How long does it take to remove a thyroid?

Thyroidectomy usually takes 1 to 2 hours. It may take more or less time, depending on the extent of the surgery.

Is thyroid surgery 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 long do you stay in hospital after thyroid surgery?

After thyroid surgery, you will probably stay in hospital for one or two nights to recover from surgery. Your neck wound will be closed with stitches, adhesive strips or small clips. Your nursing team will talk to you about how to care for your surgical wound site once you go home to prevent it becoming infected.

What to expect after thyroid is removed?

Your voice may be hoarse or weak at first because the surgery took place near the voice box but usually recovers within weeks. Some patients also notice a change in the pitch of their voices that affects singing. Rarely these changes are permanent.

How long after thyroid surgery can you talk?

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.

Woman Describes the Effects of Thyroid Removal

Will I have a drain after thyroid surgery?

Drains are usually left after thyroid surgery to prevent formation of hematoma and seroma in the thyroid bed. This is done to reduce complications and hospital stay. Objective evaluation of the amount collected in the thyroid bed by ultrasonography (USG) can help in assessing the role of drains.

Can you lay down after thyroid surgery?

It is fine to sleep in a bed after the surgery, just try to rest on two pillows for the first 2 days to minimize swelling. Patients can drive when they are not taking narcotic medications (usually 2-3 days). You may return to work or full activity when you feel ready. This is typically about 1-2 weeks.

Will I gain weight after thyroid removal?

Following thyroid surgery, patients often complain of weight gain, even when they have achieved biochemical euthyroidism.

How serious is thyroid surgery?

All surgery brings risks for complications like bleeding and infection. Thyroid surgery can also involve risks for impairment to vocal cord nerves, which could cause hoarseness, and impairment to your parathyroid glands, which are located behind and very close to your thyroid and regulate your body's calcium levels.

What foods to avoid after thyroid removal?

Although there are really no strict diet limitations after thyroid surgery, it is often recommended that you avoid spicy, heavy or fried foods in the first week after surgery. Some people experience a sore throat after surgery, and spicy or deep fried foods can add to that discomfort.

How many hours does a thyroid surgery take?

Thyroidectomy usually takes 1 to 2 hours. It may take more or less time, depending on the extent of the surgery. There are several approaches to thyroidectomy, including: Conventional thyroidectomy.

Is thyroid surgery high risk?

This study confirms other data from studies of patients across the U.S. Using a large group of patient data collected over 15 years, the findings overall show that thyroid surgery is usually a safe procedure and associated with only rare complications, including death.

Can you be awake during thyroid surgery?

Conclusion: Awake thyroidectomy is a well-tolerated and safe procedure in appropriately selected patients, with many potential benefits over general anesthesia. In most cases, only local anesthesia is required. Increased experience with this technique may be associated with increased patient comfort.

Does thyroid removal leave a scar?

Traditional thyroidectomies and parathyroidectomies leave a visible scar in the middle of the neck. But, advancements in endocrine surgery at Johns Hopkins allow our surgeons to provide a scarless alternative to this procedure.

How do I prepare for thyroid surgery?

Day Before Surgery

As a general rule, do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before, and arrive at least two hours before your scheduled surgery. Most often you can take your routine medications with a sip of water. Medication guidelines prior to surgery will be discussed at your pre-operative visit.

How much weight do you gain without a thyroid?

For patients who had a thyroidectomy, the greatest weight gain was seen in menopausal women. Weight gain in these women was greater than in premenopausal women (4.4 kg vs. 2.3 kg; p=0.007) or men (4.4 kg vs. 2.5 kg, p=0.013).

Do you get a catheter during thyroid surgery?

If you're having an endoscopic or robotic thyroidectomy, the surgeon will use small instruments and a video camera to perform the procedure through tiny incisions. A catheter may be placed in the area to help drain blood and fluids.

What foods can you eat with no thyroid?

Soy foods: tofu, tempeh, edamame, etc. Certain vegetables: cabbage, broccoli, kale, cauliflower, spinach, etc. Fruits and starchy plants: sweet potatoes, cassava, peaches, strawberries, etc. Nuts and seeds: millet, pine nuts, peanuts, etc.

How long is the drain in after a thyroidectomy?

The total amount of drainage from the operation to the time of drain removal was significantly higher in Graves' group and in the lateral-dissection group than in the other two groups. The median wound drainage significantly decreased from 12 to 18 h after surgery in all four groups.

How do you shower after thyroid surgery?

You can shower the day after surgery, or after any gauze dressing is removed, if present. While the surgical area can get wet, you should avoid getting excess water or moisture on the incision or vigorously scrubbing the area. Make sure to pat the area dry if it does get wet.

How do you poop after thyroidectomy?

Try to avoid constipation and straining with bowel movements. You may want to take a fiber supplement every day. If you have not had a bowel movement after a couple of days, ask your doctor about taking a mild laxative.

Is removing the thyroid an outpatient procedure?

A thyroid lobectomy is performed under general anesthesia and is often an outpatient procedure. However, if you require a hospital stay, our nursing staff are experts in managing your post-operative care and transitioning you to continued recovery at home.

How painful is total thyroidectomy?

Pain at the incision is minimal (most liken it to a sore throat), and patients generally require only mild pain medication (for example, acetaminophen) by the first day after the operation. It may be more comfortable to eat soft foods for a few days.

How urgent is thyroid surgery?

With thyroid cancer, you're not in a race to remove the tumor as soon as possible. Except for the most aggressive thyroid cancers (such as anaplastic thyroid cancer), these cancers are typically slow-growing. Even when the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes, there's generally not an urgent need for surgery.

How should I sleep after thyroid surgery?

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.