So tell me about Thyroid surgery? update # 61

[LuvOrlando]

I've had a lump growing on & off on the right side of my Thyroid since 2002. It was biopsied 3 times, once at Memorial Sloan Kettering and twice by University of Penn, all negative so I'm fairly confident it isn't cancer. Still I only have the one lump, no Thyroid disease, it is a cold nodule and it is now measuring 3.5 so there is still a slight chance they are wrong. So due to size alone it must come out. I am scheduled for Monday morning to get only 1/2 out and leave the isthmus intact, only if it proves to be cancerous will the whole thing come out. It's being done by an Oncologist Surgeon to be safe. So I've had a stress test last month for unrelated pains (looks like push ups can cause chest pain) and am otherwise fine but I'm a bit scared... I guess I'd have to be a fool not to be scared huh. Does anyone know what I should expect?

 

[JessicaR]

Where are you having it done? Did you research your surgeon? I had a total thyroidectomy 2 years ago. It was a very easy recovery for me. I had myself prepared for much worse. The worst part was the bandage and drain following surgery. I took nothing stronger than tylenol during recovery. This is a surgery that requires the best surgeon and expertise.

Wishing you the best.

Life savers during recovery are great!

 

[HeyIt'sMe]

I had 1/2 of my thyroid removed 20 years ago as part of a parathyroidectomy. I had it done at the University of Chicago.

I was pretty young when I had the surgery - 22 - but I remember the recovery was pretty easy. I don't remember having much pain but I do remember the drain. It wasn't painful just kinda gross if you ask me.

I was diagnosed with a benign thyroid nodule on my remaining thyroid in 2008 and I see my endocrinologist every 6 months. I'm guessing if it grows I'll be having surgery to remove it too.

Good luck with your surgery!

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

I had a partial done 9 years ago because of a benign nodule. I couldn't believe how easy it was on me! The surgery was not bad at all. No drainage tubes on me. I had no pain after, I never even took any aspirin for it. I did have a very large scar (my surgeon used staples) that was very scary looking..like Frankenstein. But he put it in a crease in my neck, and it vanished after about a year or so of applying vitamin E daily. I take Synthroid daily and have my neck and levels checked every year.

Please try not to worry too much. It really was not bad for me. I am hoping the same for you! Good luck.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

I had mine out 11 months ago due to cancer. I am sure you will do well. I was hoarse after the surgery. Jessica was right, some hard candy to suck on helps alot. Just wondering about the surgeon too. Mine was done by an ent, I actually had 3 surgeries by both the 2 ents of the hospital. They are both head and neck specialists. I would make sure the surgeon has alot of head and neck experience. There are alot of veins etc. there. I had 2 drains but I dont know if you will have that for just a partial removal. Did they tell you if you will have to have synthroid or will what they leave of your thyroid be able to compensate etc. Best of luck.

 

[AUdisfan]

I had half of mine removed this summer because of a benign nodule also. Recovery was very easy just as the others have said. I was just more tired than usual following the surgery, but no pain either. Just be sure to take it easy afterwards. Mine was done by my ENT who I looooooove. Good luck with the surgery and try not to worry. You'll be just fine.

 

[crz4mm2]

I had 1/2 and the isthmus removed almost 6 years ago. Hashimoto's.
I don't remember it being painful (never even filled the RX the doc gave me) but I do remember it being uncomfortable to have the head of the bed up at a certain angle during the first day/night after surgery.
I spent one night in the hospital (there is a chance of swelling). I had a drain, but it was removed early the next morning.
It was impossible to raise my head without using my hand to do so. THat lasted a couple of days or so.
I have a scar too. It is not terrible, but was at first. I did not have staples, but did have a "dog ear" at one end of the scar. This went down after a time and I used the scar stuff (can't think of the name) to help. It did.
I take synthoid daily too and have levels checked about once a year. It took quite a while to get the right dosage.
Mine nodule was quite large and I actually have several small nodules in the other side. It was benign thank God, but I was slightly worried as the only tissue that is checked with a needle biopsy is the tissue the needle hits. So you can still have cancer in some other part of the gland.
You will be fine. It is an "easy" surgery so to speak. I would second making sure you have a good surgeon who has done a lot of them.
I had a surgeon I work with and he has done quite a few, so I trusted him.

