TSH levels

[jennjenn112]

2 years ago my thyroid was tested and the TSH was .01. I was then placed on Propylthiouracil to help this. After 2 months, my levels were rechecked and the TSH was 13. I was told that i was hypothyroid. I have been tested every month since that time and my levels go from to high to too low. Doctors kept putting me on synthroid and then taking me off when it couldn't be adjusted properly. 2 months ago my TSH level was once again .01 and the doctor said I was hyperthyroid and took me off of synthroid again. I was tested again last month and again a few days ago and my TSH is still remaining at a .01. I had a thyroid uptake scan also done and the doctors office called to say my results were abnormal. I go to the doctor next week but i am worried and don't know what al of this means? Can anyone tell me what this means? I really want to be prepared and know what questions to ask the doctor.

[goolarra]

As Red_Star pointed out, swings from hypo to hyper are not unusual in early stages of Hashi's.  However, it is unusual for Hashi's patients to be treated with both PTU and Synthroid.  Have your doctor's diagnosed a cause of your thyroid symptoms...Hashi's, Graves', DeQuervain's, postpartum, etc?

In addition to TSH, is your doctor testing free T3 and free T4?  Of these three tests, TSH is the least reliable and should never be used alone to diagnose and treat thyroid problems.  

Have you had antibody testing to see if you have an autoimmune disease?  Most thyroid disease by far in the developed world is autoimmune.  TPOab and TGab would tell you if you have Hashi's, and TSI is the definitive test for Graves'.

It's kind of hard to say a lot more since you don't have the results of too many of your tests.  When you see your doctor, ask for a copy of all your thyroid test results.  If you want to post those (include reference ranges which are on your report and vary lab to lab), we can comment more fully.

Good luck...

[Red_Star]

Hyperthyroid and hypothyroid symptoms may be present at different times during the progression of Hashimoto's Thyroiditis (autoimmune hypothyroidism). This in turn causes the TSH levels to fluctuate.