Thyroid surgery is done to treat thyroid problems, such as nodules, cysts, exaggerated thyroid augmentation, or cancer, and can be total or partial, depending on the gland completely removed.
This surgery is usually referred to as a delicate thyroidectomy because it involves veins, arteries, nerves, and muscles that are essential for life, as there are no complications even with cancer due to frequent changes. voice or bruises.
- Recovery from surgery is simple.
- So avoid making efforts not to cause swelling and bleeding in the cutting area.
- Leaving a scar on your skin.
Thyroid surgery is performed under general anesthesia and during the operation, which lasts approximately 2 hours, your doctor makes an incision in the cell that allows observation and removal of the thyroid.
Generally, before thyroid surgery, there should be 8 hours of ayun and not taking certain medications in the previous 10 days, such as AAS, aspirin or Mejoral, for example because it increases the risk of bleeding during surgery and in the postoperative, in addition, they can interfere with healing. The main types of surgery are:
In most cases, the person may be hospitalized for 1 to 2 days, which poses a risk of complications, however, it is not recommended to go to school or work the first week after surgery.
Your doctor may decide whether to treat with radioactive radiation, which is used to completely remove any traces of malignant cells. Learn what radioactive is and its risks.
Surgery for thyroid surgery lasts approximately 15 days and during this period physical stresses, such as intense domestic activities, should be avoided to prevent bleeding and bleeding instead of cutting, however, not requiring total rest, being able to perform most cases. , walk, work and move the week after the operation.
After you leave your operating room, you may have a drainage in your neck to remove excess fluid with blood and prevent bruising, and it’s normal to feel some pain, your doctor may indicate the use of pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, in addition to liquid and soft foods to reduce food discomfort in your throat.
Also, stay with a gas in the cell to avoid contact with bacteria and succession, in addition to protecting from the sun from where the cut occurs, since this should not be. Usually, the patient goes home with the bandage, which must be removed. approximately 3 days after surgery in the hospital, and is also removed when the stitches are visible.
Thyroid surgery usually doesn’t cause complications, but the consequences of most communities include:
As there is a cut in the neck, it is normal to have a small scar that can vary from 3 to 15 cm.
It is possible to live without thyroid because hormones produced by this organ can be replaced by medications in tablets containing calcium and vitamin D, such as levothyroxine or Synthroid, for example, recommended by the endocrinologist, because they should be taken in the hand and in the child.
After the thyroid is completely removed, these medications must be taken for life, to keep the level of hormones stable and avoid symptoms such as hormones and cramps. These medications can be started after surgery. Learn more about thyroid medications.
When the thyroid gland is removed it is not always necessary to perform this hormonal replacement because the remaining gland can adapt to the production of the hormones that the body needs, so the doctor should request blood tests and an ultrasound to check the outcome of the surgery and evaluate the level of these hormones in the surrounding bloodstream for 1 month after removal of part of the thyroid. During this waiting period, the person should observe symptoms of thyroid changes such as menstrual changes, cramps, leg fatigue, feeling stress Recognizes the main symptoms that indicate thyroid problems.
Complete thyroid suppression and hormone replacement can cause hypothyroidism, and one of its characteristics is weight gain and body swelling, so medications need to be taken to replace thyroid hormones to maintain proper weight and maintain other bodily functions. , how to regulate the internal temperature. For this reason, each time a thyroid is completely removed, the patient should take the medicine for the rest of his or her life.
Removal of the thyroid gland alone can also gain weight because the gland that remains unable to produce the hormones the body needs, therefore, in addition to regular thyroid examinations, it is necessary to observe for related symptoms. with hypothyroidism. Learn about the five tests that evaluate the thyroid.
If your doctor indicates treatment with the radioactive method after removing your thyroid, it is not possible to start taking thyroid hormones, so during these 30 days between the procedure and the other, it is common for the person to feel hit However, with headaches. and lack of concentration, 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.