Radioactive Iodine or not?

I'm in the US at the moment, just visiting. I got some blood works here, and I'm waiting for the results. I have grave's disease so this isn't just a random occurrence for me. Ever since I got diagnosed, the question of taking the radioactive iodine was a concern. My mother took it because her thyroid issues went unnoticed until it was enlarged and almost too late. My aunt and uncle did it as well though their condition was not as bad as my mom.

I know a few people on here have thyroid issues as well and may have taken radioactive iodine, so I was wondering if anyone had any advice. I know that me and doctor can only make the decision, but I'm really unsure. For a while, I was adamant against the RI because I'm not happy about destroying a gland, getting hypothyroidism and guaranteed to be on pills forever. However, my reasons for considering it are my mother's concerns, and the fact that my thyroid is slightly enlarged and my symptoms seem more pronounced lately (jitters, insomnia, etc).

Has anyone taken the radioactive iodine? For it or against it? Also, did you have it done in the US or UK?

I developed Grave's when I was about 10 years ago, when I was in uni.  I was kind of freaked out, and took the RI treatment without questioning it, because it was what our college nurse recommended.  I didn't even discuss it with my parents or anything first. 

In retrospect, I regret taking it, at least when I did.  If I had it to do over again, I'd stayed on the thyroid suppressing drug that they first put me on, and waited to see how that went.  From what I've read since, there's about a 25% chance of remission, even without treatment.  And if I'm going to have to take a pill every day for the rest of my life, does it matter which it is?

Of course, my main reason for this regret is the trouble I've had with my weight since then;  I've gained about 90 pounds, though part of that is also due to PCOS.  I can't help thinking that maybe if I'd kept my own thyroid, my overall health might be better now.