HI there,
I am all for trying the ATD route first. You can always change your mind and opt for RAI later. Why destory your thyroid if there is a chance that you can heal it and go for remission?
ATD therapy does however require that you understand what your hormone levels mean TSH, FT4 and FT3, and how they respond to the antithyroid drugs. You do need to monitor your progress with regular labs of the above hormones to make sure you are on the correct dose of antithyroid drugs as it will have to be adjusted in the first few months. This is not rocket science and I really believe that it should be the first line of tratment for most cases. Like I said why kill off your thyroid if it can be saved and eventually functiuon normally??
My personal story with Graves is that I was diagnosed about 3 years ago, and was very ill with it as my Ft4 and FT3 were very high. I opted for ATD therapy after looking into RAI and surgery. I actually cancelled my RAI appointment a few days before it was to happen, and I am really glad I did. It probably took me a year to get stable on the antithyroid drugs(Tapazole), and it would have happened much faster had I understood how to properly monitor my labs and progress.
I have been stable now on a low dose of tapazole for about 2 years now and feel great. However, I do have a nodule and am considering surgery at this time. For me RAI was the wrong choice all the way along. I did the right thing for me… ATD’s and now probably surgery. Had I done RAI, I still would be needing the surgery right now because of a nodule.
I am sharing this story to hopefully suggest to you to keep treatment noninvasive at first. I think that ATD therapy is becoming more popular as the remission rate is actually quite good.
Hope this helps.
