I'm placing this question under "Womens Health" because I want answers from women only. I am having a total Thyroidectomy in about 2 weeks. Has anyone else here had their thyroid taken out. I just want to know what to expect? How will I feel after the surgery and how to deal without taking my thyroid medication afterward? What has been your personal experience with this. Thanks for your answers. Please be as detailed as possible.
2007-03-18 15:36:56 · 5 answers · asked by ? 6 in Health ➔ Women's Health
I had a total thyroidectomy 1 yr ago. It was an OP, procedure. I had a large, non-malignant mass on the lt side. I stayed in overnight. No pain at all. I was up walking around in the late afternoon. They measured my blood Calcium every four hours while I was there to be sure that my parathyroid was OK. Since I tend to have motion sickness I was pre-medicated with benedryl and then had non-codeine meds in surgery. I would advice you to ask for something without codeine. It's less expensive than the newer meds but people tend to get sick from it. I ate lunch after surgery, a regular dinner and breakfast before I went home at 10 AM. I did not take any pain meds post op and stopped at Wendy's for a burger on the way home. I was not on thyroid meds before surgery so I can't help with that. I stayed home from work for two weeks but really could have gone back to work after a few days of getting over anesthesia.
The incision is very small and mine was closed on the outside with a fancy "Super Glue" so I could shower 24 hrs post OP. The stiches were internal and disolved on their own.
I wish you well. Mine was a real piece of cake!
2007-03-18 15:52:23 · answer #1 · answered by mngrandma2002 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have not had this surgery myself, but I am an OR nurse that has been involved in many thyroidectomies. You will have an incision across your neck approx. 3-4 inches. When you wake up you may feel pain. Be sure & tell your recovery nurse if you do & you will be given pain medicine through your IV. You will have a dressing or bandage around your neck for a few days & possibly a drain coming from the incision. You shouldn.t have any problems eating or swallowing. If you find that you do, inform your nurse or doctor immediatly. After your incision heals you will probably not even notice it is there.
As for your medication, you should just feel like a normal person. Although you will have to take a pill for the rest of your life, how you feel will be better than you are feeling right now with a diseased thyroid.
2007-03-18 16:26:04 · answer #2 · answered by Kelly W 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had one in 1997 because of a papillary tumor. I believe the sugery took about an hour and a half. My neck was sore afterward because they have to hyper-extend your neck during the surgery. I also lost my voice for a few weeks because they scraped by vocal cords during the sugery. It came back though. Other than that, I don't recall any pain. You can barely see my scar now and I have to take a thyroid supplement. Good luck to you, don't worry, it will go fine.
2007-03-18 15:42:29 · answer #3 · answered by GeminiGirl 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm hypothyroid & will be taking meds for the rest of my life.
As someone mentioned, you will still need to be on thyroid meds because your body still needs the hormone to regulate your body functions.
2007-03-18 17:02:50 · answer #4 · answered by Fraulein 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you will be on synthroid for the rest of your life other than that it depends on your age and over all health best wishes Gorbalizer
2007-03-18 15:42:24 · answer #5 · answered by gorbalizer 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