What can you not do after a thyroidectomy?

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.

What can you do after thyroid surgery?

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.

How long do you have to be off work after thyroidectomy?

For most patients, walking and normal routines can resume the day after the operation, but vigorous activity and heavy lifting are not recommended for two weeks. Depending on their job type, most people will need to take 1-2 weeks off work after thyroid surgery.

What should I watch after thyroidectomy?

Why can you not drive after thyroid surgery?

Neck Stiffness

You may experience stiffness/soreness in your neck, shoulder, or back and may experience tension headaches. These may take a few days or weeks to go away completely. You should not drive until you can comfortably turn your head from side to side.

What to Expect After Thyroid Surgery - James Wu, MD

How long does it take for your throat to heal after thyroid surgery?

Your voice probably will be hoarse, and you may have trouble talking. For most people, these problems get better within 3 to 4 months, but it can take as long as a year. In some cases, this surgery causes permanent problems with chewing, speaking, or swallowing.

What is the fastest way to recover from thyroid surgery?

Follow your doctor's orders and listen to your body. It is normal to fatigue more easily after a surgical procedure. Walking is a low impact exercise to keep you active and speed up recovery, while gentle neck exercises and stretches can help to prevent neck stiffness or soreness.

Why am I so tired after having my thyroid removed?

After any operation, your body is using a lot of energy to heal itself, so you will feel more tired than normal.

What is life like after thyroid removal?

It will soften and begin to fade within a few months. Look out for swelling and signs of infection, such as the wound oozing or feeling red and hot. Contact your doctor for advice if you become worried. To avoid any strain on your neck wound you shouldn't lift any heavy objects for about 2 weeks after thyroid surgery.

Can you drink alcohol after thyroid removal?

You will want to try and stop drinking alcohol once your thyroid surgery is scheduled. Watch out for and tell your healthcare provider if you develop any symptoms of alcohol withdrawal as you stop drinking (e.g., nausea, increased anxiety, or insomnia).

Will I gain weight after thyroidectomy?

Patients with hyperthyroidism commonly experience weight gain after thyroidectomy. This occurs due to the reduction in circulating thyroid hormone, thus ameliorating the weight-lowering effects of elevated thyroid hormones (4,5).

Why do you breathe hard after thyroidectomy?

Common causes of this complication include compression due to formation of a hematoma, tracheal collapse, laryngeal edema and bilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve injury, and they should be taken into consideration to ensure prevention and/or timely treatment of dyspnea (1,2).

Is thyroidectomy a major surgery?

A thyroidectomy is a treatment for a variety of conditions of the thyroid gland. A thyroidectomy is a common but major surgery with serious risks and potential complications. There may be less invasive treatment options available to you. A doctor can advise you if this is the case.

How should I sleep after thyroidectomy?

Head of Bed: Please elevate the head of your bed 30-45 degrees or sleep in a recliner at 30-45 degrees for the first 3-4 days to decrease swelling. The skin above the incision may look swollen after lying down for a few hours.

Can I cough after thyroidectomy?

Thyroidectomy may be associated with postoperative cough, and a higher number of female patients complained of cough and related symptoms.

How long will my neck be swollen after thyroid surgery?

You will see swelling or bruising develop in the area around the incision 1-3 days after surgery. You may also notice swelling, firmness, a pulling sensation, or even some trouble swallowing. This often increases over the first 1-2 weeks and then begins to resolve over 6-8 weeks. These are normal sensations.

Can I live a normal life after thyroidectomy?

Despite its importance, you can live a healthy, normal life without it or with only part of it. But you will need treatment to prevent hypothyroidism—or too little thyroid hormone—which can be serious. To prevent hypothyroidism, you will need to start thyroid hormone replacement.

Can you run after thyroidectomy?

Basically, unrestricted physical activity will be possible two weeks after discharge from the hospital. Some light en- durance training (walking, jogging, bicycle riding) may even be started earlier.

How serious is a total thyroidectomy?

Despite the fact that total thyroidectomy is a more involved procedure that exposes more parathyroid glands and recurrent laryngeal nerves to surgical risk than unilateral thyroid lobectomy, it is an inherently safe procedure.

How can I boost my energy after thyroidectomy?

Does thyroid removal shorten life expectancy?

We have also shown that treatment per se (thyroidectomy, high-dose radioactive iodine and thyroid hormone medication) is safe and does not shorten life expectancy.

What is the best diet after thyroid removal?

Your Diet During Recovery

You can eat whatever you like after surgery. Try to eat healthy foods. You may find it hard to swallow at first. If so, it may be easier to drink liquids and eat soft foods such as pudding, gelatin, mashed potatoes, apple sauce, or yogurt.

Is it normal to feel like something is stuck in your throat after thyroid surgery?

Many patients will feel that there is something stuck in their throat or that they need to frequently clear their throat after surgery. All of these are normal, expected symptoms following surgery. Ice chips, cool drinks, throat lozenges (Cepacol) or throat spray (Chloraseptic) can be beneficial for sore throat.

How long does it take for vocal cords to heal after thyroid surgery?

Temporary hoarseness, voice tiring, and weakness can occur when one or more of the nerves are irritated during the operation or because of inflammation that occurs after the surgery. This usually gets better within a few weeks, but can take up to 6 months to resolve.

Can I drink coffee after thyroidectomy?

To help prevent an interaction between coffee and thyroid medication, patients should wait at least one hour after taking their thyroid drugs to have coffee. Some experts recommend waiting as much as four hours, so be sure to talk with your doctor to find out his or her recommendation for you.