Hypothyroidism question?

I have been suffering with hypothyroidism since I was 12, but began to get treatment for it when I was 18. I have been on 175 mcg of levothyroxine and just recently I got switched over to the real stuff, synthroid. Since I began taking the levothyroxine I haven't been able to lose weight and my face appears to be swollen all the time. Now that they switched me over to synthroid, my fingers have begun to feel swollen, my face is swollen and I am starting to have blurry vision. I am very tired even if i do nothing, and at times I become very irritable. I am so tired of all this crap. I recently heard of a medication called armour, and I have heard very good things about it. My questions are; 1) Has anybody had a similar experience with the synthroid and if so what did you do about it? 2)Has anyone tried the armour stuff and if so were the results good? 3) Has anybody tried any other thyroid medication that has helped you ouy?? Please help me!! Every time I go to the doctor they want to keep giving me the stupid synthroid and just because my blood tests come back "normal" they refuse to do anything different. I DONT FEEL NORMAL.