Hypothyroid Runners

Ultima_Morpha
Ultima_Morpha Posts: 892 Member
edited November 18 in Fitness and Exercise
I'm in the process of being evaluated for low thyroid function. One of the many symptoms that I am struggling with is decreased cardiopulmonary function. I can see a marked decrease in my pace (>70 data points for same route) over time since I hit a personal record for this 10 mile route in December 2016. When I ran it about 10 days ago, I had my worst recorded paced since Jun 2016--which is the first time that I hit that distance.

I've run 6 (road) half marathons (plus a 25k trail run and half marathon trail run) since December and my pace has progressively gotten worse despite conditions being better in most cases (one of my best times included running to the crest of a pretty big bridge). On the average day, I should be sub-2 for a half marathon by at least a couple of minutes...that hasn't been the case in the last couple of races.

I'm wondering if anyone else has been diagnosed with hypothyroidism after becoming a runner and if you experienced any of the same?

Replies

  • ContraryMaryMary
    ContraryMaryMary Posts: 1,786 Member
    I'm a hypo runner but medication keeps me on track - I can imagine that if you're unmedicated or under-medicated then you'll definitely show it in your run speed. I know that a symptom of hypothyroidism is thigh weakness and I remember having 'heavy' legs when I was unmedicated and I found it exhausting to go for walks, especially uphill.

    It may be worth getting full bloods done though, as other things can also slow you down, not just your thyroid. A friend of mine was very low in iron but within a week of having an iron shot her run pace was 15 seconds a kilometre faster with no extra effort, and she's gotten even faster since then.
  • hekla90
    hekla90 Posts: 595 Member
    Are you overtraining and physically worn out? That's quite a few runs. If you have hypothyroidism you should feel better once they start you on meds. Hypothyroidism is reasonably easy to diagnosis and manage/ in sure they at least ran a CBC and CMP in addition to thyroid function. Doesn't hurt to ask for a ferritin level to be run which most women are low or borderline low in.
  • spiriteagle99
    spiriteagle99 Posts: 3,748 Member
    I'll second (third) the suggestion of getting your ferritin level checked. It made a huge difference for me when my iron stores were low. I am hypothyroid but have been on medication and stable for several years. I don't think it makes a difference. Getting older has made a difference in my ability to handle heat, but that's a different issue.
  • Ultima_Morpha
    Ultima_Morpha Posts: 892 Member
    @ContraryMaryMary
    @hekla90
    @spiriteagle99
    @MobyCarp

    Thank you everyone for the information and responses. It is very much appreciated and helpful.

    It is quite possible that I was over-training some of last year, I was feeling so amazing that I just kept going and going...but that certainly hasn't been the case in the past few months when I've been feeling my worst. Despite running 1600 miles since June 2016, I've been very cognizant of only doing what was comfortable and incorporated more yoga, weights, and elliptical. I had gastric bypass surgery in 2015 and am very diligent about ensuring that I get enough calories, take my vitamins, and pay close attention to how I am feeling.

    It is more than the running that has been a problem...I have had severe issues with fatigue, concentration, moodiness, dry skin, bowel movements, headaches, joint and muscle pain. I know, I know...you're thinking, "Why the hell has she waited so long to deal with this?" Honestly, due to having dealt with lupus for quite a few years, I'm quite accustomed to not feeling particularly well. It was the inability to focus (which was impacting my work) and the shift in my running pace that pissed me off and triggered me to feel like something else was at work.

    The benefit of having had gastric bypass means that I've had comprehensive blood work done regularly for the past two years. Except for thyroid, I have history and trends for a lot of factors. Here is what I know:

    Between Jan '16 to Jan 1'7:
    Ferritin went from 45 to 14. Not flagged because technically still "normal" and other iron factors in good shape.
    B-12 went from 1357 to 719....again, not flagged because in normal range.
    V-D went from 56 to 34

    My zinc was on the decline between Oct '15 and Jun '16. I started some extra supplementation and that is back in a "normal" range as of Jan '17.

    I'm annoyed that I mentioned to the nurse practitioner at my surgeon's office in January that I was feeling off and that they didn't notice the trends in the results I listed and some other factors.

    Aside from the above, I think that I've managed a perfect storm of conditions which has finally laid me low:
    I stopped eating meat in an effort to reduce protein intake as my kidney function was showing some stress and the surgeon's office was concerned about the amount of protein I was eating.

    I have also been eating A LOT of raw, cruciferous vegetables which apparently have goitrogenic compounds that can interfered with thyroid function. The lupus affects my liver function...I learned that a good portion of T4-T3 conversion takes place in the liver. That would make sense since, while my TSH level isn't a disaster, my T4 is at the very lower end of normal and my T3 is just below normal.

    I will request a ferritin check when I see my new primary care doctor on Friday. The nurse practitioner that I saw to establish in the practice last week ordered a CBC, but that didn't include ferritin.

