How to Cope After Thyroid Surgery

Thyroid surgery is a procedure that removes part or all of the thyroid, depending on your specific condition. The surgery is like any medical procedure with anesthesia, scars and a recovery period. Follow your doctor's instructions before and after your surgery. You can use your recovery time to heal properly before going back to normal activity. Take notes about what you should and shouldn't do when you leave the hospital.

Things You'll Need

• Bandages
• Towel
• Antibiotics
• Tylenol, ibuprofen or aspirin
• Artifical thyroid hormone pills
• Oral calcium supplements
• Speech therapist

Instructions

1. Allow your throat to heal. Expect a sore throat and difficulty swallowing for about a week. Watch for the drain, a small tube, in the skin of your neck. The drain helps with any fluid buildup that causes swallowing difficulty. Make sure you keep the drain in your neck until the doctor removes it.

2. Stick to liquids and soft foods during recovery to reduce any throat discomfort. Wait at least a week before you go back to your pre-surgery eating habits.

3. Shower or bathe normally. You can take off your bandage when you're bathing, but make sure to not tear your stitches. Gently towel dry the wound area to prevent any risks to your recovery. Replace the bandage once your neck is dry.

4. Medicate your pain with doctor prescribed antibiotics for five days after surgery. Also, take only Tylenol until your stitches are removed. Once the stitches are gone, you can take aspirin or ibuprofen. Also be aware that you'll be taking artificial thyroid hormone pills such as Synthyroid to keep your thyroid levels normal.

5. Schedule two follow-up appointments after your surgery. One is to have your doctor take your stitches out 10 days after surgery. The other is to check how your scars are healing 1 month afterwards.

Tips & Warnings

• Get tested immediately if you suspect low blood calcium. Symptoms include facial twitching, muscle cramps and mouth and facial numbness. As a cure, doctors prescribe oral supplements such as Tums until your blood calcium is normal.

• Realize that your voice won't be the same. Like with any surgery, there's always a chance your voice will change. Call a speech therapist to help build up your vocal capabilities again.

• Avoid driving for a week after surgery. Your neck will be too stiff and sore for you to be fully alert on the road. Have a friend or family member drive you to where you need to go.