Symptoms
After your thyroidectomy or thyroid lobectomy, you may have a temporary sore throat, neck pain, difficulty swallowing or a weak voice. Your diet will be restricted for the evening of your surgery, but in most cases, it can return to normal the next day. Before you leave the hospital, we'll schedule a follow-up appointment, give instructions for ...
Causes
WHAT ARE THE RISKS OF THE OPERATION? In experienced hands, thyroid surgery is generally very safe. Complications are uncommon, but the most serious possible risks of thyroid surgery include: damage to the parathyroid glands that control calcium levels in the blood, leading to temporary, or more rarely, permanent hypoparathyroidism and hypocalcemia.
Prevention
What you can expect
- Before the procedure. Surgeons typically perform thyroidectomy during general anesthesia, so you won't be conscious during the procedure.
- During the procedure. Once you're unconscious, the surgeon makes a cut (incision) low in the center of your neck. ...
- After the procedure. ...
Complications
The recovery process following the thyroidectomy procedure will take about 1 – 2 weeks on average. You’ll need to plan accordingly for the recovery to ensure the process remains effective. Understanding the process for a thyroidectomy
What should I expect after thyroid surgery?
How serious is thyroid surgery?
What is the recovery time for thyroid cancer surgery?
How long is recovery time after a thyroidectomy?
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How do you care for someone after thyroid surgery?
ActivityRest when you feel tired. ... Try to walk each day. ... Avoid strenuous physical activity and lifting heavy objects for 3 weeks after surgery or until your doctor says it is okay.Do not over-extend your neck backwards for 2 weeks after surgery.Ask your doctor when you can drive again.More items...
What happens after surgery for thyroid?
After your thyroidectomy or thyroid lobectomy, you may have a temporary sore throat, neck pain, difficulty swallowing or a weak voice. Your diet will be restricted for the evening of your surgery, but in most cases, it can return to normal the next day.
How long is recovery after thyroid removal?
You will need to take at least one or two weeks to recover before you return to work and other daily activities. You should not lift any heavy objects for about 2 weeks after your operation to avoid any strain on your neck. Your neck is likely to be swollen and may feel hard and numb right after the surgery.
What is the best treatment for thyroidectomy?
If your thyroid has been removed (thyroidectomy), your body can no longer make the thyroid hormone it needs. You will need to take thyroid hormone (levothyroxine) pills to replace the natural hormone and help maintain normal metabolism and possibly lower your risk of the cancer coming back.
What is the best diet after thyroid removal?
Your Diet During Recovery You can eat whatever you like after surgery. Try to eat healthy foods. You may find it hard to swallow at first. If so, it may be easier to drink liquids and eat soft foods such as pudding, gelatin, mashed potatoes, apple sauce, or yogurt.
Can you survive without a thyroid and no medication?
Aside from having your thyroid levels tested regularly and taking medication daily to give your body the thyroid hormone it needs, people without a thyroid live an otherwise normal life. Adjusting to life without your thyroid means taking medication and checking in with your doctor. Most people adjust easily.
Is thyroid surgery painful?
Typically, there is not a lot of pain involved with thyroid and parathyroid surgery. Rarely narcotic pain medication will be required, but it will be available to you if needed. Most patients only need acetaminophen (Tylenol) for discomfort.
How should I sleep after thyroid surgery?
Head of Bed: Please elevate the head of your bed 30-45 degrees or sleep in a recliner at 30-45 degrees for the first 3-4 days to decrease swelling. The skin above the incision may look swollen after lying down for a few hours.
Is thyroid removal major surgery?
A thyroidectomy is a treatment for a variety of conditions of the thyroid gland. A thyroidectomy is a common but major surgery with serious risks and potential complications. There may be less invasive treatment options available to you. A doctor can advise you if this is the case.
What vitamins should I take after thyroidectomy?
Thyroid removal can result in abnormally low levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH), or hypoparathyroidism, which in turn alters the levels of calcium and vitamin D in the blood. Treatment with calcium and active vitamin D supplements is a standard approach in such cases.
Is there any permanent treatment for thyroid?
