Any advice for upcoming Thyroydectomy please?

[lucylumb]

Hi
I'm worried about an upcoming operation to remove the right side (def) and (poss) the left side of my thyroid. I have an enlarged thyroid that functions perfectly, with no malignant cells or anything awful, but 'the goitre' as it's called, is continuing to grow, and apparently is very unlikely to go down again. It's now quite noticeable in my neck, but isn't causing any actual health problems (though it could affect swallowing etc if it gets bigger).
I'm worried about the scar - which I know is really vain of me - I AM v glad that it's nothing more serious obviously. I would just like advice from anyone who can help. How might I prepare for the op and how should I look after the wound to minimise scarring? It will a 5 to 6 cm cut across the bottom middle of my neck - which to start with is going to look a lot worse than the current lump. I've talked to the consultant, and he wasn't much help, but I still have an assessment /check with the nurse coming up. Are you able to ask for specific type of stitches or anything? Any advice gratefully received!

Hi there,

I had this done a few years ago and hope to put your mind at rest.

Post op I didn't have much pain, more discomfort but even that got a lot better when the drains were removed after a day or two. I had non-dissolving stitches which had to be removed after a week but this was no big deal. I believe (my op was abroad) that in the UK your wound might be glued rather than stitched and I think that might give a better finish.

My scar looked red and angry afterwards and one side was worse than the other because they had to have a good rummage under my collar bone to get one very infected side of the thyroid gland out. I bought scar cream to massage into the scar but the surgeon actually said you get the exact same effect massaging any moisturising cream into the scar as it is the massage rather than the magic ingredients which help breakdown the scar tissue. Obviously you can't start that until the stitches are out. I recommend you don't pick up your hefty toddler the day post-op, which I did and quickly realised wasn't a good idea!

Four years on from op my scar is looking lovely (if I say so myself!) It has faded so well. I do find I don't wear longer necklaces as if they hang below my scar I find myself noticing the scar more. I do wear a necklace almost everyday which sits right on the scar and I think this has actually helped the fading because it has protected it so much from the sun. I really don't think anyone that didn't know would spot my scar now. Plus they are good at positioning the scar on a natural fold of your neck skin and so as you age and get wrinkly, the scar will be even more invisible. I have noticed this to be the case on a friend in her 50s.

What I did find was while I didn't notice the goitre pre op much, once the thyroid was away I had a much slimmer neck and I wouldn't trade my scar for a return of the goitre anyday! You may need to take thyroxine after the op to replace the hormones your thyroid should be making for you. Don't shirk with these because at the right dose, you will feel normal.

Good luck, speedy recovery. I am really glad I had this op done as it has made my autoimmune underactive thyroid condition far less erratic.

Hi, I had a parathyroidectomy a few years ago which is done in exactly the same area as a thyroidectomy, so leaves the same wound (I'm also having another parathyroidectomy AND a thyroidectomy soon!)

I was simply amazed by how small the scar was and how little you can see it - in fact I was discussing my op with one of my closest friends today and she said "but you don't have a scar " and I had to point it out to her before she believed me! Obviously in the couple of months afterwards you could see where it was, but it more or less disappeared very quickly. They deliberately aim to do the incision in one of your natural neck creases which really helps disguise it. I had dissolvable stitches (which is normal for this op) so there was very little follow-up needed.

I found the operation itself very, very easy to recover from. I had next to no pain, felt a bit sleepy for a day or two afterwards but felt back to my usual strength soon after.

Hope this has reassured you a bit and that it all goes well.

Just read the previous message, yes, I think I did have glue for the skin now I come to think about it. Whatever it was, it was very neat!!

Thank you for your feeback! My op is in the new year, so I'm going to forget about it over Chistmas now and then it will be all over soon enough!

Glad to hear you are both glad you had the op - and also for the good advice! Thanks again xxx