Thyroid levels in a blood test?

Question

Is it the higher the # on a TSH test, the lower the function of your thyroid? I had a significant decrease in function in the last year. My Dr. said that my thyroid has "killed" itself.. What in the heck does that mean? And do diabeties and low thyroid issues run hand in hand?

Answer 1

TSH is thyroid stimulating hormone produced by pituitary glands. TSH causes the thyroid gland to produce two hormones: triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). T3 and T4 are the thyroid hormones.
High levels of TSH and low T4 traditionally means that your have an underactive thyroid gland -- Hypothyroidism.
Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone(T4).
If TSH is high, then it means that there is something wrong with the thyroid gland -- some inflammation, or destruction, which is causing it not to produce enough T4. (thyroid has "killed" it self)
If TSH is low, then pituitary gland is not producing it enough which may be again for various reasons.
Since your doctor said your TSH is high, then it is everything to do with your thyroid.
Hashimoto's disease -- autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system develops antibodies against its own thyroid gland cells and destroys it slowly (killing it).
Use of drugs which act against thyroid -- treatment for hyper thyroidism(overactive thryoid) can also destroy your thyroid gland.
The connection between hypothyroidism and diabetes is that in diabetes there is high cholestrol. People with high cholestrol have high risk of having thyroid problems.
On the other hand people with hypothyroidism along with diabetes will increase the lipid (cholestrol) imbalance going on in their body.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

I have the exact same condition except my thyroid was out of control and I had to take a Radioactive Iodine Pill that killed my thyroid so basically it won't produce anymore hormones. And I have to take a replacement thyroid hormone the rest of my life. Not a big deal really, and yes the TSH stands for Thyroid Stimulating Hormone which the pituitary gland produces in the brain to tell the thyroid how much to release. When the level is high that means that your thyroid is not putting out enough. Also it does run in families, so have all your family members get checked because both of my sisters and an uncle have issues with this.

Answer 4

your thyroid "killed" itself means that its no long functioning at all. many different ways a thyroid can stop working. have to be care full once it stops working it can become cancerous. as long as you take your thyroid meds and go in about once a year to check the levels its just fine. if it goes for to long with the levels out of wack it can cause diabetes to happen do to the fact that organs in the body will start to shut down.

Answer 5

I don't know much here, but I do know the definitive testing standard is a thyroid uptake study to determine thyroid functioning level. (Nuclear medicine) Also, that based on the results of this a specialists can then determine if treatment is a prudent therapy option. I have heard of specialists "killing" the thyroid, but never of one "killing" itself. Are you on medication specifically for this condition?

Answer 6

Hello..I do understand the severity of your condition and would like to help you not only with advice,but I live in Europe..Anyway,please,visit another doctor(must be a endocrinologyst),seek among your freinds for founding a good one...How a doc can state such preposterous thing like your thiroid has "killed" itself?? I am speachless..They tested your TSH3 and TSH4 hormone levels..they must.Your condition is 100% curable ,just turn to the right specialist..If you need some information,etc don't hesitate and contact me..I will try to do my best to anwer you in time and properly..Best of luck!!