How long can you go with Graves Disease without being treated?

I went to a specialist last week - she diagnosed me with Graves Disease. It makes sense, I have all the symptoms. I am not happy with the office's response rate. The doctor told me I should get the radioiodine this week and no one is calling me back. There is another endo in the area, but they are booked through April. Can I wait that long?

You should not. Find another doctor, one who is actually concerned for your health. The first doctor should have at the very least given you a beta blocker. A beta blocker is a temporary, emergency treatment for Grave's disease until the treatment kicks in. You should also have been given an anti thyroid drug. In the US, they give you methimizole.

Once you have the methimizole, you don't need radioactive iodine. RAI is not a cure for Grave's disease. It only treats one symptom of Graves disease - the hyperthyroidism. Plus it gives you an additional disease - hypothyroidism. If you don't want this, don't have the radioactive iodine.

So see another doctor. Any old GP will do, if they are willing. You don't actually need an endo. As long as you can get the right blood tests, (free T3 and free T4) and methimizole, you will be fine.

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