Not that I particularly enjoy blabbing about my life’s problems, but this blog is my training life from start to finish, and it’s real, and anything that effects my health and inevitably my training is going to go on here whether I, or anyone else like’s it or not.
I’m not going to break that code.
Well, recently, I’ve been diagnosed with a condition which undoubtedly has already, and may continue, to negatively impact upon my life (and training life), without treatment.
After a second blood test I had done around 2 weeks ago, yesterday night I went to my scheduled doctors’ appointment to collect my results. I have hypothyroidism, which means low thyroid activity.
So, I sat there in the doctors office, hung over, looking and feeling (probably) like a smack head, massively exhausted having not slept for 31 hours due to extended bonfire night celebrations, my doctor now telling me I have to take daily medication for the rest of my life. Magic.
I was a bit gutted at first. But really, it can only be a good thing for me on all levels.
I’m currently on 50 micrograms a day of Levothyroxine. From what I’ve read, they have a half-life of 9-10 days in someone with hypothyroidism, and it can take several months for changes to really take effect. Of course, this is all dependant upon continued blood tests and dosage adjustment until the correct dosage is found. I’ll therefore be going back to my doctors in a few months time for a re-test.
Anyway, as pertains to my bodybuilding, untreated hypothyroidism could mean:
- Difficulty sleeping
- Fatigue
- Slow metabolism
- Weakness
- Depression
- Joint and muscle pain
I’m certain I’ve mentioned on here several times about my long running sleeping problem. I’m also certain I’ve mentioned several times I’ve simply been too fed up and physically drained to train, or to get the most out of my training. As for the other points, I’m not sure and have no way of putting anything in my training down to them. Everyone experiences joint and muscle pain and weakness some times, it goes with the territory. Also, as I’ve already said, the metabolism does slow when you have been dieting to lose fat for a substantial time, so my slowed fat loss can’t really be attributed entirely to that.
However, it may go someway to explaining my apathetic tendencies. I doubt it, but still, you never know… a few months from now and I might be like a little ray of sunshine (snigger).
So, when all is said and done, it’s now just a case of taking the meds and seeing how they effect me. Fingers crossed.
(By the way, if I stop training, start eating huge amounts of crap and my body goes to shit, well, I’m going to be blaming it all on my thyroid. I may even buy the T-Shirt.)
Speak soon