Thyroid surgery is done to treat thyroid problems, such as nodules, cysts, thyroid enlargement, or cancer, and may be total or partial, depending on whether the gland is completely removed or not.
Usually this surgery, known as thyroidectomy, is delicate because there are veins, arteries, nerves and muscles essential to life, however, it is common to have no complications, even in cases of cancer, with changes in the voice or bruises rare.
- Recovery after surgery is simple.
- So it is necessary to avoid making efforts to avoid swelling and bleeding at the cutting site.
- Leaving a scar on the neck.
Thyroid surgery is performed under general anesthesia and during the operation, which lasts about 2 hours, your doctor cuts your neck to observe and remove your thyroid.
Generally, before thyroid surgery you should fast for 8 hours and not take any medications in the previous 10 days, such as AAS, Bufferin or Melhoral, for example because they increase the risk of bleeding during surgery and in the postoperative period that may interfere with the main types of surgery are:
In most cases you can go home the next day, staying 1 or 2 days, as the onset of complications is minimal; however, it is not possible to study or work in the first postoperative week.
Your doctor may also decide whether to treat radioactive iodine, which is used to completely remove any traces of malignant cells.Learn more about radioactive iodine.
Also watch the video below and see which food is most appropriate to prepare during treatment with radioactive iodine:
Postoperative thyroid surgery lasts about 15 days and physical exertions, such as running or strenuous domestic activities, should be avoided during this time to prevent the development of swelling and bleeding at the cutting site; however, total rest is not necessary.and, in most cases, you can walk, work and move your neck the week after the operation.
After you leave the operating room, you may have a drainage in your neck to remove excess fluid with blood and prevent bruising, and as pain is normal, your doctor may indicate the use of pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs, such as acetaminophen..or ibuprofen, and eat liquid, soft foods to reduce throat discomfort.
In addition, he wears a bandage on his neck to avoid contact with bacteria and dirt and protect the place where the cut was made, which should not be wet, usually the patient comes home with the dressing, which should be removed for about 3 days.after surgery in the hospital, and the stitches are also removed when they are visible.
Thyroid surgery is usually not complicated, but the most common consequences include:
As a cut is made in the neck, it is normal to have a fine scar that can range from 3 to 15 cm.
It is possible to live without a thyroid because the hormones produced by this organ can be replaced by tablet medications containing calcium and vitamin D and levothyroxine or Synthroid, for example, recommended by the endocrinologist to be taken in the morning with an empty head. what thyroid remedies the doctor can order.
After completely removing the thyroid, these medications should be taken for life, to keep the hormone level stable and avoid symptoms such as tingling and cramping.These remedies may begin to be taken after surgery.
Watch the video below and discover some tips that can help thyroid-free people live better:
When only half of the thyroid is removed, it is not always necessary to do this hormone replacement because the remaining half can be adapted to produce the amount of hormones the body needs, so your doctor should order blood tests and an ultrasound to verify the result.surgery and how these hormone levels are in the bloodstream approximately 1 month after removal of part of the thyroid. During this waiting time, the person should monitor symptoms of thyroid changes, such as menstrual changes, cramps, tired legs, or a tingling sensation.Check all symptoms of thyroid problems.
When the thyroid is completely removed and no hormonal replacement is performed, there may be hypothyroidism, and one of its characteristics is weight gain and swelling of the body, so it is necessary to take medications to replace the hormones that the thyroid has produced.to maintain proper weight and maintain other body functions, such as regulating properly controlled temperature.Therefore, each time the person removes the thyroid completely, they should take thyroid medications for life.
Removing only half of the thyroid can also result in weight gain, when the remaining half is unable to produce the hormones the body needs, so in addition to the periodic thyroid exam, it is necessary to look for symptoms related to hypothyroidism.5 tests that evaluate the thyroid.
If your doctor recommends radioactive iodine treatment after removing your thyroid, it’s not possible to start taking thyroid hormones, so during those 30 days between one procedure and another, it’s common for people to feel swollen, with headaches and lack of concentration, but this period without medication is important to increase the effectiveness of radioactive iodine therapy , which can completely eliminate malignant cells.After this treatment, your doctor may recommend taking thyroid medications and unpleasant symptoms should go away within a few days.