My thyroid troubles started in 1993. I am not sure how long befor...

I too had side effects from synthroid, so much so that I took myself off and started taking vitamins regularly. Mine started last year, I'm in my mid 50's and decided to continue with my education and was constantly pushing myself to exceed. It seems that I was always stressed to the max. I wasn't sleeping, eating alot of sweets and gaining weight. It wasn't until I completed school that I realized that I had all the symptoms listed for hypothyroidism. Moody, angy, always tired, hair loss, even my finger nails were splitting down the center, the memory loss was terrible since I am now an instructor, and of course the dreaded weight gain and the severe headaches. I had been to my Dr. several times and she told me that my blood work was borderline and that I shouldn't worry. At one point I felt that no one understood what I was going through so I found an Endo that redid the blood work and decided that he wanted my levels to be mid way and he put me on synthroid (.25 for 10 days and then up to .50) I felt good for awhile (about 3 weeks) but I gained an additional 15 lbs. I was already fighting with weight gain before all of this and to gain 15 lbs. put me over the edge.I felt that everyone I talked to thought I was crazy. No one seemed to understand what I was going through. I decided that I didn't want to rely on a medication that would do the work of my thyroid so I took myself off the synthroid. I am currently taking vitamins, getting enough sleep (at least 8 hrs), eliminated alot of stress in my life, and have started dieting and doing some exercise. I don't know how long this will take but I feel that I am now in control of my body and my endocrine system will heal. I hope this has helped you see that there are many, many people that are going through the same symptoms and that certain medication levels work for some but not for all. Hope all goes well for you

I have been on Synthroid for a little over 2 years. I still feel tired, my hair has NOT grown back, infact i looks like something bit a chunk out of my hair in the middle. I loved my hair before this all began. It was bouncy and soft. I also did not have "acne" either, now it seems like an uphill battle to keep my skin clear. I probaly lost about 10lbs when beginning the Synthroid but that hasn't put a dent in the 60 or so I gained while I was trying to find out what was wrong with me. Also, I COMPLETELY understand the "brain fog" and memory loss. Family and friends used to rely on me for information (they tease me calling me "On Star", "Yellowbook", "Encyclopedia Britannica" etc.) because I know a little about a lot of things, but I feel like I lost some of my brain "MOJO". My sex drive is kinda low too. I have intermittent pains in my arm and neck when i dont take my pill every 24-26 hours. I did see an article that discusses hair loss as one of the side effects of Synthroid. I am now researching a solution because I do not want to continue losing my hair. My hair was so thick growing up that my mother didn't really know what to do with it as she had very fine curly hair. And now after reading your post, I need to know if the Synthroid is keeping my weight on too. Just so you know, you aren't lazy. I went from working two jobs full time and going to the gym 3-4 times a week to not having anough energy to do much else besides go the ONE job i now have. Its an unexplainable misery and we do appear lazy to the average person. My mom is a nurse and she says she cann tell how much this has effected my life and changed me. I hope we all find relief. Have a good day. Mahasin

I have been through a terrible time with my thyroid/synthroid. I have been on Synthroid for 16 years. At some point the beginning of 2007 the pharmacy switched me to a generic without me knowing about it. Last year was a nightmare for me. My moods/crying spells affected me at home and at work. My hair was falling out in hand fulls, the brain fog was horrible and I really thought I was losing my mind. I even went through what they thought was early menopause (at 43) but it was actually ovarian failure. I believe that all of this was due to the change in Thyroid Meds. For some of us, it is important to stay on The real stuff and not use the generic. I am also only using half of what is prescribed. Not everyone can do this, so I don't advice it. I just feel better and so far my lab work is within the ranges I need. If Ii have to take an antibiotic or some other sinus medication for short term, I seem to get really tired and then for a few days I will increase to my normal dose and I regain my strength and energy. My Symptoms seem to be getting better too as far as the hair, etc.

A word of advice, as your symptoms sounded so much like mine. Try having your Vitamin D level checked and possibly some of the other minerals that are essential for your body. I found I was Vitamin D Def (my bones began to hurt). I was also low in magnesium. I did some research and also started zinc. I feel like a new person again. I have energy like you wouldn't believe and feel like I have a totally different outlook on life. I take the vit D twice a day. Magnesium once a day and zinc once a day. You can even split mag and zinc twice a day until your body gets used to it. Vit D shouldn't give you any stomach problems. I also have to take a prescribed potassium supplement and that helps too. I wouldn't make any changes without getting checked out and having labs on these things. If any of them are even in the lower range, I would def. go and buy some supplements (each individually). It has changed my life. Best of Luck to you.