Hypothyroid and poor exercise tolerance

[Manxie]

Dear Fellow thyroid sufferers,
                  I have now been taking Eltroxin 100mcg for two weeks and 50mcg for four weeks prior to that. I am improving - but even though my tsh is much improved (5.9 on last blood test three weeks ago) - I still cant walk up even a small hill without huffing and puffing like Thomas the Tank. I am not fit I know this, but the intolerance seems excessive in comparision to the lack of fitness as I do walk for 30 minutes most days and can walk for miles on the flat without a problem (apart from the joints aching continually!). Im just wondering if the exercise intolerance is one of the last symptoms to go? will it ever go?? I am hoping to lose some weight but I find this hard (even on meds it seems) and this uncomfortable breathlessness is one reason I some times avoid pushing myself that little bit harder- becos it feels like I'll keel over and die quite frankly!! Does anyone else experience this??
                     Hoping to hear from anyone who can appreciate what Im describing,
                                     Love Manxie xx

[Barb135]

This thread is 4 years old and we haven't seen any of the above posters, in all that time.  I doubt you'll get a response.

[NeedSomeHelp123]

How are you doing now?  What helped you?  Please let us know.

[tashan]

i do sometimes have that feeling of breathlessness and intolerance during exercises especially doing weight endurance ones.i feel it even though my tsh levels are within the normal limits.i think yuou must affix this problem with your doctor.i myself typically dont understand why this happens.earlier ,in my initial days iused to feel comfortable but this problem has started offlate.i would really look forward for your further edition on this .wait and watch and keep me infomed with your progress and do repy me the advice your doctor has given.i think you will feel better once your tsh level falls to normal.  

[estrelinha]

Hi
I'm new with this problems, my TSH is 2,9 and I can't do exercise (Hashimoto disease, very recent diagnosis), and I feel very tired, these are my symptoms. I am a very energic person and nobody would think I could be hipo. So I think my levels should be lower (TSH), tomorrow I'm going to the endocrinologist and ask him to give me some low dose of hormone /T4). My free T3 and T4 are slightly low, and what I read here people have symptoms if TSH is more then 2.
Go to the doctors discuss it with them if you don't feel welll

[Manxie]

Thanks guys,
          I guess I'm thinking my tsh may be further down now as that test was before my increase and it did seem to come down quite quickly from 15 to 5.9 with four weeks of the 50mcg. It's nice to hear reassurance though that when it gets below 2 I may just see the back of this symptom. Its all very confusing for me at the moment as I have positive antibodies in my system too (not thyroid though!) so I dont know which left over symptoms ( joint pains bad, fatigue not as bad, muscle twitches in face and shoulder, ear pain, and sore throat that comes and goes) relate to that and which still relate to the thyroid. I guess I wont either till that TSH is below 2. Next blood test not till 23rd - so I'll let you all know where I am then.
                                      Thanks Manxie xx
                      

[annemarielillis]

I couldn't tolerate exercise until my tsh was 1.89. It was 7.9 when I started treatment and took a good year, maybe more to get it down.

My three sisters and I all agree that we feel our personal best when our TSH is under 2.0. When it creeps above that we start feeling those darn panic-attacks, adrenalin surges, breathlessness, heart palps, ect. Hopefully your doctor will work with you and get you to a point where you feel your personal best. My doctor wanted to stop increasing my dose when I got in the "normal" range, but after I asked, she agreed to keep going until I was symptom free. (which was under 2.) I think the "normal high" TSH should be re-evaluated. A 5.5 is WAY too high for anyone I know who has thyroid problems. Now my 11-year-old has a THS of 3.46 and is symptomatic, but because she is in the "normal" range, she is not being treated. It's very frustrating, especially knowing how I felt a constant simmering uncomfortable feeling at that number, and I was still gaining weight.

Hang in there - and best wishes in getting your numbers down so you can breathe. I know how you feel and it stinks. I was gasping for air all the time and they kept saying it was anxiety. It feels so good to feel good now.

[AR-10]

It may take a few months before you start feeling well enough to exercise the way you used to. Your levels are not quite right yet, and then your body will need some time to heal.