Training with hypothyroidism (Hashimoto Auto Immune Disease)

[Saudiq]

Hi All,

 

I've recently been diagnosed with Hashimotos/hypothyroidism/low thyroid and I'd like to know if there are any fellow cyclist with the same condition and how you've been living with the condition?

 

I had my tests done as a result of my weight ballooning from 78kg to 96kg despite eating fairly healthy, cycling up to 6 times a week and hitting the gym 3-4 times per week. My blood test came back with my TSH on 21. I've now been on euthyroid medication (Since December) but my weight is not coming down and I'm even more disciplined with my eating and becoming very frustrated. Since starting my meds I've noticed that my resting heart rate has increased from 58 to about 70 which affects my cycling in a negative way. 

 

My endocrinologist seems to be an expert but doesn't seem to care much about symptoms, he's more interested in typing what I'm saying so keen to hear from a fellow cyclist. Other forums I've read that people with Hashimotos have to accept that training at high intensity for long periods of time is no longer possible and that due to low thyroid, the way the body absorbs nutrients is affected and this results in low performance?

 

I'd appreciate any feedback.

[V12man]

I know a guy - will send him your link - he may or may not respond.

[Saudiq]

I know a guy - will send him your link - he may or may not respond.

 

Thanks 

[durbanjacques]

A side note. You may also want to put some research into your medication. My wife was diagnosed with Hashimotos a few years ago and promptly put onto medication to get her T3 and T4 levels normalized. What the specialist didn't tell her was that some of the Hypothyroidism medications could have an adverse effect on bone density. The one she was on was one of those. After 2 years of medication she fell off a horse and broke her back because her bones were becoming brittle and couldn't take the shock. Luckily she is okay today, but it was touch and go.

 

We bounced around from specialist to specialist in SA. I really hope you have more success.

[Saudiq]

A side note. You may also want to put some research into your medication. My wife was diagnosed with Hashimotos a few years ago and promptly put onto medication to get her T3 and T4 levels normalized. What the specialist didn't tell her was that some of the Hypothyroidism medications could have an adverse effect on bone density. The one she was on was one of those. After 2 years of medication she fell off a horse and broke her back because her bones were becoming brittle and couldn't take the shock. Luckily she is okay today, but it was touch and go.

 

We bounced around from specialist to specialist in SA. I really hope you have more success.

 

Crap, that doesn't sound very encouraging. The guy I've gone to see supposed to be a specialist in this condition but just doesn't seem interested in listening to me.

 

I do lots of weight bearing exercises to ensure that my bones don't become brittle but I'll definitely check out if my meds have this side effect.

 

Really glad to hear your wife is okay. As an MTB'er the likeliness of falling on my back is very high so this is very scary for me

[durbanjacques]

Crap, that doesn't sound very encouraging. The guy I've gone to see supposed to be a specialist in this condition but just doesn't seem interested in listening to me.

 

I do lots of weight bearing exercises to ensure that my bones don't become brittle but I'll definitely check out if my meds have this side effect.

 

Really glad to hear your wife is okay. As an MTB'er the likeliness of falling on my back is very high so this is very scary for me

 

Yes I don't want to fear monger but if I can spare anyone the year we had when she fell I will gladly do it. She now has a handle on the Hashimotos and no medication gets into her system without knowing exactly what can be expected.

 

If you still feel uncomfortable with his handling of your situation I would suggest getting another opinion. This isn't a short term thing that will be treated and cured. Its a long term commitment so you have to be comfortable with your clinician. I wish I could suggest someone but she actually had 3 different specialists in 5 years and more blood tests than I can count.

[Paul Ruinaard]

Hi,

 

I have hashimoto's and have lived with it for 25 + years - it's quite a long story to type into a mail. It's hereditary in our family.

 

Thyroid is pretty central a governor so don't think you don't need to pay it attention.

 

Some of what you say is pretty much accurate and they will be what you experience. They can possibly be alleviated but its the side effects of the syndrome.

 

Someone once put it to me like you have your foot flat on the accelerator (TSH) but the car is not delivering fuel (T3 and T4 via thyroid gland). that explained it for me.

 

But it's who you are and what you are made up of so unless you can change time then there isn't really much point in worrying about whether you can get back to normal. I feel pretty normal all the time and have good endurance but power is dropping more because of age.

 

Weight and recovery are issues always and you may never fix that with THyroid.

 

You have many other avenues including diet and LCHF is very well suited to THyroid - lots of info about that. 

 

As thyroid is approx 40% absorbed in the gut probiotics are also essential

 

FWIW you won't find the doctors too keen to focus in on your symptoms - you will need to spend a lot of time, money and research around it to get your thyroid in to optimum condition as well as look at other markers if it does not respond to thyroid supplementation - get T 4 tested as wella s T 3 to see whether you are absorbing thyroid. I have to have Ditroxin.

 

You need to be tested every 6 month and based on that your dose adjusted until its normal. Take the thyroid the same time in the early morning - believe me it make a difference.

 

Remember that the blood tests have acceptable bands - which are quite wide, and your doc will likely accept if you are inside these it's okay. Its not, you want to get it optimised. On the lower edge is just as bad as on the upper edge.

