What To Expect After Thyroid Surgery

Thyroid cancer treatment has lots of things going on. In this video, Dr. Clayman discusses what to expect after thyroid surgery and how it changes depending on what kind of thyroid cancer operation you had. If half of your thyroid gland is removed (see our video on Thyroid Lobectomy for Thyroid Cancer), you should be released from the hospital the same day. If your entire thyroid gland is removed or your surgery requires removal of neck lymph nodes (neck dissection), then you will spend a night in the hospital. The incision is not very big if done by an expert thyroid cancer surgeon, so the discomfort of thyroid surgery may be relieved by taking ibuprofen (Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve). The day after surgery, Dr. Clayman recommends that you resume all normal activity, except for heavy lifting. Your incision will be covered with superglue which seals the incision allowing you to shower and exercise as you normally would. Just pat dry over the glue. Note, these are the expectations if your surgeon is Dr. Clayman. Your experience my not be similar with another surgeon.

[filmguy]

Most people should be aware your voice will likely be horse for a few days and there is a 2% chance your vocal chord can get cut during surgery. The incision, although it will heal over time, it will likely always be there

[Alphaomega]

i just found out i need to have this surgery soon, this video answered all my questions and concerns. really put me at ease, thank you for this video

[kazbaz]

Oh by the way. The cut didnt hurt much at all. I did wake up with someone cleaning my face in recovery room and I felt like I was just a living head. It felt sore then but when I woke up it didnt hurt. The main thing was my breathing as my vocal cord on the one side had closed .... so they were wondering if to take me down and put a breathing hole in my neck. The consultant did sit by me for a while to listen. I was left on the oxygen and by 4am in the morning I was up for a wee ... no pain. Just couldnt turn head much. Stitches out was ok and the tube winded me a bit but it was ok so dont worry if you need a lump removing ...just get a good surgeon whose experienced if possible. When I had the next side done the vocal cord reopened but that was the end to my real singing career....

[Nikki-cpyx]

I just had a total thyroid removal yesterday and EVERYTHING the doc stated about pain has been correct! The only discomfort I'm having is from the tube. Absolutely no pain from the incision. 👍

[caroldorsett]

Yes not really any pain. Only took Tylenol for sore throat. Pretty easy recovery all in all.

[Thefrankmaister]

Thanks all for sharing
.I am having mine removed entirely due to graves disease.
I am not worried at all, just concerned about the "no energy " thing, I play soccer and I'm very active.

[fatpinkteddy]

I had half my thyroid removed recently. The pain has been terrible and I have been very tired. I found out today I have an infection now.

[mariachebbab]

I had my total thyroidectomy last Saturday, it was a successful surgery. It took less than two hours, however, the recovery is a little bit hard. I'm very tired and weak, my emotions are all over the place. My doctor said that my calcium was low so I had other side effects thanks to that, and yeah, there's also the coughing it drives But other than that, everything is good.

[RachelDex]

I'm having my thyroid removed on the 31st January. It's been a long time coming. It's lingual thyroid I think they called it, as it's in the base of my tongue and very large (8cmx8cm+) I'm happy to be having it removed as it makes me look like I have a huge double chin, when in reality I don't! I am getting pretty anxious about it now it's getting close. I don't know if these videos are helping lol

[ZdrytchX]

WHY STITCH WHEN YOU CAN SUPERGLUE YOUR INCISIONS SHUT!

[MindBat]

What about the steps to take to heal the thyroid instead of undergoing surgery?

[holliss]

I've just had a total thyroidectomy and am now having trouble with lack of calcium I gave to have infusions of calcium every week

[vanillae]

I had a total thyroidectomy, a litter over a week ago and the incision is 10 inches. I got staples then the next day they removed them and just used steri strips to hold it together. I had to wait a few days to shower. My steri strips are now slowly coming off. I got to eat later that day after surgery (I ate salmon, rice and peas) then regular food diet the next day. Swallowing is still a little hard and talking comes and goes. A little hoarse then fairly good. My incision is still quite sore, maybe I'm slower to heal as I am a Type 1 Diabetic for 32 years. I only used extra strength Tylenol first few days then nothing. Still have no energy and sleep ALOT. Guess until they get the Synthroid medication right for me, I will go through issues. With the pain I thought maybe I shouldn't have had this surgery (regret?) but I'm sure it'll all work out. HAD to have it removed as I was diagnosed with Graves and had quite a few nodules and 1 really large one. The biopsy showed something and the surgeon said to remove the whole thing as removing the nodules I may develop cancer later and this way I won't. I only go to the surgeon to see how I'm doing, next month so I hope I am heading on the right path.

[lynnsimons]

I wasn't able to have any nsaid`s because I was on blood thinners but I had a lot of aggravated nerves in my neck then I had trouble choking very easily on things that tightness would increase to the point where I almost couldn't breathe Immediately after surgery I started to have panic attacks in my sleep and/or of the past 14 years I'm still having them where my heart rate will pick up for no reason. Does having your thyroid and remove your heart rate?

[tulur]

Sir, what food should be avoid after thyroid surgery?

[TheTripstraps]

thank you for giving information. but what do you mean superglue? was that a joke or they really use glue:0?

[spinup]

Plz tell me if we removed total thyroid gland for women .Is infertily will happen or not. somebodys telling like this im very much scary about it. we dont have baby till now, we past 6 years waiting for baby what to do?

[pennyevans]

That a lie I had half thyroid remove it be a week ago tomorrow I'm weak and have dizzy spells off on on

[attkhan]

My cousin has undergone thyroid surgery last month n now after the surgery test suggested that he is suffering frm medullary carcinoma..so now wht r v supposed to do

[kazbaz]

Dear Doctors, In my experience, on the nhs here in England your thyroid incision is 22 staples long you get broken fish fingers for dinner .... there is one loo for two wards with a gap so everyone can see in the loo which by the way is dirty. The nurse pulls out your drain stitch and says 'oh no I've pulled out the wrong stitch'. You wake up with a vicar looking at you ... I thought he had come to say a last prayer! You hear you have thyroid cancer by overhearing the doctor talking about you on the phone. But its free service so I suppose its ok. Your vocal cords are looking at by about 10 students passing around the tube camera thats down your nose going into your throat which at least 'tickles'. You are taken outside in the snow wearing your nightee, slippers and someones borrowed coat in a wheel chair to see if you have a reaction to outside lol. High tec there then. You put on three dress sizes in six months and are told it shouldn't be happening right my body was overtaken by some strange fatness. Your NHS seems to have problems having a ENT Consultant Oncologist. For a while there doesnt seem to be one even now I am not sure. You are left with GP saying up your thyroxine and the hospital saying you should down your thyroxine. The thyroxine is keeping the cancer at bay you feel so assured - not. My TSH level is now 0.07 is this ok?