Great to know I'm not alone with all this. Thanks everyone for quick response and suggestions.

[NancyG]

My TSH was 2.19, T4 16.8 in Oct 2014 whilst on 100mcgs levothyroxine,. The dose hadn't been changed in 10 years because based on TSH alone, however brands and manufacturer's changed frequently. I felt unwell, although hair problems were not too bad past couple of years, but scalp always tender. Reduced to 75mcgs after asking GP in Nov 2014. Had to take 25mcgs Wockhardt and 50 actavis. (Had been on 100 Actavis but never well and lots of sensitivities and gastric upset, hence ? allergy to fillers. Dec 2014- TSH 5.45 T4 16.5. Asked for T3 test which was 3.6. Asked pharmacy for same brand meds- tried mercury pharma- after 5 days feeling horrendous- pain on top of head, hair falling out, scalp itching and burning. Went back to Actavis. GP suggested alternating 100mcgs one day with 50 or 75 the next. Don't know if the hair thing is a result of medication change or High TSH or both. Shame I changed brands to confuse the situation. Will try anthistamine prior as Cutter suggested. Getting bloods checked again and seeing an Endocrinologist for first time as goitre evident for years and never been reviewed despite complaining about intermittent painful sore throat, neck and at times difficulty swallowing, which I now understand could be flare ups of thyroiditis or goitre nodules or worse. But i'll try to be positive here and not think the worst. Last time my hair fell out I also had the most awful sore throat for weeks and was told this was due to gastric reflux, and was given unhelpful medication. This time my throat has flared up again, but I'm not taking reflux meds and being careful with diet. Thanks again for any suggestions.

[shaws Administrator]

I'm sorry you are still unwell. Some people don't get on so well on levothyroxine but improve (some slightly some more) when T3 is added to the T4. You are correct in trying to keep to the same make of levo.

Your GP should be aiming for a TSH of around 1 or below so if you email [e-mail] and ask for a copy of the Pulse online article and in question 6 your GP should see the low level Dr Toft suggests for us to feel better. He also suggests some T3 to be added.

[NancyG in reply to shaws]

Thank you very much for that. Will send email now.

[Clutter]

Nancy, hypothyroid patients often have low stomach acid which makes digesting food difficult. It's often assumed that acid reflux is caused by high stomach acid and PPIs like Omeprazole are prescribed and make the problem worse.

Try Betaine Pepsin or a couple of tsp of raw apple cider in fruit juice or honey sweetened water before meals to raise stomach acid and aid digestion.

A gluten-free diet can be helpful and if you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) it can help reduce flare ups and reduce antibodies.