Yes, there is a permanent treatment for hyperthyroidism. Removing your thyroid through surgery or destroying your thyroid through medication will cure hyperthyroidism. However, once your thyroid is removed or destroyed, you'll need to take thyroid hormone replacement medications for the rest of your life.
Is thyroid a life?
“cure”. All thyroid diseases can be treated, resulting in normal thyroid function. However, this frequently requires being on medication to maintain the normal thyroid state. For example, most patients with thyroid cancer can be cured through surgery and radioactive iodine treatments (see Thyroid Cancer brochure).
What is thyroid surgery?
Thyroid surgery (thyroidectomy) involves the removal of some or all of the thyroid gland. This operation may be done to treat a number of diseases and conditions, including thyroid cancer, symptomatic goiter, or a thyroid gland that is producing excessive thyroid hormone ( hyperthyroidism ). This butterfly-shaped gland is located at the base ...
Where is thyroid surgery performed?
Location. Thyroid surgery is performed in a hospital or surgical center by a general surgeon or a head and neck surgeon (called an otolaryngologist ). Your surgeon will probably ask that you arrive at least two hours early on the day of your operation.
How to visualize thyroid gland?
Visualization: Depending on the surgical approach, the thyroid gland will be visualized through the incision sites ( e.g., with a magnifying lens, if the surgery is open, or through a camera that projects images on a screen, if the surgery is minimally invasive).
What is a thyroid nodule?
That said, common ones include: A thyroid nodule that is suspicious for cancer or found to be cancerous. A goiter or benign (non-cancerous) thyroid nodule that is large, increasing in size, and/or causing symptoms like discomfort or problems breathing or swallowing.
How long does thyroid surgery take?
Thyroid surgery takes around two to three hours and may be performed under regional or general anesthesia. 7. Regional anesthesia: The surgeon will inject a numbing medication into your neck (called a cervical block). You may feel a stinging sensation as the medication is being injected.
What is the procedure to remove a thyroid nodule?
Hemithyroidectomy or thyroid lobectomy: This involves the removal of one of the two lobes of the thyroid gland. This option may be indicated if a thyroid nodule is small and localized to one side of the thyroid gland. Isthmusectomy: This involves the removal of the isthmus, the bridge of tissue that crosses over the middle ...
Why do surgeons perform laryngoscopy?
Since thyroid surgery may result in injury or trauma to the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN), some surgeons also perform a routine laryngoscopy to evaluate for any baseline vocal cord problems. Overall, these tests help the surgeon confirm the need for surgery and guide their surgical approach or technique.
Why do doctors recommend thyroidectomy?
Your doctor may recommend a thyroidectomy if you have conditions such as: Thyroid cancer. Cancer is the most common reason for thyroidectomy. If you have thyroid cancer, removing most, if not all, of your thyroid will likely be a treatment option. Noncancerous enlargement of the thyroid (goiter).
What is the surgical removal of the thyroid gland?
Thyroidectomy is the surgical removal of all or part of your thyroid gland. Your thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of your neck. It produces hormones that control every aspect of your metabolism, from your heart rate to how quickly you burn calories. Thyroidectomy is used to treat thyroid disorders, such as cancer, ...
What is the term for a thyroid gland that produces too much thyroxine?
Overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism). Hyperthyroidism is a condition in which your thyroid gland produces too much of the hormone thyroxine. If you have problems with anti-thyroid drugs and don't want radioactive iodine therapy, thyroidectomy may be an option. Indeterminate or suspicious thyroid nodules.
How long does it take to remove a thyroid gland?
Thyroidectomy usually takes one to two hours.
Where is the cut in the neck for thyroid surgery?
During the procedure. Once you're unconscious, the surgeon makes a cut (incision) low in the center of your neck. It can often be placed in a skin crease where it will be difficult to see after the incision heals. All or part of the thyroid gland is then removed, depending on the reason for the surgery.
What to do if you have hyperthyroidism?
If you have hyperthyroidism, your doctor may prescribe medication — such as an iodine and potassium solution — to control your thyroid function and lower the bleeding risk after surgery. You may need to avoid eating and drinking for a certain period of time before surgery, as well, to avoid anesthesia complications.
