Thyroid Surgery HF#4749

Your thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland beneath your Adam’s apple.  This gland helps to control your body’s metabolism, or how your body works.  It makes hormones that travel through the blood to other parts of your body.  Thyroid hormones tell the body how fast to work and use energy.

 

When you are healthy, your thyroid works like an air conditioner, cycling on and off.  When there is enough thyroid hormone in the blood, it turns off.  When the body needs more hormone, it turns back on. 

 

Sometimes the thyroid works too well, and doesn’t turn off when it should.  This is called hyperthyroidism.  Your doctor may suggest surgery to treat it.  Other reasons for surgery are for treatment of thyroid cancer or to remove thyroid nodules.

 

Surgery

 

All or part of your thyroid will be removed. The wound is 1-3 inches long. The incision follows the fold of the skin on your neck.   During the 1-3 hour surgery, you will be under general anesthesia. You will go home the same day or stay one night in the hospital.

 

 

How will I feel after Surgery?   

 

• Your throat will be sore when you swallow. This can last 1-2 days.
• Your voice may be hoarse or you may notice that your voice gets tired. These changes may last 1-2 weeks.
• The back of your neck may be sore from the position of your head in surgery.  You may feel better using 1-2 pillows in bed. 
• You may feel a pulling in your neck muscles. This will get better in 3-4 weeks.
• The parathyroid glands are four small glands near the thyroid. They control blood calcium. If your thyroid is removed, these four glands may not work right away. Your blood calcium may be low. If you have numbness and tingling in your face, lips, fingertips, or toes, chew 4- Tums® 500 mg each (2000 mg of calcium carbonate).  The numbness and tingling should go away in 30 minutes.  If numbness and tingling do not go away after 30 minutes, chew more Tums® 2000mg. If the symptoms do not go away after the second dose of Tums®, please call us.
• Calcium and narcotic pain pills can cause constipation. To prevent this problem,   you may want to take a stool softener as long as you use narcotic pain pills and until you have your first bowel movement. You may want to start with docusate sodium 100 mg, two times a day. Follow package directions.  
• If your thyroid was removed due to cancer, more treatment may be needed
  

 

Wound Care

 

Look at your wound daily, check for signs of infection

Spreading redness or swelling
Foul-smelling drainage or pus

Temperature over 100.4° F by mouth

 

Dr. Chen

• Wound is closed with stitches, tape, and a clear dressing.
• The dressing is waterproof. It is OK to shower.
• Leave the tape on your wound until your doctor visit in 6-8 days.
  Curled tape edges may be trimmed with small scissors.
• Remove the clear dressing 2 days after surgery.

Dr. Sippel

• Wound is closed with glue and tape. 
• The glue is waterproof. It is OK to shower.
• The glue and tape will start to peel off in 10-14 days. Curled tape edges may

   be trimmed with small scissors.
• Leave the tape on until your doctor visit in 10-14 days. 

Dr. Schneider

• Wound is closed with glue and tape. 
• The glue is waterproof. It is OK to shower.
• The glue and tape will start to peel off in 10-14 days. Curled tape edges may

   be trimmed with small scissors.
• Leave the tape on until your doctor visit in 10-14 days. 

Pain

 

Expect that your throat will be sore and you will have pain at the incision. You will have narcotic pain pills to use at home. Follow the directions from your pharmacy. You may take Extra-Strength Tylenol®  or ibuprofen, instead of the narcotic pain pills.

 

Plan to eat soft foods, drink cold fluids, and rest your voice to help decrease pain.

 

Activity

 

• Most people return to work in one week.
• Avoid straining or extreme bending of your neck.
• Do not lift more than 20 pounds for the first week.
• Nothing more strenuous than walking for one week.
• You may drive when you are not using narcotic pain pills and when you can turn your head from side to side (as if you were checking your blind spots) with no pain.
• No swimming or soaking in water for 14 days

 

 

When to Call the Doctor

 

• This is rare, but if you have trouble breathing, sudden swelling in your throat, or you cannot swallow, Call 911.
• Numbness or tingling of your fingertips, face, lips or toes that does not go away with two doses of Tums®.
• Wound pain that does not get better with narcotic pain pills.
• Signs of infection.
• Temperature greater than 100.4° F for 2 readings taken 4 hours apart.
• Any other symptoms that concern you.

 

Phone Numbers

 

General Surgery Clinic: 608-263-7502. This is a 24 hour number.

After hours, weekends and holidays ask for the doctor on call for Dr. Chen, Dr. Sippel,  Dr. Schneider. Leave your name and phone number with the area code.  We will call you back.

 

Toll Free:  1-800-323-8942.

 

The information provided should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

Last Updated: 08/27/2012

Copyright © 08/27/2012 University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority. All rights reserved. Produced by the Department of Nursing. HF#4749

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