20 yr old w/ Graves Disease: surgery or radioactive pill?

[hyperthyroidkid]

Hi, I'm a 20 year old male in college who has just been diagnosed with Graves Disease.  This is a very interesting and at parts scary time for me.  Right now I have three choices to manage this autoimmune disease: beta-blockers, radioiodine therapy, or surgery.

From the research I've done, beta-blockers are not terribly efficient and in the end only mask the symptoms of the problem.  

Radioiodine, frankly, scares the **** out of me because the warnings include staying away from children and pregnant women for 4-7 days, wash all my clothes separately, and essentially hide in a basement for a week.  I also don't necessarily trust the idea of having myself radioactive and being told it won't have any long term side affects.  I also know of someone who had this done, but his thyroid has grown back and he has many complications.

The last option, which in a way I'm more considerate of, is surgery.  I've been told this isn't recommended for someone my age and could involve the risk of damaging the nerves to my voice box.  From what I've also heard the U.S. isn't very fond of surgery, but Europe is.  I also know of someone that had this done, and they haven't had any complications since.  I also would be able to have this surgery done in Northern Virginia with a renowned hospital system.

What should I do?

[FTB4]

Are you having symptoms now?, If you have your thyroid removed, you will be on medication the rest of your life and the same goes for the other two options as well, I have Hashimoto's and I think with the risk of nerve damage I would not go the removal route, that is what my endo advised if my situation came to that. The other two options being the Radiation, Or just managing your problem with medication, I think if I was your age and in your situation, I would opt for the Managing with medication at this time and play it by ear, if you continue to have nasty symptoms that disrupt your life style you could always take one of the two remaining options at a later time as long as it is not a pressing matter at this time. Good Luck FTB4

[Totie]

I was 23 when I was diagnosed with Graves. My situtation was somewhat different than yours. I went undiagnosed and untreated for 6 months. It was not until I developed a goiter and hit a thyroid storm.

I was immediately put on beta-blockers and did the RAI, but for some reason I hit another thyroid storm after doing the RAI and did not have a choice but to get surgery. I recovered just fine. Yes, I take a pill and will for the rest of my life, but not a big deal.

The key will be getting you on the correct dosage.

[Kay94]

Hi, I am only 15 years old but was diagnosed with graves disease about two years ago. I also went untreated for about six months and developed every symptom imaginable and then was immediately put on a beta blocker and medication. After a year on the medication i saw very few improvements and decided it was time to take the next step which in my case was surgery to take out the thyroid gland. I had the surgery at the end of January and am fully recovered. Although i will be on medication for the rest of my life the surgery was well worth it i am currently not experiencing any symptoms or having any problems. If i were to think back on these two years i probably would have just gone ahead with the surgery instead of struggling with all the symptoms for two years. But every case is different if you are not having many symptoms you might just want to try the medication route first. Hope i could help

[darkrose91283]

Hey I am now 25 years old. by the time my graves disease was diagnosed I has gone into thyroid storm and was home alone. When i got to the hospital I went unconscious in the waiting room and was told after getting many drugs that I was 20 minutes from dying and spent a week in ICU. I was put on 26 pills a day one for my thyroid another to slow my heart down because at the hospital my heart rate was 190 and they had trouble getting it below 120. They decided to do the radioactive iodine on me and i had to stay at my grandomothers for a week while my mom watched my little one. i was taking 26 pills a day for 2 years waiting to have surgery because the RAI did not effect my thyroid at all. It did not lower my levels not even down one point. I went to a chiropractor locally here hes not a normal chiropractor he is an upper cervical chiropractor. They adjust your atlas at the top of your spine which if out of place blocks parts of your nervous system and your body cannot communicate or fix whats wrong. After my first adjustment within one week my eyes were no longer swelling, I was not shaking anymore, could walk up steps without getting out of breath and stopped taking my medicane all 26 pills 3 weeks after my first adjustment. I went and had my levels checked 3 months ago and they said its amazing but my levels are perfectly normal. I go back next month to have them checked again but before doing the RAI or surgery I would look into an upper cervical chiropractor. I am speaking through experoence here. He fixed in one week what my endocronologist and surgeon could not fix for 2 years.
Here is a website explaining what upper cervical health is http://www.uppercervicalcare.com/news.html