Can you remove a goiter?
Removing all or part of your thyroid gland is an option if you have a large goiter that is uncomfortable or causes difficulty breathing or swallowing or, in some cases, if the goiter is causing hyperthyroidism. Overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism). Hyperthyroidism is a condition in which your thyroid gland produces too much of the hormone thyroxine.
What is the best treatment for thyroid cancer?
Surgery is the main treatment in nearly every case of thyroid cancer, except for some anaplastic thyroid cancers. If thyroid cancer is diagnosed by a fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy, surgery to remove the tumor and all or part of the remaining thyroid gland is usually recommended.
What are the complications of thyroid surgery?
Potential complications of thyroid surgery include: Temporary or permanent hoarseness or loss of voice. This can happen if the larynx (voice box) or windpipe is irritated by the breathing tube that was used during surgery. It may also occur if the nerves to the larynx (or vocal cords) are damaged during surgery.
What is lobectomy surgery?
A lobectomy is an operation that removes the lobe containing the cancer, usually along with the isthmus (the small piece of the gland that acts as a bridge between the left and right lobes). It is sometimes used to treat differentiated (papillary or follicular) thyroid cancers that are small and show no signs of spread beyond the thyroid gland. It is also sometimes used to diagnose thyroid cancer if an FNA biopsy result doesn’t provide a clear diagnosis (see Tests for Thyroid Cancer ).
What to take after thyroidectomy?
After a near-total or total thyroidectomy, you will need to take daily thyroid hormone (levothyroxine) pills. But one advantage of this surgery over lobectomy is that your doctor will be able to check for recurrence (cancer coming back) afterward using radioiodine scans and thyroglobulin blood tests.
How to remove thyroid gland?
Thyroidectomy is surgery to remove the thyroid gland. It is the most common surgery for thyroid cancer. As with lobectomy, this is typically done through an incision a few inches long across the front of the neck. You will have a small scar across the front of your neck after surgery, but this should become less noticeable over time.
Can you take thyroid hormone pills after FNA biopsy?
An advantage of this surgery is that some patients might not need to take thyroid hormone pills afterward because it leaves part of the gland behind.
Is thyroid surgery dangerous?
Risks and side effects of thyroid surgery. Complications are less likely to happen when your operation is done by an experienced thyroid surgeon. Patients who have thyroid surgery are often ready to leave the hospital within a day after the operation. Potential complications of thyroid surgery include:
How rare is thyroid surgery?
The risk of infection is present with any type of surgery but is relatively rare with thyroid surgery (roughly one in 2000 surgeries). 7 Treatment usually includes IV antibiotics.
How long after thyroid surgery do you have to go back to the doctor?
Generally speaking, you will usually need to return to the surgeon for a follow-up visit around one to two weeks after surgery. In the meantime, be sure to contact your thyroid care team if you have any questions regarding your recovery process.
What are the risks of hypoparathyroidism after thyroid surgery?
Factors that increase the risk of hypoparathyroidism after thyroid surgery include a diagnosis of thyroid cancer, a longer duration of thyroid disease before surgery, a central incision, and the removal of a large amount of thyroid tissue.
What is a thyroid storm?
Thyroid storm or thyrotoxic crisis is a condition caused by very high levels of circulating thyroid hormone. It is uncommon, but when it occurs after thyroidectomy, is usually associated with Grave's disease. Symptoms include a fever (over 102 degrees F in most people), profuse sweating, a rapid heart rate, and sometimes delirium. 8
What to expect before thyroid surgery?
Knowing what to expect before your thyroid surgery is helpful for coping with potential side effects, reducing complications, and undergoing an easier recovery process. As with any surgery, it's normal to have questions, concerns, and maybe even feel a little bit of anxiety going into it. Discuss what's on your mind with your doctor.
What are the side effects of thyroid surgery?
Side effects of surgery are common and include neck pain, a sore throat, difficulty swallowing, hoarseness, and temporary hypoparathyroidism. 1 Complications are much less common and can include bleeding (a neck hematoma), ...
How to get rid of stiffness after neck surgery?
