Radioactive Iodine for Graves disease?

So I was diagnosed with Graves disease a couple years back and have been taking my Tapazole as perscribed. All seems well and I have not had any dramat unexplained weight loss or gain. I was wondering if anyone on here has had the radioactive iodine treatment and what their experiences with it were. Any weight loss? Any weight gain? (I have poured to much sweat into my body to loose it) Pain? Psych side effects? Vision? Sensitivity to heat? I know all those can come along with Graves but I was wondering about after the treatment. I have read about everything I can get my hands on for it but wanted some real experiences. Thank you.

If you have RAI, you will
1) still have Grave's disease. RAI isn't a cure for Grave's disease, only for one symptom of Grave's disease!
2) you will be given hypothyroidism.

Do you really want to get yet another health problem? If not, don't have the RAI. It sounds like you are doing great. Why would you want to change that? Keep doing what you are doing.

I had the radioactive Iodine treatment for Graves disease in December of 2003. As a result of that, I am now on Synthroid permanently. Although the aim of the RAI is to knock out the thyroid enough to even it out, from what I have heard and read, that never happens. Hypothyroidism is the result. I was not schooled enough on my treatment options, and rushed into this because I felt so bad, and had for some time, and just wanted to feel better. In hindsight, I wish I would have tried the anti-thyroid medication, but unfortunately, it is too late to turn back. It took me a while (several months) to get my synthroid dosage leveled out, but eventually, we got there. The only weight gain I have experienced was when I gained back the weight I had lost due to the hyperthyroidism. My normal weight is somewhere around 126 lbs, and I had lost down to 112 lbs. I have maintained my normal weight without any problem for the past few years. I haven't really experienced any of the other things you mentioned. I can't say I have had pain other than muscle cramps, but that was when my thyroid level was too low. The same for pshycological effects.....mostly during the time that we were trying to get the level of medication worked out. My vision does not seem to have been effected, other than losing my close up vision.... but I'm afraid that is just a side effect of aging :). I guess my point here is that if you "have" to do the RAI because the other is not working, it worked out okay for me. As long as I take my medication everyday, I have no problems. I hate the fact that I will be dependent upon medication for the rest of my life. And if I had the option again, I would exhaust all avenues before I went with the RAI. Hope this helps and hope I wasn't too wordy. Best of luck to you!!

I have had GD for 8 years. I had RAI in 2002 because I had a goiter and was scared. The weight gain started then the eye problems. I wore prisms for about a year. By 2005 I had to have decompression eye surgery. I still have problems with my eyes. Some say it was because of the RAI. I don't know. Just get all the info you can get. Everyone is differant. I have had the shakes, mood swings, depression, leg pains to name a few. Some people are better some not. I don't look like me or feel like me any more. I wish you the best. But be ready for anything.