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Newbie Fibro with Hypothyroid- question is do you get exhausted after exercise?

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Posted 8/6/2008 2:53 AM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone! I'm new here and before joining, I read alot of information on different threads and decided this is the place fore me. Lots of help here, thank goodness.

 

I have hypothyroid problems and I just found out that I have fibro. Not taking anything for the fibro. He did prescribe me 2 different anti-inflammitory medicines that I tried but didn't work. I don't know yet what I will do to try to deal with the pain. My rhumey suggested joining the local fibro swimming class, which I most likely will do.

 

Right now, my question is does anyone get extremely tired after exercising?

I tried the whole joining the gym thing, and went 3-5 days a week. I started off light and gradually worked up to more. My problem was no matter how light or heavy a workout I did, I went home totally exhausted and would have to sleep for a couple hours. It also made the pain in my joints worse. My knees and ankles would hurt terrible. I told my Dr this and he said treadmill etc is too hard on the joints of a fibro person which is why he recommends the swimming.

 

I sleep alot. Sometimes just going to the grocery store will tire me out and I can't even finish doing the rest of my errands because I have to go home to sleep.

 

I was wondering if I may have CFS along with the fibro. I wake up with a sore throat almost every morning, but by the time I drink my morning cup of coffee, it is gone. However, if I use my voice alot in 1 day, by that night I will be hoarse. I have always had "throat" problems. At first I think it was due to my thyroid swelling at times. But now I had half my throid removed and the other half that's there isn't working, so I don't think thats the problem anymore.

 

I'm not willing to try Lyrica yet as it is too new on the market and I worry about side effects or effects it will have on my body in the future. I have tried different pain meds in the past for different things, like after surgery or root canal, etc and they make me hyper so I was unable to continue with them, therefore, I'm not willing to take any narcotic. I don't want to be hyper when I'm feeling bad, LOL.

 

1: Does anyone get tired after exercise?

2: Is the tiredness from the fibro or cfs?

3: How do you distinguish the 2?

4: Is there something they can give you to boost your energy? I'm tired of being tired, lol.

 

Thanks and sorry for the length!

Chelle

Posted 8/6/2008 3:20 AM (GMT 0)
I'm responding to myself... how silly, LOL.

 

I thought of something else that I forgot earlier, imgaine that.

 

If the fatigue is due to the Fibro and not CFS, and the doctors say it's important to stay active and exercise, how am I suppose to exercise if I get sooooo sleepy. Like I can almost fall asleep walking on a treadmill. Almost, not quite :D

 

What am I to do?

 

Chelle

Posted 8/6/2008 3:25 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Chelle,

Welcome to HealingWell. I am happy that you decided to join. Some believe that CFS and FMS are one in the same. Some people have more fatigue and some have more pain.

I take adderall for fatigue. It really helps me. I wouldn't be able to get through the day without it. And I still can't do all that much. But if I didn't have it I would be in bed sleeping too. I long for that bed. Every single day, I want to sleep. But the adderall keeps me awake and gives me some energy. There are other meds for that including ritalin and provigil. They all help.

I think that anybody would be tired after exercise, but for normal people it is a good tired. We are exhausted. So I think that part and the pain is normal for fibro. I understand that swimming or water exercise is the best for the joints and for the muscles. You need to go slow and do plenty of stretching before and after, also you need to cool down gradually.

Good luck to you,
hugs, Karen...
Posted 8/6/2008 3:36 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Chelle,

 

Welcome to the forum. These women and men are awesome.  They give a lot of support!

 

You have touched on a topic that I'm dealing with as well!  What the heck is up with the fatigue and feeling like a big pile of fresh poop after we exercise?!  What is that?  Because I'm sick of it. We're trying to get well and look after ourselves, and the most important thing we can do to have good health makes us feel worse than before we started doing it!!!

 

I'm hearing you loud and clear.  I need to figure out what to do too regarding exercise.  I'm almost out of options.

 

I tried the swimming. I was able to go one time and that was it. Unfortunately, for me, even swimming is hard on my sacroiliitis and my feet. The resistance from the water was too hard on my lower back, and pushing off the pool floor was agnoy for my feet (no diagnosis on those feet yet).  So I'm stuck. I can't do the treadmill either - feet. Walking - nope.  I'm resorting to bringing my bike inside and setting it up on a special stand.  I might be able to cycle. We'll see..... Anyway, I hope the swimming works well for you. I sure felt awful after my first session.  But I know lots of people here swear by it.  Give it a go and see what you think! 

 

Fibro will definitely make you feel extremely fatigued in every way.  I think CFS and Fibro are so closely related. I would say the tiredness you have is from the Fibro.  The fatigue can be overwhelming, and it sounds like it's that way for you.

