Wellness

[FlightQVC]

Has anyone had a thyroidectomy in recent years?  How was your recovery?  How long did you need to stay out of work?  What was your experience adjusting to synthetic hormone medication?

[LindaSCarolina]

My husband had thyroid cancer and had thyroidectomy.  He was hospitalized for 2 days and came home with 3 drains and many, many stitches as he also had 35 lymph nodes removed in his neck.  He was off work 3 weeks. he wasn't allowed to do much of anything but sit until the sutures were removed.  Then he was limited in activity for another few weeks.  Overall, it wasn't a terribly awful recovery. 

He adjusted well to Synthroid/Levothyroxin.  You will have blood work periodically until the correct dosage is achieved.  Now he gets tested every 6 months to make sure the dosage is correct.  He also gets yearly scans to ensure the cancer hasn't returned.  For the first few years there will be many scans and blood tests.  Better safe than sorry.

Best of luck to you!

[BlueFinch]

If it's for cancer of the thyroid, the surgery is more invasive and takes a little longer to recover, then there will be follow-up's for a good while. So, it's more involved.

However, if the thyroid is removed for non cancerous reasons (there are several), the recovery is much easier for most. Many recoup for about three weeks and are able to return to work fairly quickly, with some specific imitations. Those I've known have been back to routine activities within a month, if there are no complications.

Adjusting to thyroid replacement meds is rarely a concern, once the appropriate dosage is determined. Millions of people require thyroid meds, even with a thyroid gland. I'm one of them. Having the right dosage really balances one's health. 

Of course, the surgeon will give post surgery instructions. Some may have different protocols. 

[FlightQVC]

@BlueFinch  and @LindaSCarolina  thank you both for your insight and experience. 

[tansy]

Mine was removed to rule out cancer, which was supected in one half but was found in the other side but didn't require treatment. I didn't find recovery itself to be difficult but there were problems finding the correct dosage for two meds.

 One of my parathyroid glands was damaged during the procedure and caused problems.  I would ask about the likelihood of that occurring to you, @FlightQVC .  It is under control now with an RX.

[kaiwahini]

I had this surgery 9 years ago.  I had a lot of thyroid issues and it finally resulted in the surgery.  They did find cancer in mine (we did not know it was there beforehand), but like the other poster, I did not require treatment.  

Recovery for me was only a few days.  The first couple days there was pain and difficulty swallowing in my throat from the tube used during surgery.  That was the most difficult part.  After that pain subsided, I was fine.  I had to take high doses of calcium (by eating Tums) for a couple weeks.  I had no issues adjusting to Synthroid.  My doctor does recommend only the Synthroid, not the generic.  Synthroid is consistent in its dosage, the generics I've been told are not.

[Still Raining]

Had mine removed about 6 years ago.  Both papillary and medullary on the same side.  A Winner!  Took out about 17 nodes since it was still small.  No damage to any parathyroid.

Back to DD's by early afternoon and I recall sitting down to dinner.  Maybe not my finest moment, but I was OK.

The stitches dissolved and there was not much discomfort.  

[FlightQVC]

@kaiwahini  and @Still Raining  thank you for adding your personal experiences.  Hearing from regular QVC people helps round out the information received from doctors and reading articles.