    I am hopeful that this doctor will take a functional approach to things and understand that normal isn't always optimal. I made a goal to run a race (at least 10k) every month this year and want to do a full marathon in December.She's got to get me feeling better!
  • 30kgin2017
    30kgin2017 Posts: 228 Member
    I ran before getting hypothyroid and run now that I am medicated. I noticed a big difference in my ability to run faster. Within a couple of weeks of going on medication my max heart rate jumped about 20bpm and my ability to hold a faster speed increased. I had a pretty set running route and routine at the time so it was the only factor that changed. It was my low RHR that prompted me to see the dr in the first place it was down to 44, I'd put fatigue down to previously having glandular fever (I think its called mono in other parts of the world) and running around after 3 small kids.
  • Ultima_Morpha
    Ultima_Morpha Posts: 892 Member
    I had put down my lowish RHR to having been in such good shape! It was 48 when I did my Dexa scan in December. My blood pressure has been trending up in the past few months. Even at my heaviest and 10 months pregnant, I was a solid 120/80 every day of the week--so lower than would be expected for an obese person. It had been trending down as I lost the weight (110 or lower over 70 or lower), but I've seen an uptick--but, again, within normal therapeutic range even if not normal for me. I had put it down to my body adjusting to a new normal but now, along with everything else, I'm concerned that it is connected to my thyroid (or something).
    30kgin2017 wrote: »
    I ran before getting hypothyroid and run now that I am medicated. I noticed a big difference in my ability to run faster. Within a couple of weeks of going on medication my max heart rate jumped about 20bpm and my ability to hold a faster speed increased. I had a pretty set running route and routine at the time so it was the only factor that changed. It was my low RHR that prompted me to see the dr in the first place it was down to 44, I'd put fatigue down to previously having glandular fever (I think its called mono in other parts of the world) and running around after 3 small kids.

  • MobyCarp
    MobyCarp Posts: 2,927 Member
    @Ultima_Morpha - Wow. A perfect storm of conditions, indeed.

    The low RHR looks normal for a distance runner, but that doesn't mean there isn't something else going on too.

    Running a race every month is reasonable for a conditioned runner. A 10K every month won't hurt you. A half marathon every month may be too much, assuming you are racing it and not just participating in it as an easy run exercise. I've run at least one race a month since last November, but many of them have been shorter races: 10K, 5K, 8K XC, 5K, 7.5 mile, half marathon, 5 mile, 5 mile, 8K XC, 4.4 mile, 5 mile, 8K, marathon, 10K, 10K.

    From the distance runner perspective, sometimes I get beat up and need to back off. It's been a long, slow, difficult learning process to identify when my body is telling me that even though I can run 7 miles today, it's a good day to back off and only do a 3 mile recovery run. Much of my learning process has consisted of making mistakes, and having extended periods of recovery or rehab after them.

    I expect it will be even more difficult for you to learn when to back off from running; but you do need to learn to distinguish between normal-for-you feeling beat up and feeling beat up enough from running that it's not time to push for longer or faster. It's worth doing. Distance runners are typically capable of running themselves into injury. The distance runners with longevity have learned not to do so. Sometimes, less is more. The trick is identifying when.

    Having said all that, a shift in your ability to run *can* be an indicator that something else is going on with your health. I know a guy who says the doctors just told him he was getting older when he complained about not being able to run like he used to . . . till his wife got him a fitness monitor that recorded heart rate. That gave him some data to show the doctors. Now, he's back rebuilding his running ability after heart surgery last year. He says that absent that toy fitness monitor, he'd be pushing up daisies.

    And that's a problem runners have when talking to their doctors. "Doc, something's wrong! I get so *tired* after I've run 10 miles!" The doctor needs to know that this is a marathon runner to take such a statement seriously.
  • hekla90
    hekla90 Posts: 595 Member
    My nurse prac that first tested my ferritin said that she recommends keeping above 25 for women to help combat fatigue so that drop could definitely contribute along with the b12 and vitamin D. Vitamin D is often missed and I usually try to remember to supplement it's a common deficiency where I live. Definitely check your thyroid out and make sure everything is in check, but it could be simply those drops to.
    The rise in blood pressure is something to also keep an eye on-might be worth having your hormone levels checked. I believe to I was once told that some birth control can bind to thyroid hormones and cause symptoms though blood work can show up normal? But that is a huge drop in ferritin, that really sticks out to me- I don't eat meat and I started incorporating blackstrap molasses and it raised mine from 8 to 23 or so which made a huge difference for me! Yeah trending labs probably isn't something most pracs have the time to do if stuff shows up bornal unfortunately you really gotta advocate for yourself!
  • Ultima_Morpha
    Ultima_Morpha Posts: 892 Member
    @MobyCarp @hekla90 @30kgin2017 @spiriteagle99 @ContraryMaryMary

    I've had a lot of tests done and don't have SO many answers yet but I feel like I'm getting closer to figuring things out. It is just taking time to see the doctors that need to be seen and the tests that need to be done. I really am thankful for all the information and insight.

