Abnormal TSH

[shay32174]

I was in to see my OBGYN for abnormal periods, I am having like 3 periods a month, weight gain, feel like there is a lump in my throat,feeling cold,and tired all the time.She did a TSH test and called and said it came back low it was .52. So she said to get  a hold of my PCP and I saw him the following week he retested and did a thyroid uptake scan. I should mention that they are two different clinics, anyway he said my tsh came back normal this time it was .87 and thyroid uptake scan showed normal function and no other worries. He told me according to his scale that my levels at .52 were normal but OBGYN said they were low, then he retested and it came back .87 but I am having all these other symptoms. Went back to see the OBGYN and she did a sonogram and asked if i had my tsh redone i said yes that my PCP said it was normal she says not according to there scale that it is low. Why would there be 2 different scales?  Why am i having other symptoms if it is normal?

[Rite760]

Different labs use different ranges to compare TSH levels, and here lies the problem. You get told one thing from one doctor and something else from another. I can't tell you how many mixed opinions I've had over the last year and it is only now I have got an endo who really knows what she's doing. If I were you, and still having symptoms I think I'd tend to stick with the clinic that have recognised you may have a problem, as .52 is borderline low, as the reference range starts at 0.5 and goes up to 3.0 or 5.0 depending upon which lab you use. So at .52 you are only just inside the normal range and may well be getting symptoms.

[shay32174]

Thank you. It is so true it is frustrating when one doctor tells you one thing and the other doctor another.  Is it abnormal to have your levels fluctuate like that? One tsh test reads .52 and another tsh reads .87. Or can you have a low tsh and then when they retest it can the thyroid fix it self and be within a normal range?

[kitty9309]

It is normal for the TSH to vary by as much as 0.75 from test to test.
Your fluctuations are normal.
My husband has no health issues and his TSH 2 years ago was 0.59 and last year was 0.79.
Have you had free t4 and free t3 tested?
The new AACE recommended range is 0.3-3.0.

It could be other hormonal issues. How old are you?