 

I'm not sure how to distinguish CFS from Fibro. They are so much alike. I don't know if CFS has the pain issues that fibro presents. Someone else here might be able to answer that one better for you.

 

The energy boost question!  I'd like to know that answer too, LOL!  I think maintaining a healthy diet, staying hydrated and keeping a healthy spirit can only help!  I wish there was a quick fix answer for you.  We're all looking for that.

 

In the meantime, let's keep each other posted on how the swimming/cycling goes.  I just can't describe how horrid I feel after even doing a light exercise. I feel physically ill and super fatigued. I know exactly what you're saying. 

 

Hope tomorrow is a better day for you!

Ginny

 

 

Posted 8/6/2008 1:22 PM (GMT 0)
Hey and thanks for the welcome!

 

I'm so glad I wasn't crazy about going to sleep after exercising! Not that I'm glad that effects you too though.

 

I won't be able to start the swimming just yet, I have to wait for the kids to go back to school but that won't be much longer.

 

about 4 years ago after my 3rd child, I joined the gym, and after a month, I was able to workout for an hour to an hour and a half! Now it's tough to go check my mail, which is 3/4 of a mile or so.  I lost the weight and got to where I wanted and then stopped going, like a dummy. While I was going I felt the best I had ever felt in my life. So that's why I tried to join the gym again this year. And what a suprise and setback it was. I thought I would be like last time. HA what a joke. During my thyroid trouble I gained 30 pounds and now I can't get it off BECAUSE I can't exercise!!

 

I'm thinking about getting a Wii and one of the fittness games to try.

 

Well I'm glad I'm not alone. I will have to check into that adderall. Please tell me more about it. What is it prescribed for? What are it's side effects? Are you still able to sleep at night? Does it cause a 'crash' feeling when it wears off?

 

I tried taking adipex to slim down and it gives me alot of energy and takes the weight off, but sometimes I can't sleep at night. And my sleep is more important because if I don't sleep, I will be worse in every kind of way from aches to mood swings, etc.

 

xoxo,

chelle

Posted 8/6/2008 2:57 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Chelle and welcome to our family. Sleepiness is not my problem. Actually, I can not sleep during the day no matter how tired I am. Mine is exhaustion. When the energy is gone it's gone and if I push it just makes things worse. I do believe we have to keep moving or it's going to get worse for us. The you have to use energy to get energy theory. But as far as getting back to where I was before fibro I don't think that is ever going to happen. If I had never gotten fibro I don't know what I would be able to do at my age, 58. I was very active before fibro.

 

luv and hugs

Marlee

Posted 8/6/2008 3:05 PM (GMT 0)
Well I can tell you that most exercise I don't tolerate very well. It really tires me out and I often get overheated very easily when exercising which makes me feel sick and I often need to rest for a long time afterward. The fatigue is all a part of fibromyalgia.

As far as the thyroid thing goes, did you ever have you iodine levels checked? I used to have hypothyroidism and was on synthroid for years. Then I found out that many cases of hypothyroidism can be caused by an iodine deficiency. So I had my iodine levels checked and they were very low. So I weaned myself off of synthroid and started taking the iodine supplements and had my thryoid levels checked and over the past couple of years they've always come back normal without the synthroid.
Posted 8/6/2008 3:42 PM (GMT 0)
Kythe,
If you get overheated when exercising then swimming is the thing for you. Sweat doesn't show because you're already wet! tongue

For the rest of you, I know I sound like a broken record when I keep saying the same thing but you need to try the 2400mg of malic acid and supplemental magnesium and calcium. Malic acid is one of the nutrients necessary at the end of the Krebs cycle in the mitochondria (energy factories) in each of your cells. Without enough of it your cells can't complete the transformation of glucose to ATP and energy. If you have ever driven a car with dirty spark plugs that coughs and sputters and has low acceleration you can feel the same thing in your aching muscles.

Studies have shown that fibros are deficient in malic acid. I take 3200 mg a day along with about 450mg of additional magnesium and 600mg of calcium. The stuff is inexpensive, made from apple skins and really does the job for me. It took a few weeks for me to feel much better but now I rarely have the "tireds". I still have pain, I still have fog, and I still need help putting away the groceries at the end of the shopping trip but I'm about 75% better than I was.

