Hi, Pam.
The answer to your question is that, left untreated, Graves is an extremely dangerous condition. Yes, eventually (if you live that long) your thyroid will “burn out”, but even this is a dangerous condition that needs treatment. Before the modern treatments were developed, the only thing doctors could recommend was bed rest and sedation. And approximately 50% of the patients died. Left untreated, it can damage your heart, and it is totally debilitating, causing muscle mass loss and bone loss. Left untreated, you expose yourself to the risk of thyroid storm — a medical emergency situation. To date, there are no alternative or herbal treatments that will get your thyroid hormones into the proper place, either. The three medical options available to you will work, in one way or another, to give you health again. They are all relatively safe, too. You need to read up on them, talk with your doctor about your own medical situation, and try to find the one that best fits your particular circumstances.
