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Thyroid Clinic Sydney

Thyroid and Parathyroid Specialist

Home > Thyroid surgery recovery

Thyroid surgery recovery

March 7, 2012 By admin

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After thyroid surgery – thyroid surgery recovery

  • After you wake up from the anaesthesia you will be moved to your room in the hospital
  • You may begin drinking liquids and then gradually resume a regular diet
  • The stitches are dissolving and don’t need to be removed

Hemithyroidectomy

  • If you have a thyroid lobectomy, you can expect to be discharged from the hospital the day after surgery
  • The length of recovery after hemithyroidectomy is variable but often one to two weeks off work are needed
  • You will need to return for an appointment one week after surgery for a post-op check and review of the surgical pathology results

Total thyroidectomy

  • You may go home when we are sure that your blood levels of calcium are normal
  • While in the hospital, blood tests may be necessary to check the blood level of calcium
  • Symptoms of low blood calcium include numbness of the fingers or lips, muscle cramps, or facial twitching – if you or your family notice these symptoms, be sure to notify your nurse. This situation is not uncommon and when it occurs, it is usually short-lived lasting from 1 to 7 days
  • If low blood calcium levels are confirmed by the blood tests, you will be given oral supplements (usually Caltrate® tablets) until the calcium levels return to normal
  • In all cases, we’ll let you go home when it is safe
  • The length of recovery after total thyroidectomy is variable but often one to two weeks off work are needed

Thyroid surgery recovery

  • Eating: You may eat or drink whatever you like  – most people prefer liquids or soft foods, due to the mild sore throat which is normal for 3-7 days following thyroid surgery recovery
  • Bathing: 24 hours following surgery, you may bathe or shower normally – you do not need to keep the stitches or tapes over the stitches dry; however, when you finish bathing or showering, be sure to pat dry the area of surgery
  • Medications: You will take an antibiotic for 5 days after surgery – this should be taken as prescribed
  • Pain medicine: At discharge from the hospital, a prescription for pain medication will be given to you – by the second day after surgery, most people receive adequate pain relief from Panadeine®; however, if you need prescription-strength medicine to be comfortable, you should take it
  • If you need prescription pain medicine, be sure to take it with food to prevent upset stomach. Do not take aspirin, Nurofen or NSAIDS, which may increase the risk of bleeding
  • Driving after thyroid surgery: You should not drive for at least 1 week following thyroid surgery – this is because the muscles of the neck will be sore, which makes it difficult for you to drive safely

Follow-up visits after thyroid surgery recovery

  • Your first office visit will occur 7-10 day after surgery – at this time, we will discuss the results of the pathology report (tests done on the thyroid gland removed at the time of surgery)
  • Your second office visit will occur approximately 6 weeks after surgery to ensure that your thyroid surgery wound is healing well and your recovery is progressing appropriately

 

Filed Under: Thyroid Surgery Tagged With: Operation, Thyroid Functions, Treatment

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