Exercise Intolerance: pain, weakness and injury

[mrspickle]

I've read that hypothyroidism can cause exercise intolerance.  I have been very ill since exposure to some toxic pesticides.  Part of the poisoning is that I became hypothyroid.  I used to be a keen athlete cycling many miles a week and competing often.  Now I am unable to do any exercise.  I suffer from pain in my joints, particularly my knees.  If I try and do any level of exercise, I suffer injuries and weakness afterwards which take ages to heal (some haven't healed at all).  For example, an hour's walk incorporating a hill can leave my foot flexors so weak that I can then struggle to lift up my foot for weeks at a time and have to back off doing anything at all.  Swimming can cause sharp shoulder pain and weakness.  

I have some periods when I feel a bit better (relatively- nothing like when I was well). I notice that the joint pains are worse when I get my period.  Could this exercise intolerance be due to hypothyroidism?  I am struggling to work out what is the direct result of poisoning and what is the result of hypothyroidism. Anyone experience similar?  My TSH is now 4.88 (still too high- was below 2 when well).  However, it did get to 0.7 a few months ago and I still had these problems.  Free T4 is now 14.1 (range is 12-22 I think). Free T4 did go up to 18.1 a few months ago and I still had these difficulties.  Free T3 is now 5.1 (range 4-8 I think).  This is higher than it has been since I got ill.  It was 4.3 earlier on in the year.  When it was that low I could barely walk on the flat.

Any info much appreciated.  Thank you

[NeedSomeHelp123]

How are you doing now?  Any update?  Feeling  better symptom-wise?  How are your thyroid levels?

[gimel]

Congrats to you for finding the doctor.  A Professor of Endocrinology?  From your description of his diagnosis and treatment plan, then I assume he must teach clinical Endocrinology, rather than the "Immaculate TSH Belief" and Reference Range Endocrinology".  So where have all his students disappeared to?   We don't seem to be able to find any of them to treat all of our long suffering hypothyroid patients.  LOL

[artfemme]

Yaay for YOU ! Congratulations to you and your doctor, best wishes, and thanks for sharing.

[mrspickle]

Just thought I would provide an update:  I have been to see a Professor of Endocrinology who has said that he thinks all of the pain, weakness and inability to do exercise is due to the hypothyroidism.  He wants to see me every month for at least 6 months and to closely monitor my blood levels and medication until I have good levels and symptoms.  He said in 78% of cases getting the levels right will reverse these symptoms. He is going to increase my T3 and do all of the things you wise people have been suggesting.  

I will post again as and when there is any change.  I should add that the the small amounts of T3 I have been taking since January have definitely produced a small improvement.  My knees don't feel so sprainey all the time anymore- yeay!

Sending best wishes to all who have helped or are in a similar position.    

[Kimemitch]

This has been a great thread for me! Thank you! Reminded that I am not alone and it is not in my head!

[mrspickle]

Thank you