Hi,
Radioiodine is not recommended for people with TED since it's known to worsen the disease course. Several people have sued their doctors after the doctors told them this could help.
When you don't achieve remission from Graves' disease, you always have a risk for TED. TED is more likely to occur after RAI than surgery but unless the immune system defect is addressed, antibody production continues even when there is minimal thyroid tissue. Even with a total thyroidectomy, some tissue (attached to the parathyroid glands) remains, and after RAI we're left with a stump of mutated thyroid cells.
Get a copy of your lab results. You want your FT4 and FT3 levels to be near the high end of the range and typically, when you have thyroid antibodies, TSH remains low. If your levels are below mid-range, this can increase thyroid antibody production. Many patients in your situation use block and replace. Here, methimazole helps the immune system heal and the replacement hormone keeps your thyroid hormone levels optimal. Flaxseed oil, B vitamins, CoQ10 and other antioxidants offer benefits. It's also important to follow a nutrient rich diet, avoiding sugar, iodine in processed foods, aspartame and anything you're allergic to. Stress reduction techniques can also help. Best, Elaine