Best Treatment option for Graves?

Hi Heather - I belong to another Board and most of the people there are intent on keeping their thyroids.  I was diagnosed in 2007 and currently I am on 2.5 mg of Methimazole every other day with thyroid test values right where they are optimal.  What we have found is that Endocrinologists are not very knowledgeable about this disease and how best to treat it and push RAI way too much.  First of all, most of them place people on too high a dosage of Methimazole to begin with and it is the high dosages that cause the liver damage and the allergic reactions.  You can be on a much lower dose of Methimazole if you add supplements, especially Regular L-Carnitine, 3,000 to 4,000 mg and Vitamin D3 gelcaps 1,000 to 5,000 IU daily to start.  Also Magnesium, 200 mg and Curcumin and Omega 3 (preferrably from sources other than fish such as vegetable oils or nuts) to lower inflammation.  If  you have Graves eye problems, selenium helps although you should follow your levels of this as you do not want to get too high a level of this or you can eat 2 brazil nuts a day.  It is best to get your levels of Free and Total Carnitine, vitamin D and Magnesium & Selenium checked before you start with the replacements.  I and most patients are deficient in these vitamins,minerals and amino acids.  I took these along with my Methimazole dose (started at 10 mg and currently on 2.5 mg every other day).  There have been a few research studies done by a reputable Italian endocrinologist on the value of adding Regular L-Carnitine to the treatment of hyperthyroid patients.  These were done in Italy and published in reputable Endocrine Medical journals but I can tell you I have met no endocrinologists who will pick up on this because doctors will not update what they have been taught.  It is also important to follow a diet of non-processed foods (protein, fruits & vegetables) avoiding or minimizing gluten, and sugar and keeping your iodine level low by avoiding high iodine foods.  The docs don't know and don't care to learn about the benefit of the addition of supplements because that is not the medical "accepted standard of care".  They have been doing the same thing for the past 30 years to deal with Graves and do not have to learn anything new, so there are a lot of unhappy, unhealthy people who have been treated with RAI.  As a Graves patient, you need to become empowered, do your own research and learn all you can about this disease.  I blew my Endocrinologist away after I added a specific supplement that raised my TSH from less than 0.001 into the normal range when he couldn't.  Always ask for and obtain a paper or electronic copy of ALL lab tests that are done on you and learn what those values mean and the ideal level for you.  You can prevail and achieve remission, not damage your liver and feel good.

Just want to thank everyone for their advice and comments. My boyfriend literally thinks I am nuts on here, but I think until you have a medical situation like this you don't really understand that you want to have all the knowledge you can from every angle. 

So just wanted to update, that I was scheduled for RAI.  Was super nervous and was told no other options really. That since the methimazole was causing high liver levels that medication wasn't an option. I was off the medicine for 5 days- to "prep" for RAI, and saturday before the scheduled treatment, I had blood work, I kinda of panicked and "postponed" the treatment, like why the rush?? I got my blood work back and my thyroid levels were in normal range, liver levels had come down slightly. So i was put back on methimazole- this time only 5mg daily ( I was on 60mg a day prior during hyper/thyroid storm- like no wonder the liver levels were high) I kept asking if I lower dose, is there a chance liver will be ok and thyroid levels ok- everyone said no? but logically made sense to me? So now after 5more days back on medicine- thyroid levels still good, and liver levels almost back to normal! SO happy i decided to wait on the RAI. Praying I can control it this way and stay in normal range. Have to keep a close eye on it w blood work, but otherwise feeling soo much better and relieved that i dont need the RAI, at least not yet.

Does anyone have any info or thoughts on Iodine? Have read alot about it , and different diets and how they may affect hyper and hypo thyroidism. 

Congratulations!  You are becoming an empowered patient.  Iodine is beneficial for people with HYPOthyroidism but needs to be limited in people with HYPERthyroidism.  There are also totally natural protocols to treat Graves.  There is a naturopath in the States who had Graves himself and got it under control strictly with a natural protocol.  Some of the natural treatments include Bugleweed, Motherwort and Melissa as well as the L-Carnitine and Vitamin D.