 

Be careful of all the quacks out there that have some sort of idea that they can fix you - it ain't going to happen. there are lots of people who will sell you vitamins etc to increase absorption etc as it's pretty common as a disease. they don't work and can cause more harm than good.

 

Get a good endocrinologist that makes you happy and answers your questions and do a lot of googling and you will find a lot of answers.

 

Recovery is an issue - leaden legs and the like plus weight gain - let's say I have always been a big guy....

 

Its really a matter of understanding what you can do to optimise your situation and then using all avenues to get there. Diet is one big one, really. 

 

FWIW - I am not aware that it has had any negative impact on my cycling however I have had it longer than I have cycled....

 

Feel free to drop me any questions - there are some links I have somewhere that I read up on I will try to find.

[Paul Ruinaard]

Yes I don't want to fear monger but if I can spare anyone the year we had when she fell I will gladly do it. She now has a handle on the Hashimotos and no medication gets into her system without knowing exactly what can be expected.

 

If you still feel uncomfortable with his handling of your situation I would suggest getting another opinion. This isn't a short term thing that will be treated and cured. Its a long term commitment so you have to be comfortable with your clinician. I wish I could suggest someone but she actually had 3 different specialists in 5 years and more blood tests than I can count.

Hi - i this may be female related.

 

FWIW: I have never had any issues with bone density over 25 years. And i fall pretty often.

 

However thyroid supplements like Euthyrox are almost perfect substitutes and are well absorbed by the body. Its when you get into resistance to absorption that they start changing your drugs.

 

Look at diet - it's key to improving absorption. Really.

 

THyroid is a tricky business and it's really central so endocrinologists have had many issues with it and can't always answer what is wrong.

 

I have had High TSH and T3 but low T 4 for years - yet in theory that can't happen. They even tested my samples in multiple labs.

 

Its not a one day game - put it this way - it can be once you have it stabilized but its a lifetime issue that you are dealing with. 

 

If you have Hashimoto's your body is killing your thyroid and there are lots of reasons why it won't reverse that - this is in the territory of autoimmune - it sees your thyroid as an invader.

 

So you will have to work with this for the balance of your life and it will change and your doses will vary so it needs monitoring.

[Paul Ruinaard]

Hi All,

 

I've recently been diagnosed with Hashimotos/hypothyroidism/low thyroid and I'd like to know if there are any fellow cyclist with the same condition and how you've been living with the condition?

 

I had my tests done as a result of my weight ballooning from 78kg to 96kg despite eating fairly healthy, cycling up to 6 times a week and hitting the gym 3-4 times per week. My blood test came back with my TSH on 21. I've now been on euthyroid medication (Since December) but my weight is not coming down and I'm even more disciplined with my eating and becoming very frustrated. Since starting my meds I've noticed that my resting heart rate has increased from 58 to about 70 which affects my cycling in a negative way. 

 

My endocrinologist seems to be an expert but doesn't seem to care much about symptoms, he's more interested in typing what I'm saying so keen to hear from a fellow cyclist. Other forums I've read that people with Hashimotos have to accept that training at high intensity for long periods of time is no longer possible and that due to low thyroid, the way the body absorbs nutrients is affected and this results in low performance?

 

I'd appreciate any feedback.

BTW - just reread your post wrt weight and diet.

 

All i can say is LCHF. Hashimoto's is autoimmune. Carbs and refined wheat etc are not good for autoimmune - they trigger immune responses. THis is pretty well documented and accepted as a link.

 

I lost 10 kg pretty easily on LCHF after struggling. THere are a lot of opinions on this if you google. But suffice to say that LCHF us well suited for autoimmune as well.

 

Secondly absorption of the thyroid is key so you need to pay attention to that. Your regime needs to be the same time every day and also before you eat anything in the morning plus take probiotics.

[Saudiq]

BTW - just reread your post wrt weight and diet.

 

All i can say is LCHF. Hashimoto's is autoimmune. Carbs and refined wheat etc are not good for autoimmune - they trigger immune responses. THis is pretty well documented and accepted as a link.

 

I lost 10 kg pretty easily on LCHF after struggling. THere are a lot of opinions on this if you google. But suffice to say that LCHF us well suited for autoimmune as well.

 

Secondly absorption of the thyroid is key so you need to pay attention to that. Your regime needs to be the same time every day and also before you eat anything in the morning plus take probiotics.

Thanks so much for your detailed reply and also confirming my symptoms. When my buddies claim I'm just weak when I know I put in serious training thenit becomes very frustrating. I've also fallen victim of overtraining and ignoring my body which i now learn i need to stop

[Saudiq]

I've. Been trying LCHF But was told my cholesterol is quite high

[V12man]

I know a guy - will send him your link - he may or may not respond.

OK - here is my mates response - sent by email as he is not a hubber.

 

"My weight is consistent and I actually have lost some weight since being diagnosed 4 years ago, consistently around 65kg, was about 68kg prior to the condition.

 

Cycled from Cairo to CT after being diagnosed, a few months after actually and had no problems.

