How long thyroidectomy

Most people are ready to return home within one day of surgery, but take off about two weeks from work to recover. You'll need to refrain from heavy lifting or other tasks that can strain your neck for up to three weeks after your surgery. Soaking or scrubbing the site of your incision is also discouraged for at least one week to allow it time to properly heal.

Showering is generally allowed after about one day. Pain at the site of your incision will improve after a few days but may continue for a week or so. If you notice sudden swelling in your neck, which could signify an infection, contact our office. Due to disturbance of the parathyroid glands, which regulate calcium balance, your calcium level may drop after surgery. If it drops, you may notice numbness and tingling of your fingers or around your mouth.

We'll monitor your calcium levels through blood tests, and give you instructions about taking calcium replacements if needed. After a total thyroidectomy, you will take lifelong thyroid hormone replacements.

Because your entire thyroid gland is removed, it will no longer supply you with the hormone you need to control your body's metabolic processes. You might also have to take supplements after thyroidectomy to balance your calcium levels.

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It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. Please turn on JavaScript and try again. Important Phone Numbers. Topic Contents Your Recovery How can you care for yourself at home? When should you call for help? Where can you learn more? Top of the page. Your Recovery Thyroidectomy is the removal of the thyroid gland, which is shaped like a butterfly and lies across the windpipe trachea.

How can you care for yourself at home? Rest when you feel tired. Getting enough sleep will help you recover. When you lie down, put two or three pillows under your head to keep it raised. Try to walk each day. Start by walking a little more than you did the day before. Bit by bit, increase the amount you walk.

Walking boosts blood flow and helps prevent pneumonia and constipation. Avoid strenuous physical activity and lifting heavy objects for 3 weeks after surgery or until your doctor says it is okay. Do not over-extend your neck backwards for 2 weeks after surgery. Ask your doctor when you can drive again. You may take a shower, unless you still have a drain near your incision.

Pat the incision dry. If you have a drain, follow your doctor's instructions to care for it. If it is painful to swallow, start out with cold drinks, flavoured ice pops, and ice cream. Next, try soft foods like pudding, yogurt, canned or cooked fruit, scrambled eggs, and mashed potatoes. Avoid eating hard or scratchy foods like chips or raw vegetables. Avoid orange or tomato juice and other acidic foods that can sting the throat.

If you cough right after drinking, try drinking thicker liquids, such as a smoothie. People who have a total thyroidectomy and most people who have a subtotal thyroidectomy will need to take thyroid replacement drugs thyroxine for the rest of their lives.

The hormone replacement tablets are small and easy to take. Your doctor will check your hormone levels on a regular basis and adjust the dose of thyroxine until it is right for you. Information on this site should not be used as a substitute for talking with your doctor. Always talk with your doctor about diagnosis and treatment information. Your browser is out of date With an updated browser, you will have a better Medtronic website experience.

Toggle navigation Life After Thyroid Surgery. Overview Following thyroid surgery, you will need to take some time to recover. Recovery From Surgery Your recovery will depend on the extent and type of surgery you have received. Following surgery, you may experience: Voice changes, such as, a hoarse voice, difficulty in speaking loudly, voice fatigue, and a change in the tone of your voice. These changes are due to damage to the laryngeal nerves that supply your voice box larynx during surgery.

This may last a few days or a few weeks but is rarely permanent. You may experience low blood calcium levels due to damage to the parathyroid glands during surgery. Again, this is usually only a temporary problem treated with calcium supplements over a few days.

Signs that you may have low calcium are numbness and a tingling feeling in your lips, hands, and the bottom of your feet, a crawly feeling in your skin, muscle cramps and spasms, bad headaches, anxiety, and depression.