Using pain medication after surgery may reduce discomfort, making it easier for you to keep moving your neck so that you have less stiffness later on. Applying a warm compress may also help.
What is a thyroidectomy?
A thyroidectomy is an operation to remove all or part for the thyroid gland. It is the treatment for a number of different thyroid disorders including thyroid cancer, goitre, thyroid nodules and Graves Disease. Watch Surgeon Professor Neil Tolley at Imperial College in London talking about thyroid and parathyroid surgery ...
How to get back to normal after thyroidectomy?
Stop smoking, limit alcohol, stick to a routine to help you get back to normal and don’t be embarrassed to ask for help and visitors – keeping your spirits up is important. The Royal College of Surgeons Patient Group have produced a very helpful leaflet about recovering from a thyroidectomy called ‘ Get Well Soon ‘.
What happens if your parathyroid glands are damaged?
If your parathyroid glands are permanently damaged you will be left with a condition called hypoparathyroidism ( which means low parathyroid hormone).
Is hypoparathyroidism permanent?
In up to 10% of cases, the damage is permanent, a rare condition known as post surgical hypoparathyroidism. It is a lifelong condition. If this happens to you, you will need daily vitamin D and calcium medication and you will receive free prescriptions ( ask your GP for a Medical Exemption Certificate form).
Is thyroid surgery safe?
Modern thyroid surgery is very safe but there can be complications which may cause bleeding or affect your voice. Apart from these, there is a 10% risk of damage to the parathyroid glands in your neck causing permanent hypoparathyroidism.
How long does it take to recover from a thyroidectomy?
There is very little formal “recovery”. Essentially all patients are discharged from the hospital in less than 24 hours. The majority of patients having a simple thyroid lobectomy go home the same day if they live or can stay nearby. Many patients who have a total thyroidectomy go home the same day.
Can you take pain medication after a thyroidectomy?
With a simple thyroid lobectomy usually the only new prescription will be pain medication. After a total thyroidectomy, the patient can no longer make thyroid hormone. For normal health, this hormone is given, in pill form, by mouth as thyroid hormone replacement therapy.
Overview
Why It's Done
Risks
How You Prepare
What You Can Expect
Side Effects
- Your doctor may recommend a thyroidectomy if you have conditions such as: 1. Thyroid cancer.Cancer is the most common reason for thyroidectomy. If you have thyroid cancer, removing most, if not all, of your thyroid will likely be a treatment option. 2. Noncancerous enlargement of the thyroid (goiter).Removing all or part of your thyroid gland is an option if you h…
Complications
- Thyroidectomy is generally a safe procedure. But as with any surgery, thyroidectomy carries a risk of complications. Potential complications include: 1. Bleeding. 2. Infection. 3. Low parathyroid hormone levels (hypoparathyroidism) caused by surgical damage or removal of the parathyroid glands. These glands are located behind your thyroid and regulate blood calcium. Hypoparathyr…
Risk Factors
- Food and medications
If you have hyperthyroidism, your doctor may prescribe medication — such as an iodine and potassium solution — to control your thyroid function and lower the bleeding risk after surgery. You may need to avoid eating and drinking for a certain period of time before surgery, as well, to … - Other precautions
Before your scheduled surgery, ask a friend or loved one to help you get home after the procedure. Be sure to leave jewelry and valuables at home.
Recovery
- Before the procedure
Surgeons typically perform thyroidectomy during general anesthesia, so you won't be conscious during the procedure. The anesthesiologist or anesthetist gives you an anesthetic medication as a gas — to breathe through a mask — or injects a liquid medication into a vein. A breathing tube wi… - During the procedure
Once you're unconscious, the surgeon makes a cut (incision) low in the center of your neck. It can often be placed in a skin crease where it will be difficult to see after the incision heals. All or part of the thyroid gland is then removed, depending on the reason for the surgery. If you're having th…
Follow-Up
Summary
A Word from Verywell
- While complications can affect anyone, there are some risk factors that increase the chance of the adverse effects.4These include: 1. Being older than age 65 2. Smoking 3. The presence of other medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure or a bleeding disorder 4. Thyroid cancer, especially when a central neck dissection is done to remove lymph nodes 5. Repeat thyr…