When an experienced surgeon performs thyroid removal surgery, the risk of serious complications is low. However, all surgeries involve some risks.
The four parathyroid glands help control the amount of calcium in the blood. After total thyroidectomy, a doctor will monitor parathyroid hormone and calcium levels to detect any need for calcium or vitamin D supplementation. Symptoms of low blood calcium include numbness and tingling sensations or muscle cramps. Another potential complication is that a person will need to take thyroid hormone replacement medication. If the surgeon removes the entire thyroid, a person will need lifelong hormone replacement.
This involves taking levothyroxine Synthroid , a synthetic version of the thyroid hormone. If the surgeon removes only part of the thyroid, there is an 80 percent chance that the remainder of the gland will start producing enough hormone, and a person will not need replacement medication.
However, if the thyroid gland was underactive hypothyroidism , and a person was already taking thyroid hormone replacement, they will likely need to continue taking it after surgery. Most people can return to their regular activities the day after thyroid removal surgery. Limit participation in physical activities or sports for a few days or weeks , or until a doctor says it is safe to start again.
A person will likely have a sore throat for a few days. Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, can usually reduce the pain. 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. After a thyroid lobectomy, you'll need to have your thyroid hormone levels checked and will be prescribed a thyroid hormone replacement, if needed.
In the weeks after your thyroid surgery, you may have neck pain, soreness of your vocal chords or a weak voice. With this type of anesthesia, you are completely asleep during the operation, and you will have a breathing tube placed temporarily to protect your airway and lungs.
All surgery causes scarring, and how the patient heals the scar is very much dependent on the individual. However, there are some techniques that surgeons use to minimize scarring. These techniques include: a smaller incision size, careful incision placement, and using hypoallergenic suture material to avoid inflammation.
Columbia Thyroid Center surgeons make every effort to place the incision in a natural skin line which acts like camouflage. The incision will blend into the skin line and once the redness fades away it is essentially invisible. As a general rule, you should not have a noticeable scar after six months.
See Scar Gallery ». All operations involve some pain and discomfort. Our goal is to minimize this discomfort. At the time of operation, your surgeon will give you some numbing medication, which will usually last four to six hours after surgery. Although you should be able to eat and drink normally, the main complaint is pain with swallowing. Most patients prefer softer foods initially. The vast majority of patients do not require narcotic pain medications. During the operation, your surgeon may consult with the pathologist who will provide a preliminary diagnosis.
A thyroid lobectomy involves removing one of these lobes. This procedure, also known as a near-total thyroidectomy, focuses on removing one side of your thyroid, the isthmus, and a portion of the other lobe.
We use this procedure to treat hyperthyroidism because it leaves enough gland behind to continue producing hormones. During this procedure, we remove your thyroid gland along with the surrounding lymph nodes. We typically recommend this approach if you have thyroid cancer.
To see if your thyroid condition could benefit from surgery, call us at Desert West Surgery or schedule an appointment online today. A goiter is an enlarged thyroid gland, and while not uncommon, it can be concerning. Learning to recognize the signs of melanoma is critical for getting early treatment to prevent cancer from spreading.
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