What questions should I ask after thyroidectomy?

What questions should I ask after thyroidectomy?

Questions to ask after surgery in the post-op appointment

• What type of thyroid cancer do/did I have?
• How many thyroid cancer nodules did I have in my thyroid gland, and what was the size of each?
• How many lymph nodes were removed during the surgery, and from which part of the neck?
• What are my chances for recurrence?

Why must surgeons Be careful when performing a thyroidectomy?

There are three main risks for total thyroidectomy. Recurrent laryngeal nerve injury: This nerve controls your vocal cords and if injured you will have a hoarse voice. There is a 1% chance of permanent hoarseness and a 5% chance of temporary hoarseness (<6months).

What should I report after thyroidectomy?

Major postoperative complications include wound infection, bleeding, airway obstruction (compressing hematoma, tracheomalacia), hypocalcemia, thyroid storm (uncommon, usually associated with Grave’s disease) and recurrent laryngeal nerve injury.

What type of surgeon would remove a thyroid?

Otolaryngologists—or ear, nose and throat (ENT) doctors—and general surgeons perform thyroid removal.

How can I sleep comfortably 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.

What are the side effects of total thyroidectomy?

Risks

• Bleeding.
• Infection.
• Low parathyroid hormone levels (hypoparathyroidism) caused by surgical damage or removal of the parathyroid glands. These glands are located behind your thyroid and regulate blood calcium.
• Airway obstruction caused by bleeding.
• Permanent hoarse or weak voice due to nerve damage.

What foods to avoid if you have no thyroid?

Which nutrients are harmful?

• 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.

  What happens to your body after a thyroidectomy?

  After your thyroidectomy or thyroid lobectomy, you may have a temporary sore throat, neck pain, difficulty swallowing or a weak voice. Your diet will be restricted for the evening of your surgery, but in most cases, it can return to normal the next day.

  What happens to your body after total thyroidectomy?

  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.

  What are the long term effects of having your thyroid removed?

  Injury to a laryngeal nerve resulting in temporary or permanent hoarseness, Acute respiratory distress in if both laryngeal nerves are injured (rare) Damage to the parathyroid glands that control calcium levels in the blood, leading to low parathyroid hormone (hypoparathyroidism) and low blood calcium (hypocalcemia)

  What is the best diet after thyroidectomy?

  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.

  Can you live a normal life after thyroid removal?

  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.

  What happens to your body after thyroid removal?

  If your entire thyroid is removed, your body can’t make thyroid hormone. Without replacement, you’ll develop signs and symptoms of underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism). Therefore, you’ll need to take a pill every day that contains the synthetic thyroid hormone levothyroxine (Synthroid, Unithroid, others).

  Look for a surgeon who is board certified in otolaryngology or general surgery and performs thyroid removal on a regular basis. You may want to look for a surgeon who is board certified in pediatric otolaryngology for a child who needs thyroid surgery.

  What is life like after thyroid removal?

  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 ask my doctor before thyroid surgery?

  After surgery, you’ll likely need monitoring of your thyroid hormone levels and, in the case of thyroid cancer, follow-up treatment and testing. “You want to know that the people taking care of different aspects of your thyroid disease or thyroid cancer are working together and communicating as a team,” said Sosa.

  Who is the best doctor for thyroid surgery?

  Duke endocrine surgeon Dr. Michael Stang, MD, has extensive experience with this technique. “Some patients are candidates for this procedure, as long as the thyroid isn’t too big,” said Stang. “However, if it’s thyroid cancer and it’s too advanced or has spread beyond the thyroid, then a conventional surgical approach is best.”

  How often should you have a thyroid surgery?

  Duke research shows that surgeons who perform 25 or more thyroid surgeries a year have the lowest complication rates. Yet about half of all surgeons who do thyroid surgeries do just one a year.

  Where can I find out the outcome of thyroid surgery?

  You can also search by name, hospital or postcode for information about the outcomes of endocrine and thyroid surgeons on the British Association of Endocrine and Thyroid Surgeons (BAETS) Surgical Outcomes website page.

  After surgery, you’ll likely need monitoring of your thyroid hormone levels and, in the case of thyroid cancer, follow-up treatment and testing. “You want to know that the people taking care of different aspects of your thyroid disease or thyroid cancer are working together and communicating as a team,” said Sosa.

  What kind of doctor should I See for thyroid removal?

  If thyroid cancer is the reason for your thyroid removal, you will need a team of skilled specialists in addition to a surgeon to complete your treatment. Your cancer treatment team may include an endocrinologist and an oncologist. You can also search for highly qualified specialists on Healthgrades.com.

  When do you need surgery for thyroid cancer?

  If you’ve been diagnosed with thyroid cancer, or have one of a number of other thyroid conditions, your doctor may recommend surgery. There are several different surgical procedures involving the thyroid, and your diagnosis will determine which one is appropriate for you.

  How to find a top thyroid surgeon VeryWell health?

  There are several different surgical procedures involving the thyroid, and your diagnosis will determine which one is appropriate for you. For the best outcome, it is important to find an experienced, top-notch thyroid surgeon—one that has not only performed your procedure but has done it many times, among other qualifications.