 

[Christine]

I had half removed (like you will) and my nodule came back a week later has having cancer so I had to go back in and have the rest removed.

My first surgery was easy. I had no drain and was home the next day. Didn't need any pain meds. The first day, I had a VERY sore throat (my surgeon warned me of this) but it went away rapidly. My second surgery was a bit more involved and I had a harder recovery but that is because they were going after cancer at that point and it was a rougher surgery.

 

[LuvOrlando]

Thanks for the input. It's good to know the pain probably won't be unbearable and that most of you experiences the same things afterward. I wonder about my voice though. The surgeon warned me about my voice possibly being odd, did that happen to anyone?

Also, I am supposed to go in for the pre-op evaluation today at 11 and #1, its snowing pretty hard here in PA at the moment and #2, I think I am sick. The past few days I had a sort of stuffy nose which could have been allergies but when I work up today my throat is killing me, I can hear crinkling when I swallow ( probably Eustatian tubes from an ear infection) and I have lines of pain going down each side of my neck what timing At this point I just want to get it over with but it doesn't look like its happening Monday. Grrr, I put auto blood donation aside for myself too.. I hope it will keep a while.

Time to call the Dr. and get seen.... crud.

 

[Christine]

Thanks for the input. It's good to know the pain probably won't be unbearable and that most of you experiences the same things afterward. I wonder about my voice though. The surgeon warned me about my voice possibly being odd, did that happen to anyone?

The laryngeal nerve runs very close if not on your thyroid gland. Every surgeon will warn you that damaging this nerve is a possibility during thyroid surgery. I've never known anyone to have damage to this nerve unless they've had very, very extensive thyroid surgery (mostly due to cancer). Sometimes, in cancer cases, the doctor must scrape bits of thyroid tissue off the nerve. This is not necessary in your case. I think the doctor might have to be very inexperienced to nick your nerve in a simple lobectomy procedure. But it is a risk and he has a responsibility to warn you of it.

 

[MIGrandma]

I had half my thyroid and the isthmus removed 6 years ago. I had to spend one night in the hospital and to me, THAT was worse than the surgery. I would have preferred coming home so I could get a good night's sleep!

I have a permanent "smile" on my neck from the surgery, but over the years it has faded somewhat but still not totally.

I did have the drainage tube but that wasn't bad, and I didn't have a lot of pain. I think I basically just took Tylenol for a couple of days. The incision wasn't nearly as painful as when I had my gall bladder out (32 years ago when they did it the "old fashioned" way and left me with an 8" scar on my abdomen).

I have another nodule, but we are just keeping watch of it. If it doesn't grow they will leave it alone. I need to be scheduling another ultrasound for that soon. I sort of wish they just would have taken the whole thing out the first time. I do take synthroid daily but have had no other problems.

I never had a sore throat or hoarseness in my voice.

Good luck with your surgery!

 

[agnes!]

The scars folks are mentioning...are they really bad? Is there any way for the surgeon to minimize scarring?

agnes!

 

[claudia]

The scars folks are mentioning...are they really bad? Is there any way for the surgeon to minimize scarring?

agnes!

I had my surgery done by a doctor who also had a plastic surgery background....she was so skilled that you really cannot see my scar unless you look very close at my neck....she made the incision in a natural crease in my neck.

 

[Blueeyes101817]

I had half of my thyroid out when i was 8--i dont remember too much but I dont remember the recovery being too horrible. The rest of my thyroid came out when I was 15--this time i had the drain which was a bit uncomfortable but not too bad. The worst part of this recovery was that they cut alot of the muscles in my neck and i couldnt keep my neck up and had to keep it facing down which was uncomfortable. I took awhile to recover but it wasnt too horrible. I have been on Synthroid since (I am 25 now). My scar is a bit longer (about 6 inches) since that was the norm they said when my first surgery was done

 

[MIGrandma]

The scars folks are mentioning...are they really bad? Is there any way for the surgeon to minimize scarring?

agnes!

