Reddit reviews Graves' Disease: A Practical Guide (McFarland Health Topics)

There is way to much information to address it all in one reply to your post. But I will give you a few recommendations.

Check these links:

• http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/
  
• https://www.livingwithgravesdisease.com/
  
• http://www.elaine-moore.com/
  
  I also recommend the book Graves' Disease: A Practical Guide Which is written by Elaine Moore
  
  Those resources should give you a very thorough understanding of Graves` Disease as well as what options your friend has, I would also suggest showing the resources to him and perhaps together you can both explore the options and have a better understanding.
  
  For what it's worth, I was diagnosed over 10 years ago and I kept my thyroid (believe me I had TONS of doctors try to get me to remove it, or do Radioactive Iodine), Currently my levels are normal and I am not on medication, but it took me 8 years to get there.
  
  Graves is an autoimmune disease which means once you have it, you will always have it with or without a thyroid. Being overweight has nothing to do with it. However, a lot of people with thyroid autoimmune disorders do get relief from symptoms through diet and lifestyle changes, myself included. (Look into the paleo autoimmune protocol diet).
  
  In any case you and your friend will want to do a lot of research before reaching any decisions about thyroid removal.
  
  Good Luck and I hope this information helps.