symptoms have knocked your confidence a bit, mine have, but look for the small triumphs everyday -I found it helped me.

I'm still waiting for the endocrinology appointment, bless the NHS and their waiting lists!

 

[indianrunner]

Thanks for those replies...
I went to see my GP yesterday to get me signed off work for this week because I work nights and I can't even function in the day, let alone work all night.

Anyway, she gave me a note, but also said that she thinks my symptoms are more likely due to depression! She even wanted to give me a prescription for anti-depressants!

I'm already taking Levothyroxine and have been for a month, but the GP reckoned that my thyroid level wouldn't be low enough for all the symptoms that I am experiencing, which are

constant tiredness
feeling cold
confusion
depression
aching joints
tingling in my hands


Suffice to say that I said thanks but no thanks to the anti-d prescription...after all, I've got nothing to be depressed about, except the above symptoms!

I have a blood test booked for today, so hopefully that will show the truth...so long as the GP is willing to be proved wrong

well done trinity....go back to ur GP and say that all that u are experiencing are symptoms of hypothyroidism...when were ur last set of blood tests?and what were ur thyroid levels....u dont need f***ing antidepressants....u need ur thyroid elevels checkin!!! and u need to see an endocrinologist!!!if the GP cant handle ur thyroid levels them maybe there is somefink more that the endocrinologist can look into!i am sorry if i sound rude!!!and well done u for being so brave as to havin faith in ursell!

 

[Trinity]

well done trinity....go back to ur GP and say that all that u are experiencing are symptoms of hypothyroidism...when were ur last set of blood tests?and what were ur thyroid levels....u dont need f***ing antidepressants....u need ur thyroid elevels checkin!!! and u need to see an endocrinologist!!!if the GP cant handle ur thyroid levels them maybe there is somefink more that the endocrinologist can look into!i am sorry if i sound rude!!!and well done u for being so brave as to havin faith in ursell!

Thanks, it helps to get back up support from you guys coz sometimes I can start doubting myself, even though I know quite a bit more than the average person about anatomy and physiology. We're supposed to be able to trust GPs aren't we


Anyway, I discovered this thyroid problem by accident really when I had bloods taken for a problem that I've been having for over 3 years now. And thinking about the symptoms of this 3 year+ old problem, it could actually be linked to my thyroid!
The bloods that first showed that my thyroid was under active were taken in April, but it was only slight so my GP didn't prescribe anything and said I should go back for another blood test in 3 months.

I had another blood test early in July, which showed no improvement/change so I was prescribed 2 months worth of Levothyroxine 50mg. I've now been taking them for 6 weeks and have had another blood test today...so it'll be interesting to hear what the results are, especially as I feel that my symptoms are worse.

 

[Grant]

50mg - I've been on 200mg for the past two years!

Definately get to see a thyroid specialist and get it checked out. The constant tiredness is definately a symptom but I didn't experience some of you other symptoms.

Luckily, I got to see an NHS endocrinologist really quickly.