Bobbi
Hi, Wristmaker:
Just a comment about what tapazole (and any other antithyroid drug) does: It provides a chemical block that interferes with the chemical process by which iodine is turned into thyroid hormone inside the thyroid cells. If you take too large a dose, you could go hypothyroidl; if you take too little of a dose, you would remain hyperthyroid. So there is a balancing act that goes on when taking these meds. You and your doctor need to find the Goldilock dose — the one that is "just right" at any given point in time. Since your TSH went so high, stopping the med, temporarily, makes sense. It does not necessarily mean that you are "well" again, however.
Also, the disease we have is caused by antibodies, which can rise or fall in number for no well-understood reason. So, sometimes, we experience lower levels of the antibodies than others. This will necessitate a change in the dose of antithyroid drug you might need. It does not, however, mean that the disease has gone away.
That is one of the reasons why it is so important for us to have some consistency in doctors, if possible, and also to get regular blood checks to determine just where our levels are at. Barring consistency in doctors (or nurse practitioners), the suggestion that you get a copy of each and every blood test result and keep them in a file, can be helpful. Then, any new doctor would have immediate access to that history.
I do hope you are feeling better soon.
Bobbi — NGDF Online Facilitator