I get my malic acid at puritan.com.
Posted 8/6/2008 4:11 PM (GMT 0)
I get the whole energy thing about moving to get more energy because as I was trying to explain, that's how I used to be. So I understand that. The problem is now I am a different person so when I do have the energy to exercise, after doing it, I am totally exhausted. It makes me feel worse, nauseated, overheated, joint pain, etc. So to avoid those feelings, I don't exercise other than doing housework. I am no longer gaining weight but not losing either.   I used to be very active. I am 29 and I am not the person I used to be. I know I need to be more active, but why would anyone in their right mind want to exercise knowing how sick and tired it makes you?

 

I think I must find the "right" exercise for me. Maybe yoga and the swimming. I never did yoga before so I don't know how that will make me.

 

As far as my hypothyroid, I am taking synthroid and my TSH is at 1.25 in a range of .3 - 3.3. So my endo said I am perfectly normal. I don't know. I'm not sure if my iodine was checked. I think it was, but I have memory problems LOL.  At first I was in denial that I even had fibro because I know being hypothyroid and fibro has many of the same symptoms. But after many doctors and all saying the same thing, I guess I have to accept the fact that I have it. It's very hard to deal with it because I know there is no cure and I am so young to have to deal with this kind of pain for the rest of my life.

 

I am going to try the malic acid & magnesium as I do not have a problem taking natural vitamins. I only have issues with taking prescription medicine. I fear them. I think I'm crazy.

 

Kythe, if you feel the same way I do, what do you do for exercise?

Posted 8/6/2008 5:01 PM (GMT 0)
Well I honestly don't get much exercise at all. Sometimes I can get myself to do stretching exercises but a lot of the time I'm not even up to doing that. The only other thing I do and I'm not even sure qualifies as exercise is frolicking around outside when it's raining. I love rain and thunderstorms, for some reason it just makes me feel energized and alive and makes all the pain and fatigue go away for awhile.

I'd be very interested in doing Tai Chi, but I really can't afford to take any classes and there's no space to do it at home.

The fibromyalgia pamphlet my doctor gave me said it might be necessary to consult a physical therapist to figure out what sort of exercise you can handle. I may have to look into that. I really should be supervised when exercising because I honestly have no idea when I've had enough and I'll just keep going until I make myself sick. I've actually ended up in the emergency room because of this.
Posted 8/6/2008 6:43 PM (GMT 0)
Chelle and Kythe, I'm with Jeannie about the malic acid.  I started it last December, with the urging from Jeannie, and it has really made a difference for me.  I, too, am 75% better than I was before the supplements.  I get mine at Puritan.com, too.  I started a thread all about it and I just bumped it us for someone....maybe it was for one of you!  LOL  Can't remember.

 

Have you checked out the Fibro 101 thread...the second thread from the top of the forum?  There are links to good information about fibro.  One is a link to great stretching exercises.  These really help and helps keep you flexible.  I do these before any type of exercise.  Walking is my exercise of choice...that and cleaning my home and gardening.  I also do some swimming.  It's exercise and it's exercise I enjoy doing and am able to do.  I don't know of any fibromites that go to a gym regularly.  We usually get our morning exercise trying to get out of bed and make it to the bathroom!  tongue You may be overdoing when it comes to the exercise and your body is paying the price.  Try to pace yourself more and you will probably have more success at it without becoming so tired. 

 

Sherrine

Posted 8/6/2008 7:35 PM (GMT 0)
Your not living in the same bodies you were before you got fibro. It takes time to get use to having fibro and finding your limits. I was dxd five years ago and I still over do it and pay the price.

 

That is what is so great about this forum it helps you to understand and live with fibro. You can live full lives but maybe not at the pace you use to.

 

Sadly I can't tolerate the malic acid  which is a bummer. But as you see many are having great results on it.

 

Reading all you can on the threads will be a great help in learning about fibro.

 

luv and hugs

Marlee

Posted 8/6/2008 7:57 PM (GMT 0)
Okay, I'm going to try this Malic Acid.  I'm already on 500mg of Magnesium (I'm VERY regular yeah ), and 2000mg of calcium, 1400mg of vitamin D, and 250mg of Vitamin B6.  I was put on this cocktail to make my PMS more manageable. It worked.  I've been taking this for over a year now.  Now, the fatigue has set in big time.  It's definitely worse about 10 days before my period starts.  So here's hoping the Malic Acid is the extra ingredient I need.  Is there a dose that I should start out with, or just go big and hit myself with the 3200mg?  Any drug interactions with this stuff?

 

Kythe and Chelle,  I tried yoga this past February and it nearly did me in....  It made my muscles scream and gave me so much joint pain that I had to quit going.  I got through 5 sessions.  Maybe I was going to hard to fast, but I don't think so. I'm pretty careful when it comes to that.  Just wanted to give you my story!

