I am personally against surgery or ablation.
The question is - do you have Graves? Are you on medications ?
Has the biopsy been done ?
I would get a second opinion before you commit yourself to anything.
High thyroid numbers can do a lot of damage to the body, but so can taking out the organ.

Thank you for your response. She said my labs came back negative for Graves, but a person could still have Graves without testing positive for the antibodies . ??

Had the biopsy a couple years ago and it was negative.

My T3 and T4 are at the high end of normal, and my TSH keeps decreasing every time we check.

It's now 0.004.

Not on any medications.

I think you are right, I will get a 2nd opinion, but doesn't it seem like many, many docs don't differ in what they will do?

Don't all western docs want RAI , etc

Hi:

Ultrasound and FNA (Fine Needle Aspiration) would be ideal. Less radiation this way.

Do you have any numbers at all for the antibodies? If so please post here along with the lab reference range for the antibodies.

The thyroid antibodies tests for Graves' Disease are called the TSI and the TRAb.

Please post also the numbers for the Free T3 and the Free T4 tests that were done along with the lab reference ranges so we can help you figure things out as you mentioned these are on the high end of normal. It could explain why the TSH is dropping.

Just MHO many Western doctors do not understand too much about the thyroid and how to treat properly.

{{{hugs}}}

Thank you, mmztcass. I will post the numbers once my doc releases a copy of the lab work to me.

This endocrinologist got upset when I said I'm not sure about the RAI testing. She mentioned no other way. Think it's time to get another dr.

Confused about how such extensively trained SPECIALISTS don't have answers/ seem open to different information.

Thanks again.

Hi Pawprince:

I am sure that there would probably be no need for thyroid forums along with other health forums if that was the case.

My first Endo when I was at the hospital with a suspected thyroid storm insisted on RAI. I said nope that I would treat with meds and have been doing well since then from 2003 with very low dose ATD (antithyroid drug) and having made changes with my diet along with less chemically and toxin free household and personal products.

{{{hugs}}}

Can I asky why youbrefused RAI? The endo I just saw said 'its about as much radiation as a walk in the park'. And 'do you think I would give youna test that would hurt you'? She was irritated. I AM apprehensive about it , just because I havent heard anything good. And because the possible end game (thyroidectomy) is not something I wanna do.

Hi Pawprince:

Graves' Disease is an autoimmune disorder to which the thyroid is a victim of being attacked. A lot of things I have/had been reading about autoimmune disorders have triggers from the diet and environment which sets the symptoms off.

Think about the our diet and the products we use for the household and personal are loaded with chemicals and GMOs from using something like the Round Ups to spray on the crops.

To tame my autoimmune symptoms down I had to eat as organic and non-GMO as possible and use safer or the more green household and personal products.

So I knew getting radiated wasn't the answer I was seeking in needing to heal. I became proactive with my health to understand how to work with the doctors better. The current doctor I have is happy that I understand the lab tests on how to read them along with which ones to order and how to keep things as balanced as possible.

Many people who get the RAI often find that their doctors do not give enough replacement med to keep their thyroid levels of the Free T3 and the Free T4 in the 'right' places to feel their best there at.

I would google all this I mentioned. I also moderated at another thyroid board livingwithgravesdisease.com to which you can research to get more questions answered.

{{{hugs}}}