 

Heart rate is same as it was prior to the condition.

 

Eating, I am relatively strict but I do eat loads….adrenal fatigue is something to watch out for, but that could affect anyone and not only those with hypothyroidism.

 

All in all I carry on as though I don’t have the condition, I don’t know why that is the case, I don’t think I “manage” it differently than anybody else would, I just take my thyroid drugs everyday and that is it.

 

I do not train at the intensity I used to so don’t know how that would play out, would I still be able to? Don’t know. I have a few days now and then where I have a full go on the bike and feel fine, but would I be able to do that consistently? 

 

I would see another endocrinologist who understands cyclists (or sport) by the sounds of it. I can recommend someone (offline)."

[Paul Ruinaard]

I kind of agree with V12 Man's mate.

 

I can't say i know of a life without it so maybe I am the wrong person. But i dont think its such a massive life changer and that once you are on a stable thyroid dose you just stick there. Check your levels every 6 months and ensure you understand what you are looking at so there is no BS. So all the stuff that helps it and less of the stuff that irritates it. Kind of like having any other condition. You manage it.

 

As I have got older power has dropped off (age related more than anything) and definitely have noticed that I can get very stiff and sore for days after a serious effort. THis is probably the single symptom that I can attach directly to the low thyroid levels aka hashimoto's. I just take  a lot longer to recover. Multi day races are a problem therefore as I am just shattered if I go hard on day one, but multi day races are not really that big for me any more. Warm up, go slower on the start and make sure you does your efforts is what I do. I dont race anything close to what I did though, so it's really not hampering me in any way.

 

There may be other mental conditions which you now understand better as a result of low thyroid - which you can sort out for yourself. This definitely was the case for me. But there is a clear linkage as thyroid is so central.

 

Like I said - just manage around it - I can't say that it has had any impact on my cycling mainly because i had it before i started cycling.

 

 

[Saudiq]

OK - here is my mates response - sent by email as he is not a hubber.

 

"My weight is consistent and I actually have lost some weight since being diagnosed 4 years ago, consistently around 65kg, was about 68kg prior to the condition.

 

Cycled from Cairo to CT after being diagnosed, a few months after actually and had no problems.

 

Heart rate is same as it was prior to the condition.

 

Eating, I am relatively strict but I do eat loads….adrenal fatigue is something to watch out for, but that could affect anyone and not only those with hypothyroidism.

 

All in all I carry on as though I don’t have the condition, I don’t know why that is the case, I don’t think I “manage” it differently than anybody else would, I just take my thyroid drugs everyday and that is it.

 

I do not train at the intensity I used to so don’t know how that would play out, would I still be able to? Don’t know. I have a few days now and then where I have a full go on the bike and feel fine, but would I be able to do that consistently? 

 

I would see another endocrinologist who understands cyclists (or sport) by the sounds of it. I can recommend someone (offline)."

 

Thanks for the efforts VMan. Sounds like our journey has been a bit different though. I think the last time I weighed 65kgs must be when I was in primary school lol 

 

This is very encouraging though. I've done my best to continue as if I don't have the condition but this thing has affected me to the point where I can't just continue at least I'm not at that point yet. 

[Saudiq]

I kind of agree with V12 Man's mate.

 

I can't say i know of a life without it so maybe I am the wrong person. But i dont think its such a massive life changer and that once you are on a stable thyroid dose you just stick there. Check your levels every 6 months and ensure you understand what you are looking at so there is no BS. So all the stuff that helps it and less of the stuff that irritates it. Kind of like having any other condition. You manage it.

 

As I have got older power has dropped off (age related more than anything) and definitely have noticed that I can get very stiff and sore for days after a serious effort. THis is probably the single symptom that I can attach directly to the low thyroid levels aka hashimoto's. I just take  a lot longer to recover. Multi day races are a problem therefore as I am just shattered if I go hard on day one, but multi day races are not really that big for me any more. Warm up, go slower on the start and make sure you does your efforts is what I do. I dont race anything close to what I did though, so it's really not hampering me in any way.

 

There may be other mental conditions which you now understand better as a result of low thyroid - which you can sort out for yourself. This definitely was the case for me. But there is a clear linkage as thyroid is so central.

 

Like I said - just manage around it - I can't say that it has had any impact on my cycling mainly because i had it before i started cycling.

 

Thanks again for your detailed replies Paul. I'm hoping to get to the point where everything has stabilised and soon. 

 

The delayed recovery now also finally makes sense, I was constantly confused as to why my legs were always sore even when I didn't train for nearly a week. 

 

How have you managed to decrease your intensity without fighting the need to want to push yourself mentally? I've always pushed myself hard and struggling to make the shift to reduce the intensity. 

 

Also, I've read that low thyroid levels affects the bad cholesterol in your blood levels and my recent blood test confirmed my bad levels were quite high and this is despite me eating lots of healthy fats 

[Paul Ruinaard]

Hi Saudiq,

 

How are you doing on this. Some good links for you:

 

http://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/what-to-do-if-your-tsh-is-normal-and-you-are-anything-but

 

http://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/top-11-things-you-need-to-know-about-thyroid-medications