 

Ginny

Posted 8/6/2008 8:13 PM (GMT 0)
Ginny, I bumped up the malic acid thread.  It's on the first page of the forum now.  All the information is on there.  Hope it helps!

 

Sherrine

Posted 8/6/2008 10:41 PM (GMT 0)
Ok I ordered some of the malic acid/mag. from puritan.com. Can't wait to get it and try it out. :-)   I read most the threads on the fibro 101 but I skipped over the yoga because I've never been interested in it. Guess I'll have to go back and read it, LOL. I just found out I had fibro 2 weeks ago. I've read alot of information on the internet, so I'm becoming informed. However it wasn't until this forum that I read about the malic acid/mag. Also, I'm learning fast that my body can't handle the things I used to do. So like one of you said about pacing yourself. I'm trying.

 

What I like about forums is you get real people with real problems and they have tried many different things. Most the time they know more than the doctors from trying stuff. When you go to websites about fibro, they don't really offer much help, just info. They don't tell you the little secrets like vitamins or what have you, that could help. Then again, maybe they don't know.

 

I think we need a scientist that has fibro to try to find a cure. Most doctors just can't relate.

 

Chelle

Posted 8/6/2008 11:31 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Chelle and welcome to the family! You mention being hypothyroid and are taking synthroid for thyroid hormone replacement. Have you ever had a total thyroid panel done before? This is where they check T3 & T4 counts as well. If either of these besides the TSH is off, especially in females, all of the stuff you describe happening to you is possibly related to any of these counts being off. Also, what may be determined to be "normal" readings by one doctor are not necessarily normal to another or for YOU for that matter. Your count is in the "normal" range but may actually be considered as "low normal"! Periodic adjustments in dosage may be necessary, especially since you've had part of your thyroid removed. Throat problems are common from the thyroid growing into what's called a goiter.....it's the thyroid gland's response to working ever-harder trying to produce the thyroid hormone. I've been on thyroid meds (synthroid or levothroid) since 1985.....my thyroid grew in size too but receded when I started taking the synthroid. The dosage has had to be increased several times over the years to where it is now a substantial dose as a natural result of aging and the thyroid gland progressively producing less and less. I'm not saying that fibro or cfs may not be at work here too but the correct amount of thyroid is so important......it is the central controller of ALL of your body's functions!!!!!!

Gentlest of hugs,
John
Posted 8/7/2008 12:15 AM (GMT 0)
John I brought it up to my doc that maybe the norm for thyroid is not norm for me so he did raise it for me. Easier than arguing with me I guess. tongue This is when we were doing all the testing for my fatigue problem. It didn't do any good, I upped it for many months. I was hoping though, that it would be that simple.

 

luv and hugs

Marlee

Posted 8/7/2008 2:00 AM (GMT 0)

Ginny,

I had the same problem with water exercise.  I bought an aqua jogger set from amazon.com.  It has made a huge difference.  I can exercise without my feet ever touching the floor.  It makes water exercise much more enjoyable, without any impact.

Chelle, I hope you are feeling better!

Take care!  Michielle

Posted 8/7/2008 2:58 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome!
Getting tired after exersize was one of my most noticeable symptom. And guess what? I like to hike! So I would go on a nice hike in the woods and feel tired afterwards?? This really bummed me out. What about that endorphine high? nope, nada! I think the fibro does something to the endochrine system. Someone told me that it's not working correctly and that is why the tiredness after working out. I have always been a gym member but quit for the summer.

Carolyn
Posted 8/7/2008 1:21 PM (GMT 0)
John,

 

Thanks for your reply, and a big thanks to all who wish me well.

 

I'm going to start a new thread, hypo vs fibro, because this one is getting long, and I want to make it easy for people looking for the topic about exercise. Also, I didn't want to stray from the topic and I have a feeling we are about to open up a whole can of worms! LOL.

Chelle 

Posted 6/11/2010 3:45 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Chelle,

It seems it's been a while since you posted and I am going to take a stab in the dark and guess that you may still check in on this posting site every so often.  I just want to say how eerily your symptoms sound to mine. Fibro and hypothyroid diagnoses within the last two years--otherwise in great health and young (only 36 when this started)...Did you have your root canal(s) done before these symptoms appeared?  I did not have either of these diagnoses until 2008, I went through a routine root canal on my lower left 2nd to the last molar and have had hypothryroid and fibro symptoms ever since...??  They slowly progressed from a nausea and throat discomfort to a leg/ neuromuscular tightness and cramps that come and go.  Have been checked for all the nasty life threatening dx's and now I am debating pulling that tooth with the root canal in it--it just doesn't feel right, although I have had it xray'd by the endodontist and he gives it a thumb s up.

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