Thyroid - control, effect

[King Custard]

Just got home from the quacks.
Seems I have that old TSH and T4 imbalance again- as in previous years, where I got such the hump to the ups and downs of it all that i decided not to give it head space....to ignore it..make no excuses and get on with it, so to speak.
Right now it feels like I'm a guy thats been told- 'your condition is going to make your archery progress more difficult'.

Does anyone else have any thyroid condition, and still manage to put in consistent scores?....consistently high especially?

Are the drugs used to control thyroid - archery legal?

I now have months of checks to go through- and as per the past- will have so many opinions, that differ with the results every time....that it'll be ages yet till i get a suitable medication and stabilisation.....

I'm really looking for confirmation that there are others with similar condition not being held back by it.

( thyroid problems aren't catching- nor do they mean you are nuts.......yet!)

[Beardy]

Hi KC.

I'm officially a Cretin, but it's not PC to call me that these days

On a more serious note I suffer from Hypothyroidism and take thyroxin which replaces that which should be produced by the defunct thyroid gland. I say suffer, but once the meds are sorted there is no suffering, and as far as I can tell, thyroxin isn't a band substance for any sport. In fact not taking thyroxin could possible make me a better shooter as I'd just sloooow dowwwn. The problem with that is that I would eventually stop!

It takes anything from 6 to 18 months for the right dose of thyroxin to be identified as they can't check the levels of thyroxin directly in your blood, but have to check some other substance produced as concequence of the thyroxin. I did read up in it all, but as it's now just part of my life I've forgotten the exact details

The biggest problem I had was the depression that accompanied the onset of hypothyroidism (a common problem apparently), but then I tended towards being depressive before the thyroid issue. That's medicated as well now, so I'm fine now. The only thing I won't be able to do in archery is bow hunting. Because of all the meds I take now, I can't creep up on animals as I rattle

Your post seems to suggest that your thyroid gland is not just going one way or the other though, so I don't know if what I've just written is applicable. My view though, I take the meds to allow me to have a life, what that life can include will be worked out once the condition is sorted. In my case it's scuba diving and I'm just tryoing to come to terms with the fact that I won't be doing what I want to do underwater and will have to sell my kit. But looking on the positive side, that will be MY toy money and a new bow might be the outcome

I do hope that helps, if you want to discuss this via pm or email, then feel free to drop me a line.

PAul

[King Custard]

Originally Posted by Beardy

Hi KC.

I'm officially a Cretin, but it's not PC to call me that these days

On a more serious note I suffer from Hypothyroidism and take thyroxin which replaces that which should be produced by the defunct thyroid gland. I say suffer, but once the meds are sorted there is no suffering, and as far as I can tell, thyroxin isn't a band substance for any sport. In fact not taking thyroxin could possible make me a better shooter as I'd just sloooow dowwwn. The problem with that is that I would eventually stop!

It takes anything from 6 to 18 months for the right dose of thyroxin to be identified as they can't check the levels of thyroxin directly in your blood, but have to check some other substance produced as concequence of the thyroxin. I did read up in it all, but as it's now just part of my life I've forgotten the exact details

The biggest problem I had was the depression that accompanied the onset of hypothyroidism (a common problem apparently), but then I tended towards being depressive before the thyroid issue. That's medicated as well now, so I'm fine now. The only thing I won't be able to do in archery is bow hunting. Because of all the meds I take now, I can't creep up on animals as I rattle

Your post seems to suggest that your thyroid gland is not just going one way or the other though, so I don't know if what I've just written is applicable. My view though, I take the meds to allow me to have a life, what that life can include will be worked out once the condition is sorted. In my case it's scuba diving and I'm just tryoing to come to terms with the fact that I won't be doing what I want to do underwater and will have to sell my kit. But looking on the positive side, that will be MY toy money and a new bow might be the outcome

I do hope that helps, if you want to discuss this via pm or email, then feel free to drop me a line.

PAul

Hi Paul - thats really good of you to share that info, thanks I'm not alone!
I have it both ways hyper and hypo, if this round of tests is going to be like the last lot a few years ago.
Like you I forget all the tech stuff, its really interesting to know why you feel lousy one day and then fine - then over the moon - then you've shot someone and really unsure of how to feel about it! But unecessary to remember the jargon etc., as 'understanding' it doesn't change it!

Can I ask how it affected your shooting, especially your relaxation techniques - or with a defuct thyroid, are you now at a constant 'level' as you only have the meds in your system, instead of some dodgy gland being up and down from time to time.
Strangest thing, like you mention...the worse I feel- the better I shoot!..unless I go hyper and feel awful then anything can happen from fantastic groups and high scores- to rounds that seem more like 'field study or botany courses'!

HAVING BEEN THROUGH THE MILL, AS IT WERE, WITH THIS ISSUE - DO YOU KNOW OF ANY TOP ARCHERS THAT HAVE A SIMILAR CONDITION?
(oops caps shift - not a sudden rush of thyroxin)

[GeoffT]

Custard,

I can only echo what Beardy says. I have been taking Thyroxin for 4 years now, after my thyroid gland decided to stop playing the game. It does take 12 to 18 months to stabalise, but after that I am almost normal (or as close as I ever was).

I do find that I am sometimes up and soemtimes down, but perfectly functional. I did not notice much change in my archery scores.

Thyroxin does not appear on the banned substance list. I guess this is because it is just replacing that whoich your thyroid is no longer producing in the right quantities.

Being of an enquiring mind, I wanted to know everything about it and I joined the British Thyroid Foundation helping those with thyroid disorders which sends a quarterly newsletter. It is surprising how many people have thyroid problems when you start to mention it.

[1959archer]

Hi There

my wife had a thyroidectomy in 1994 and has been hyperthyroid ever since taking thyroxine, she is MB for the last 3 years so dont be disheartened

[Beardy]

KC,

I'm lucky, like GeoffT my condition is straight forward, I don't produce enough thyroxin, so take synthetic instead. Given the amount of time it takes to get the dose right, I can't imagine being in a position where the bloody gland can't make it's mind up. One option I guess is the thyroidectomy then take synthetic like us. At least that will then be a stable condition. I'm not sure how I'd feel about doing that though, so you have my sympathy BIG time.

I can't say how it affected my archery, as I only took the sport up to fill the void left by scuba. That was a victim of the anti-depressants which I require partially courtesy of the lazy gland. And two weeks ago some jumped up scientist says they are no better than suger pills. Ba$tard$. Sorry I digress, this is about you not me

What to say? Well there's always the possibility that your gland will stop arsing around and decide how much of a contributio it want to make, then the treatment is straight forward. But IANAD so I can't reasonably comment on what the prognosis is. I can say though, hand on heart, hang on in there, and if you need a shoulder to cry on, rant at, or just plain moan, then PM me and I will try and listen. It has to be said though, I think that there are better support groups out there with qualified people and everything, and there are defenatly prettier shoulders to cry on. But my offer in genuine, and still stands.

Paul

[King Custard]

Thanks Guys, many appreciated sentiments there.

For now I'll go with " life is a rollercoaster- for every up, there's a down...breathe in on the ups..out on the downs."
Feeling burned out today - so I'll shoot well tomorrow I guess.
I'd like to take this opportunity to apologise for anythng I may say or do.....as I slowly go NUTS!' just kidding!
Hyper-hypo...just one of the things that keep me from being bored/boring.

there's an advantage in it somewhere- I'll find it soon enough.

[cornish george]

Originally Posted by 1959archer

has been hyperthyroid ever since taking thyroxine

Seems the dose is too high then!!