I think mine is worse than most people's, because my scars develop keyloids. They are raised, and don't fade fast like many do. My gall bladder scar from 32 years ago is still ugly.

I questioned the surgeon before my thyroid surgery and he said usually people don't have problems with scars on their face and neck. He was wrong in my case.

I used to put make-up on the scar, especially when I went to work, to minimize the look of it. But it has finally faded some (in 6 years) so I rarely do that anymore.

 

[clovergirl5]

Don't have any experience with thyroid surgery, just wanted to give you a and send best wishes for a speedy, not-to-much pain recovery! Take care, you will be just fine

 

[LuvOrlando]

Thanks everyone! It is very reassuring to hear from everyone.

So this morning was a ton of fun. I woke up at 8 expecting to get to Shoprite for cold cuts & rolls before my 11am pre surgery appt. Instead I woke up to a bunch of snow, a sore throat and aching ears. So my very wonderful family Dr (LOVE HIM) squeezed me in and said I have no infection but a bunch of congestion and fluid behind the ears so I am on a Z-Pack as a precaution due to the surgery. So I'm cleared there.

The pre-op visit went well I guess, but I was surprised to discover I WILL be spending the night because it is pretty major surgery and that's just what they do for safely's sake. So the only reason they couldn't tell me up front is because Insurance DEMANDS it be listed as outpatient up front.. how ridiculous is that? What if I didn't have help for my kids? I am fortunate I do have DH's family & friends to help but DH has to deal with his job now short notice. Not cool, not cool, and I am unhappy about it. I just hope this is the only thing I am unhappy about when it's all done... fingers crossed.

Oh and YAY! I just got off the phone with the Pharmacist and I can have a few cocktails with the Z-Pack.. what a rotten New Years Eve this would have been if I had to drink apple juice or tonic water all night... nope no fun at all.

 

[AUdisfan]

Glad your appointment went well today and you don't have an infection. My insurance was the same way. I stayed over night, but it was listed as outpatient surgery because I was there for less than 24 hrs. I am surprised your Dr. didn't tell you all that ahead of time though. Luckily you have someone who can watch your kids.

I do have a raised white scar, but I tend to scar easily. The last time I saw my ENT for a re-check, he was surprised at how pronounced it still is. I really never think about it. He said if it doesn't get better in a few months, he wants to inject steroids into it.

Best wishes to you for a smooth surgery and a speedy recovery.
Be sure to let us know how it goes.

 

[Snoozan]

Had my total thyroidectomy due to cancer over 10 years ago - like others have said, not much pain afterwards, except for the wicked sore throat from the tube for anesthesia. I did not have any tube put in and my stitches were all internal for the most part, no staples. My scar is not noticable at all - looked like a scratch on my neck initially and the pinkness faded pretty fast. I used Vit E as others had said. I do not notice my scar at all as it was done in a crease in my very skinny neck so I know I'm pretty lucky. Good luck to the OP and don't dread the experience. Just be nice to yourself for a few days afterwards - it's not major surgery compared to what alot of people go through, but it's still a shock to your system.

 

[scottishduffy]

My MIL had the same procedure about 3 months ago and you can barely see her scar now. It was red for the first 2 weeks (like a scrape or something) but after that it has faded. 3 months later and we have to look for her scar. Though she is still self conscious and wears necklaces in the area to cover.

Any good surgeon will put the incision into a natural neck crease so that it will not be as noticable. I see these procedures all the time and most patients do not have a very noticable scar afterwards. Usually they use the same sutures that the plastic surgery guys use to close up your neck (or even just skin glue!). You will be hoarse the first day no matter, due to the nature of the surgery and the special Tube we must use in your throat during surgery, but have some ice chips and hard candies the first night. Most patients recover pretty quickly from this one.

They keep you in the hospital overnight because it is a surgery on your neck. If you should swell or bleed it could affect your airway and the doc wants you near the emergency airway equipment. Never seen that happen yet, however that is the reasoning.

Best of luck to you!