    Here's what I know...pulmonary Function Tests and Echocardiogram didn't reveal any obvious pathology. My estrogen is at post-menopausal levels, but other indicators say that I am NOT menopausal. I have some elevated tumor markers, but not high enough to indicate that I actually have a tumor. Other inflammatory indicators don't show an active lupus flare.

    I had my two year surgical check up last week and will have comprehensive bloodwork to gauge how my dietary changes have impacted those profiles. I took a multi-pronged approach to my iron (Floradix, blackstrap molasses, and iron tablets). Not all in one day! But rotated in my regimen and very strictly separated from those things which might inhibit uptake. I've also added some supplements to support thyroid function and gynecological stuff.

    I see the endocrinologist on Friday to rule out pituitary problems and, hopefully, get some attention to my thyroid panel results since the GP didn't feel like they were far enough out of range to worry about. I've had a headache every day, nearly all day for months now, some visual disturbances, some bouts of dizziness, and a propensity to retain water on a nearly daily basis. I have made a concerted effort to get at least 6 hours of sleep a night (aided with melatonin) but I still fall asleep in the afternoon if I am not on my feet or actively engaged in an activity. It is really negatively impacting my work.

    I did manage to increase my body fat to 18% which may help with some of the hormone stuff.

    I'm still racing every month, but have incorporated more rest/lighter run days. Partly to see if it helps, partly because most days I just don't have the energy to do more.

    I'll keep you posted...
  • skonger
    skonger Posts: 26 Member
    I'm hypo as well and have been living with hashimoto for years. I was running sub-2 for halfs before my accident.

    As most have said, you need to get everything balanced.
    But a couple more things, diet is very important as well, eating the right foods goes a long way.
    Also, when some women reach certain age, our progesterone levels can lower which produce symptoms too. You may want to look into that.
  • Ultima_Morpha
    Ultima_Morpha Posts: 892 Member
    @skonger Based on my antibodies, it doesn't appear to be Hashimoto's. That means likely secondary hypothyroidism ave the most common cause of that is a problem with the pituitary. No doubt that my hormones are all out of whack...I'm 41, was obese for years, lost 130 pounds in a year, and have very low body fat. I'm hoping to get it all sorted with the endocrinologist.
    skonger wrote: »
    I'm hypo as well and have been living with hashimoto for years. I was running sub-2 for halfs before my accident.

    As most have said, you need to get everything balanced.
    But a couple more things, diet is very important as well, eating the right foods goes a long way.
    Also, when some women reach certain age, our progesterone levels can lower which produce symptoms too. You may want to look into that.

  • skonger
    skonger Posts: 26 Member
    Good luck to you, you've already accomplished so much with your weight loss and running, keep at it!
  • CSARdiver
    CSARdiver Posts: 6,252 Member
    Research the work of Jeffrey Brown and have your endocrinologist do the same. He revolutionized treatment for several elite athletes and hypothesizes that hypothyroidism is a potential outcome and result of years of endurance sports.

    I had a total thyroidectomy and currently on 175/200 mcg alternating daily. I've modified this in discussion with my treating endocrinologist.

    For treatment ensure you are reviewing your full thyroid panel including TSH, fT3, fT4, rT3. Note the revised TSH normal range is 0.2-2.0.

    I've yet to run beyond 1/2 marathon, but have seen minimal impact since medicated.

  • Ultima_Morpha
    Ultima_Morpha Posts: 892 Member
    @CSARdiver There is a Dr. Jeffrey Brown, Endocrinologist in Houston. I live in a suburb of Houston. If I'm not satisfied with the assessment/treatment plan of the one I'm seeing on Friday, I'll try to get an appointment with him!

    Thanks for the tip.

    I did get a full thyroid panel done in April. Unfortunately, not everyone has adopted the new ranges for TSH as mine has been above 2 for two years in a row now at my well-woman. I don't fault my midwife as that isn't her primary area of practice and ran it as "extra" for me, but I am certainly happy that I ordered the full panel for myself this year.

    Feeling hopeful that I will finally get to a doctor that "gets" it!
  • CSARdiver
    CSARdiver Posts: 6,252 Member
    Yup - that's him.

    TSH standards...and all hormone standards are a sticky issue and will never be universally accepted. This is why you need to exercise your right and shop for a physician that works with and for you. You can be within range and still be symptomatic or you can be outside the range and asymptomatic - this is more about what is "normal" to you. I was likely hyperthyroid most of my life, but symptoms were mild and this worked to my benefit in track/field and endurance sports. My last TSH result was .02 which is technically hyperthyroid, but normal for me.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories