I am sorry you are having problems, but you have lot of company as an under functioning thyroid is the most common endocrine disorder. Some people might try to convince you to avoid prescriptive meds. There are always people who distrust medications. It took billions of dollars to prove no association between childhood vaccines and autism, and the author of the original research showing an association admitted he made it up and was stripped of his medical license, but there are still parents who refuse to vaccinate their children fearing autism. Please don t avoid treatment because of untrained or opportunistic people prying on ignorance and fear. The thyroid hormone sets your metabolism. If your TSH is high, and yours is, then weight gain, constipation, cold feeling, hair loss, skin thickening, leg pains and fatigue are common symptoms. But your heart is strained also, having to work harder to push the blood around. Please take the medicine and follow up to check your levels until the correct dose is found. It may take a few months to feel better, but it will be worth it.