Thyroidectomy

[casndan]

Has anyone here had a thyroidectomy? I'm just wondering what to expect after. I'd love any tips if anyone can share! Thank you!

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

I had a partial 9 years ago due to nodules . My surgeon was wonderful, he put the incision(very long) in a crease in my neck and it disappeared after a couple years. He used staples which look bad, but come out very easily when it's time. (I called myself Frankenstein when I got home.) I spent one night in the hospital with absolutely no complications. The nodules were benign. I have been taking Synthroid ever since. I am on it for life, but not a big deal. I had no pain at all, and didn't even need a Tylenol after the surgery. You will need a button down shirt to wear home so you don't have to pull something over your head.

Good luck, I hope your experience is as good as mine was!

ETA: I rubbed vitamin E oil and used sunscreen on my scar to help it fade.

 

[Christine]

I had two!!

One to take out most of my thyroid. Pathology came back as cancer so I had to have second surgery to remove what was left.

I just remember having a HORRIBLE sore throat the first day but it very quickly went away. I stayed home from work about a week because they didn't want me driving. Felt kind of funky for a few days but then that was it.

 

[casndan]

Mine is a total thyroidectomy due to a thyroid neoplasm, which may or may not be cancerous and since I have nodules on both lobes both my endocrinologist and surgeon think it is best to go ahead and remove the entire thing. I'm already on synthroid for hypothyroidism so that part isn't a super big deal to me although I am slightly concerned about getting the levels right.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

I had mine out last Jan. due to cancer. I think the surgery itself was 6 hours initially. I had many complications which I wont go into.

The incision itself just had steri strips and staples.The staples were not painful when removed.

The voice was really hoarse for a while. Sucking on hard candy helps.

Also the drain might look strange etc. I had 2. One came out in the hospital and one came out weeks later, I think about a week or less is normal? I do know taking the drain out was better if they gave you a shot of novacaine lst. The lst drain removal I didnt have any shots and it was really uncomfortable but didnt last long.

As the others have said, get a button up shirt. Its easy if you still have the drain. You can put it in the pocket.

My synthroid level only had to be adjusted once post op. It was like 150 but now its 200 because my endo says they like to have the cancer patients on a higher dose.

I think its better out than in if there are any questions about the diagnosis etc.

Wishing you all the best.

 

[LuvOrlando]

I started a post like yours in December and got some good advice. My surgery is scheduled a soon as the kids go back to school in late August at Sloan Kettering.

If you do it soon please post back how it went... I am in the same boat as you. Good luck

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

My aunt had a total when I was around 8. I dont rememeber much, but I do remember her neck staples scared the heck of of me. If your around any kids I would suggest you find some loose turtle necks. My aunt had hers done in summer so she got some oversized ones (so they wouldnt be tight on her neck) and cut the neck off.

 

[JessicaR]

I had a Total Thyroidectomy. Bad sore throat after that slowly diminished. I had a drain for about a week. My incision was glued externally and stitched internally minus the small spot where the drain tube was attatched. When that was removed it was tied off with a stitch. I stayed one night in the hospital. I had very little pain afterwards and didn't need any narcotic pain medicine once I got home. I experienced an easy recovery and had excellent results. My voice was weak right after but strengthened on a daily basis.

I have had ups and downs trying to regulate my medication ever since. I have to stay on top of it and have labs done every three months. But that is just me. I have Graves disease.

Eat lots of life savers after the surgery - they helped me greatly. Best of luck to you!

 

[disney1990]

I have 1/2 of my thyroid out on March 5 of this year because of nodules and swelling. They found no cancer, so they other 1/2 will stay. My thyroid levels have remained normal, so I have no need for meds. My scar is slowly fading. The surgeon put in the crease of my neck, so I think it time it will hardly noticeable.

 

[sunlover13]

My DH had one last May.

I think it depends on your surgeon. The surgeon that they recommended he go to ended up being very old fashioned and cut you from ear to ear. DH went to his sister's surgeon (she had the same thing) who only made about a 2 inch incision. It has almost been 1 year and you can barely see the scar.

DH did not have a drain. The stitches were dissolvable.

He said the worst part was his neck was sore from being extended the whole time during the surgery. The incision didn't hurt, his voice was fine, and he was able to eat solids the next day.

He was off of work for 1 week just b/c he couldn't drive since turning your neck is not possible with the stiches & surgical tape covering it.

He said the radioactive iodine / low iodine diet was way worse than the surgery. He had to do this b/c his was cancerous. This was well after the surgery.

So, my PSA would be to research your surgeon.

Good luck! I hope you have a speedy recovery.

 

[akcire]

I had half my thyroid out in Oct, frozen section in OR looked okay so they left the other half. Of course, the final pathology report showed cancer--so in December I had the other half out.

I had no effects at all from the first surgery--left about 2 hours after. I sucked on some hard candy, and took maybe 2 tylenol for pain. I found it VERY helpful to wear a baseball cap when I laid down. This allowed me to pull my head up by pulling the brim of the cap--it was a trick one of the nurses told me. It was a very valuable tip.

Second surgery went just as well--since I had the full thyroid out this time I did need to spend the night. My parathyroids were fine, and I was discharged at 8 the next morning. Once again no ill effects.

My scar is very minimal. My surgeon in addition to being a endocrinology surgeon is a board certified plastic surgeon, no staples just strips and glue. Both surgeries were done using the same incision and it is probably about 2 inches.

Feel free to PM me if you have any questions. Since I had 2 surgeries I have a bit of a unique perspective. If you are in the Chicago area I would definitely recommend my surgeon.

 

[Snoozan]

Another thyroid cancer survivor here - I had my thyroidectomy almost 11 years ago. Surgery was no problem - only pain meds were ibuprofen for a couple of days. The sore throat from the general anesthesia was the worst part, but not an issue after a couple of days. I also had a great surgeon who used internal stitches and tape so no drain or staples. My scar is not noticeable AT ALL and I have the skinniest neck. Also recommend putting Vit E oil on the scar as well as sunscreen.

 

[casndan]

Thanks for all the responses! I appreciate your insite, I'm having surgery on the 21st of May and I'm a little nervous, I have an 8 month old (almost 9) and DH is deployed so it's going to be rough but I feel a lot better after all the people who have said "it's really not that bad" Thanks guys!

 

[casndan]

Thought I'd come back and update I had the procedure done on Friday and I'm doing really well so far. Pathology came back today and it was cancer so it's a really goof thing that I went ahead with the surgery.

 

[LuvOrlando]

I'm glad to hear you go through ok. I'm on pins and needles for getting it done in August and am so nervous. Can I ask what your biggest complaint is so far? Anything they didn't prepare you for ahead of time?

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Glad to hear that you made it through the surgery, but sorry to hear it was cancer. I just had the 2 week low iodine diet again and my l year follow up scan. I called my radiation onc. from disney on the 21st and all the tests were negative, so Praise God I am doing great. If you have to have the lid and radiation, I think that is the hardest part.

Also come to the thyroid thread on the coping and compassion board too for lots of info etc.

One good thing if you have to do the lid diet soon, you will have lots of fruits and vegetable varietys to pick from so that will help a little too.

Wishing you all the best.

 

[Christine]

Thought I'd come back and update I had the procedure done on Friday and I'm doing really well so far. Pathology came back today and it was cancer so it's a really goof thing that I went ahead with the surgery.

I'm sorry to hear that you had to get the cancer diagnosis. It was a real shocker for me when that pathology came back malignant. Everyone had prepped me about how 'rare' it was that I didn't even see it coming--wasn't even worried (unusual for a hypochondriac like me).