Thyroid Surgery

The Thyroid Gland

 

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 again. 

 

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 suspicious thyroid nodules or nodules that might be causing symptoms

 

 

Thyroid Surgery

 

All or part of your thyroid gland will be removed through a small incision (1 to 3 inches) on your neck.  The size of the incision will depend on the size of your thyroid.  The surgery is done under general anesthesia and takes about 2-3 hours.  The incision is located in the middle of your neck.  It is a side-to-side incision.  You will go home the same day or stay one night in the hospital.

 

Before Surgery

 

Plan to take one week off work.  Do as many of your household and other chores before surgery.

 

How will I feel after Surgery?   

 

• Your throat will be sore when you swallow (it feels like a case of strep throat).  This often lasts 1-2 days.
• Your voice may be hoarse or you may notice that your voice gets tired at the end of the day.  These changes most often go away within a week or two.
• The back of your neck may hurt, due to the position of your head during surgery.  It may feel better if you use 1-2 pillows in bed. 
• Some patients feel a little run down, chilly, and tired. You might notice dry, itchy skin, brittle hair and nails.  These are all signs of too little thyroid hormone, or hypothyroidism.  Your hormone levels will depend on how much of your thyroid was removed.   Tell your doctor if you have any of these complaints. Some patients need to take thyroid hormone for the rest of their lives.
• Sometimes, patients have a pulling sensation in the neck muscles.  This will improve in 3-4 weeks.
• The parathyroid glands are four delicate glands located near the thyroid that control calcium levels.  If all of your thyroid gland is removed, the parathyroid glands may not work right away and the calcium level in your blood may be low.  This happens in about one-fourth of patients.  You may have numbness or tingling in your fingertips, face, lips or toes.  Your doctor may prescribe calcium (Tums®) for you.   The dosage will depend on the results of your blood test and will slowly be decreased over 4 weeks.
• If you develop numbness and tingling in your face, lips, fingertips, or toes you should take four 500 mg tablets of Tums® (2 gm of calcium).  The symptoms should resolve in 15-30 minutes.  If the symptoms persist at 30 minutes you can repeat this.  If the symptoms still do not resolve please call us.
• Calcium tablets and narcotic pain medicines can both be constipating.  If you find that you are having problems with constipation you can take an over the counter stool softener, such as Colace® (docusate sodium) 100 mg twice daily. 
• If your thyroid gland was removed due to cancer, further treatment may be advised.

 

Incision Care

 

• Dr. Sippel’s patients

 

•  
  • Your wound is closed with glue and tape. 
  • The glue is waterproof, so it is OK to shower or get it wet.
  • The glue and tape will start to peel off in 10-14 days.  If the edges curl up prior to your next appointment, it is ok to trim them with a small scissors.
  • You will have pieces of tape over the glue; leave them on until your next appointment with Dr. Sippel (10-14 days). 

 

• Dr. Chen’s patients

 

•  
  • Your wound is closed with sutures (that need to be removed), tape, and a clear dressing.
  • The dressing is waterproof, so it is OK to shower or get it wet.
  • Small pieces of tape are used to reinforce the incision.  The pieces of tape should remain in place until your next appointment with Dr. Chen (6-8 days).  If the edges curl up prior to your next appointment, it is ok to trim them with a small scissors.
  • The tape over your incision may be covered with a clear dressing.  If a clear dressing is present, it may be removed in 2 days.

 

• No swimming or soaking in water for 14 days after surgery.
• Do NOT use ointments, powders, or creams on the wound for 14 days after surgery.
• Check your incision daily, until you see your doctor, for signs and symptoms of infection
  • Increased redness or swelling around the incision
  • Any foul-smelling drainage or pus coming from the incision
  • Fever over 100.4° F by mouth

 

Activity

 

• Most people return to work one week.
• Avoid straining or extreme bending of your neck.
• Do not lift more than 20 pounds for the first week.
• Avoid strenuous activity for one week.
• Resume driving when you are no longer taking narcotic pain pills and can turn your head 90° with ease.

 

Will I need to take pain medicine?

 

You will have pain at the incision site.  Pain medicine will be prescribed for you.  Follow the pharmacist’s orders about using pain medicine.  Extra-Strength Tylenol®, instead of the prescribed pain medicine, may also make you feel better.

 

Eating soft foods, drinking cold fluids, and resting your voice will help lessen the discomfort.

 

When to Call the Doctor

 

• This is rare, but if you are panicked due to trouble breathing, sudden swelling in your throat, or are unable to swallow, Call 911.
• Numbness and/or tingling of your fingertips, face, lips or toes that does not resolve with calcium supplements (Tums®).
• Pain at the incision site not controlled with pain medicine.
• Signs of infection in the incision.
• Temperature greater than 100.4° F for 2 readings taken 4 hours apart.

 

General Surgery Clinic: (608) 263-7502, Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm

 

After hours, holidays and weekends, this will give you the paging operator.  Ask for the General Surgery doctor on call for Dr. _____________.  Leave your name and phone number with the area code.  The doctor will call you back.

 

If you live out of the area, call 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: 12/15/2010

Copyright © 12/15/2010 University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority. All rights reserved. Produced by the Department of Nursing. UWH #4749

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