please help, thyroid question

Ok. So I just got some blood work done and they said my TSH level is too high. Does that mean hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism? I'm getting the two mixed up.

Thanks

You have hyperthyroidism if your TSH level is too high.

I would talk to your doctor about it if you can, maybe make an appointment with them, discuss your weight loss goals (or maintenance or gain if that's what you're doing) and also discuss diet.  I know some people with hypothyroidism that went to nutritionists to help them with their diet and it worked out great for them.  It also might help you with hyperthyroidism.

Are you going to be put on any meds? 

Hyper is too high

:)

EDIT:

Elevated levels of T4 indicate hyperthyroid condition (too active thyroid)

Elevated levels of TSH indicate hypothyroid condition (not active enough thyroid)

You should ask your doctor to be sure, but I believe it is quite the opposite.
LOW thyroid-stimulating hormone means that your thyroid is working overtime already, so it does not need to be stimulated.  This is a sign of hyperthyroidism.
HIGH thyroid-stimulating hormone means your thyroid isn't quite doing its job.  This is a sign of hypothyroidism.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperthyroidism        http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypothyroidism
It's true that the feedback mechanisms involved in homeostasis can be confusing.  That's why you should always ask your doctor questions like this to be sure!
Edit: sorry about the links.  I'm awful with HTML.

Well I'm waiting for a call back from my ob/gyn she's referring me to a doctor I would like to maintain my weight

hyperthyroidism seems really odd i mean i've lost weight and i didn't lose it all that fast and i'm not having any trouble maintaining my weight if i go on meds will i gain weight or have a harder time maintaining my weight?

it's really strange b/c my sister has hypothyroidism

thanks for the quick replies too!

Sorry if I'm wrong.  I went to the wiki, but you may want to try webmd as well because they really are a wealth of info. 

Definitely talk to your doc though.  I have hypo and have a difficult time losing weight and being lethargic all the time.   

o yeah i'm definently going to the doctor and talking with them my ob/gyn is the one who ordered the blood work and all they told me was that my level was too high and i'm just trying to figure out what that means

neither hypo or hyper seem to match up

i'm looking more into this and high TSH seems to mean hypo but it doesn't make sense i'm technically considered underweight eating 2200 calories a day (5'9, 23 years old works out 6 days a week) oy

Edited to say:  I have no idea.

Here's one link 

I was told my TSH levels are too low and I have hypo...but after reading that link...I just got more confused. 

me too but i think it's hypo

"A high TSH result often means an underactive thyroid gland that is not responding adequately to the stimulation of TSH"

my level was like at an 8 and normal is like 4

i'm pretty sure i have hypo and a lot of the symptons are starting to match up and my younger sis has hypo

now i'm worried if i got on meds if i'll lose more weight it's really odd b/c i've always been thin and ate what i wanted and i've been thin

That's kind of what's leading me to think it might be hyper. 

..but again, I'm no med expert.  Can you call your doc this afternoon and just ask? 

Here's some reliable info from Mayoclinic

If your TSH test was high (above the normal range) then it's called hyperthyroid.

Yours could be just above the normal range (requiring mild intervention), or it could be far above (requiring more intensive intervention).

Whatever it is, it's an important part of your body, so you want to make sure it's working properly.

:)

I'm really glad you're seeing a doc about this!

 

From about.com

1. If the TSH level is above normal, your doctor may determine that you are hypothyroid (underactive thyroid.)

I didn't have a primary care physician so the ob/gyn is referring me to one and they said they'd call me back if i don't here from them before the end of the day i'm gonna call them back

From about.com

http://thyroid.about.com/od/hyperthyroidismgr aves/f/graveshyperfaq.htm

 Hyperthyroidism is an overfunctioning of the thyroid gland. The thyroid, the master gland of metabolism, located in the neck area below and behind the Adam's apple, is part of the endocrine system. Thyroid hormone regulates the body's use of energy. When a thyroid is overfunctioning, the gland produces too much thyroid hormone. Because thyroid hormone controls many bodily functions, this increase in the thyroid hormone level causes many bodily functions, such as heart rate or blood pressure, to increase. Digestion can speed up, and overall, symptoms such as weight loss, diarrhea, insomnia, and anxiety point can all point to an abnormally fast metabolism.

A Quiz from About.com - Could you be hyperthyroid?

also, from about.com on hypothyroidism

When your thyroid is unable to produce some or all needed thyroid hormone, your thyroid has been surgically removed or treated with radioactive iodine, and you now take thyroid hormone replacement (like levothyroxine), you are considered hypothyroid. Thyroid patient advocate Mary Shomon helps you learn about hypothyroidism, plus the autoimmune Hashimoto's disease that often causes hypothyroidism.

And Thyroid Disease 101

it means you are hypo thyroid.  i am as well, i also had thyroid cancer and no longer have a thyroid so am on the medication.  It takes some time to tweak the right dose, but once the right dose is found, you will feel so much better, and feel back on track so to speak....and i highly recommend getting a referal to a endocrinelogist, one that specializes in this, don't mess around with your regular doc, as much as he may seem to know....and also learn all you can on your own about being hypothyroid..   The about site has a lot of good info from Mary Shormon? has great columns.....be a informed an knowledgeable patient.

The higher the number the more you are hypo.......also check to see if they are following the new guideline numbers for TSH....it is on Mary's site.....

Good luck!!!!

 

I am soooo sorry for not reading the OP more carefully!

I will leave the above links about hyper- and hypo- thyroid because they are reliable, but as a member kindly pointed out over PM - TSH is different from T4 and T3.

TSH is what your brain uses to tell your thyroid to make more T4.  If your thyroid isn't making enough T4, your brain will release more and more TSH until your thyroid makes enough... unless it can't make enough for one reason or another.

So if your TSH is above the normal range, this indicates that your brain is trying unsuccessfully to rev up your thyroid (and so you are hypothyroid).

Thyroid Tests from About.com (I think this is what was quoted but not linked to above)

What a great lesson about double-checking infomation you get from random people on the internet!

 

thanks for everyone's help and comments i really appreciated it im just confused b/c i'm  thin and i've never had a weight problem and my lil sis has always been overweight her whole life and she has hypothyroidism.

I read something about how you can have hyperthyroidism by the pituitary gland producing excess amounts of TSH and then there will be increased levels of both the TSH and thyroid hormones in the blood it's rare though.

but i figure if my lil sis is hypo i probably am too. i just had no idea b/c i feel FINE. My only problem is that I've been irritable these past couple of months and i haven't had a period but i figured it was b/c of stress (husband lost job, i got new job, husband got new job, i went back to school, i dislike my job and school)

I hadn't had a period in a while and i figured i was too thin (recently i have put on a couple of pounds) too stressed so i went to the ob/gyn and they did blood tests and other stuff  and now this comes up.

i'm sorry i'm rambling i just don't have anyone to talk to right now since i'm the only one in the office for the day

i need to now get a hold of my big sis and tell her what's going on (she's an RN) and she's overweight and struggles losing weight and i want her to get her thyroid tested. oy but thanks again