The thyroid gland is one of the biggest endocrine glands in the body and it serves in the purposes of metabolic process controller and also is responsible for the calcium level in the organism. Depending on the character of the gland’s activity it can evoke certain health problems like hyper/hypothyroidism, thyroid nodules, cancer, etc. Thyroid conditions are generally treated with the help of medications, however, there are cases when surgery is required and a part or the whole gland is removed. The operation bears the name of thyroidectomy and recovery after it requires certain time and efforts.
Any surgery is a hard trial for a body; thyroidectomy is not exclusion. Each individual case requires different time to recover. First day after the operation should be completely spent in bed in order not to overexert a patient and exclude the risk of further complications. For the most part the initial diet of a patient will represent only fluids; a normal diet can be taken in three days if a patent feels all right and there are no reasons for worry. For a fortnight any kind of heavy work will be forbidden for a patient but in general this operation is not the one that delays a person from his/her normal daily activities for too long. Nevertheless, it is crucial to follow all the instructions and recommendations given by a doctor after operation.
Majority of patients suffer from mild sore throat and pain while swallowing therefore after the surgery it is still recommended to go on with liquids and soft foods for about a week.
A small quarter-inch tube will stay coming out of the skin of the neck after the surgery. It is designed for the prevention of fluid build up. It is removed soon and after that for 24 hours a patient is allowed to have a shower.
After surgical effects include temporary neck stiffness and soreness and therefore it is not recommended to drive after an operation. Driving presupposes the freedom of movement as it is necessary to be able to look in all the directions. Post-operative state will not allow this for a period of time. It is also not advised to drive after administration of pain-relievers. However, the condition of stiffness is not a subject of worry. It will definitely fade away after several weeks if a patient practices proper exercises.
Post-operative patients will have to undergo medication therapy treatment. It is very important that a patient completes the course be it antibiotics, or pain-relievers, or etc. Another important thing is regular check-up with the doctor after the operation. They should not be missed in order that the recovery process was not going unattended.
Thyroidectomy is not considered a dangerous operation, nevertheless some complications are possible. The most common is hoarseness or change in voice. But it generally happens only in 1 out of 250 people undergone the operation.
Another post-operative complication is hypothyroidism – a condition when insufficient amount of thyroid hormones is produced. In this case medications called thyroxin drugs are prescribed. This hormone replacement therapy will help to keep the amount of hormones on the necessary level. Provided they are absent or scarce a patient will suffer from fatigue, weight and hair problems, depressive states and etc. Thyroid hormones are essential to keep up the metabolic process.
Low blood levels of calcium are also reported in post-operative patients aw well as cases of infections caused by surgery; but they are not that frequent. It is very important to be patient after the surgery and follow all the requirements and recommendations. Only in this case full and quick recovery can be guaranteed.