What does a surgery to remove the thyroid consists of, recovery time, is it an outpatient procedure?
sissy asked:
I noticed a pea sized nodule on my throat, thyroid. I have had an ultrsound and needle biopsy. The biopsy showed abnormal cells so I am going to have surgery to remove the thyroid. What takes place in this surgery? Don’t know what to expect!! Kinda scared too!
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I noticed a pea sized nodule on my throat, thyroid. I have had an ultrsound and needle biopsy. The biopsy showed abnormal cells so I am going to have surgery to remove the thyroid. What takes place in this surgery? Don’t know what to expect!! Kinda scared too!
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Here’s a link
This site, about.com has alot of info on many things. There are other articles there, just search on their main page.
Here’s another
Best wishes to you.
You can also search in answers and you’ll see previously asked questions.
The “surgery” basically consists of a very thin straw-like tube inserted into the throat and you feel a few ‘plucks’ as the thyroid is injected with radioactive iodine.
My endocrinologist told me “its an outpatient procedure” & “you won’t have to miss work”.
This is a fallacy
The actual radiologist called me just before Christmas to ask me when am I coming & I would need to be under quarentine for 4 days for the excess radioactive material to pass through my body.
Of couse, I listened to the Endo & told Ever other manager in my office to be off because I was not needing extra time & had to wait until the 2nd wk of Jan for everyone to return and take the days off.
I also wish I had enough time to plan with my insurance to remain in the hospital during the 4 days with my young adult children & cat home for 4 days & remain quarentined.
You also have to distenfect the bathroom (toilet & all) after Each use and wash the clothes you wore separately after the quarentine is over.
It is painless. You may have to take a thyroid replacement medicine afterwards. Watch your diet – may find yourself struggling to maintain your weight.
Sorry that my answer got a thumbs down – here is a link from where I HAD the procedure done. Check it out then call them.
The site is very much improved then when I researched it before I had the procedure done.
I had my thyroid removed about a year and half ago. I was scared too. The doctors will remove probably all of your thyroid gland, you will have an incision across your neck with a drainage tube in for a day or so. Its not that bad of a surgery,keep the ice pack on your neck and take your pain meds, and a week or so you feel ok. The worst for me was the waiting to be put on thyroid medicine,because you are soooo tired for not having your thyroid. Don’t worry it’s not as bad as it sounds. Good luck to you.
From what my endocrinologist has told me, prior to the surgery you meet with a surgeon to talk about the procedure and so that they can explain to you how long it should take and what your recovery time should be. Most routine thyroid surgeries last a couple of hours and depending on your recovery, most people who have this will be able to go home the next day. You will have a scar just below where your thyroid gland is and i’m pretty sure that after that you still have to take medication because you will be hypothyroid.
but check some of these websites out… they may be able to help you some more.
Good Luck.
two groups I want to tell you about…yahoo health groups for thyroid and which is for thyroid cancer, but it has great info on endos and surgeons and the surgery itself. I had it two years ago may 16th. my recovery from the surgery was easy, I was very surprised. I joined the yahoo health group for thyca after the surgery and found tons of info that was unbelievably helpful to me…the hardest part for me was getting my dose of synthroid correct afterwards, it took afew adjustments. maybe I will see you at the sites.
I had my thyroid removed 3 weeks ago. I only just went back to work today. ( and im not a sook:)) I went in at 7am, and was in the recoverry room by 1.30pm, and was sent to my ward by 3pm. I woke to a huge sore throat and neck,and could not move very much at all. My voice is still husky, as they move your vocals cords around a bit. and I stayed in hospital for nearly 3 days so they could keep and eye on my calcium levels, as your calcium ducts are behind your thyroid gland. I did have nerve damage to the right hand side of my neck, but it is healing slowly,and I am the only one that hates my scar (either that or everyone is just being nice to me lol) The scar is only about 2 inches wide on me, and i coldnt bring myself to look at it for a few days. You will be able to move your head and drive after a few days, but do find yourself a compfy pillow as sleeping was highly uncomfortable as you dont realise how much you need to use your neck muscles in every day life. All I can suggest is ask people that have had it done. Good luck and I hope this has helped.
Oh and I forgot to say that I am only 29 years old, so all of this CAN happen at any time of your life too.
My father and father-in-law both had their thyroid removed. Here’s is a link to their stories plus other doctor-reviewed first-person patient stories about thyroid surgery, plus advice to make the surgery less stressful:
There is also research news on the page about inpatient vs. outpatient thyroid surgery.
Good luck.