What the freak is up with my fingernails?

[s_a_a89]

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism about 8-9 months ago, have been on levothyroxine (sp?) since.  I was doing some more in depth studying about it and it turns out that I've probably had this for the past 2-3 years as most of my symptoms started occuring then.  Crazy, eh?  One thing that has been problematic, is the appearance of my fingernails, they look diseased.  I'm embarassed to shake hands with people and find myself positioning my hands so they aren't visible (I walk around with my fists clinched a lot!!...which has caused callouses to form, but I digress).  I know this is purely cosmetic/meaningless, but has anyone else had this kind of problem and if so, how did you solve it?....or can you?

[Red_Star]

One of my hypothyroid nail symptoms is onycholysis (separation of the nail from the underlying nail bed) which sounds like what you are talking about. I've been on thyroid medication for 1 1/2 years (i'm not optimally treated yet) and this symptom is still present but has improved.

[gimel]

Even though you are on levothyroxine for months, are you sure that your thyroid hormone levels are adequate to relieve hypo symptoms, one of which can be fingernail problems.  If you will please post your thyroid related test results and their reference ranges shown on the lab report, members will be glad to assess the adequacy of your testing and treatment.  Also, have you been tested for Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin?  Hypo patients are  frequently too low in the ranges for those important areas as well.