Partial Thyroidectomy

[pinkmarshmalloww]

Hi everyone. I'm having surgery tomorrow to have half my Thyroid removed along with a 5cm goitre compressing my windpipe.
I'm just looking for some honest experiences from people of recovery after the surgery, especially with pain, mobility and eating.
Did anyone have trouble eating? Did you have to stick to soft foods?
Were you able to move around without too much trouble?
My partner is off work for a week luckily and i do have 5 children, youngest being 6 months old.
I'm so worried 🥺
Thank you

@Lazysundayafternoon2024 Nope. I'd be surprised if results weren't back for me yet after almost 5 weeks, but I phoned most recently yesterday and they said still no results. I suspect they will continue saying that until I see the consultant and get the results in his clinic. My ward buddy had her appointment on Friday, rang Friday morning before setting off to the hospital and was told no, no results yet. But then got said results an hour later in clinic! Benign, luckily.

Ah thats annoying, but I can see that happening to me so thanks for the heads up. My consultant came in to see me as I was going up to the ward after the op and said results in 10 days, if it's good news he'll call me, if it's bad news I get an in person appt. The receptionist I spoke to today told me they'll send me a letter with the results when they come in. I'm now expecting nothing less than a carrier pigeon 😂

I had a total thyroidectomy about five years ago. Recovery was ok. I had the operation in two goes as had a partial and then total with about three weeks off work to let it heal properly. I just took it easy and rested. I also only ate soft foods for a while too. You can hardly see the scar now and hopefully you’ll feel much better in the long run!

I've had my surgery today and wow you weren't kidding about the phlegm! I'm just waiting for a saline nebuliser hopefully helps as I can't fall asleep without gasping for air because of it all!

The pain is a lot worse than I expected too 😢 struggling to get comfy to sleep. But glad it's over

Hope you managed to get some rest @ALS26 and that it's home time for you at some point today x

Not much rest! I am home now thank goodness. Any advice on how to clear this phlegm? Feels like it's suffocating me! Really awful

Just time @ALS26 unfortunately. Do you feel up to a hot bath? The steam might loosen up your chest a bit.

Did you still cough? I'm so worried I'm going to cause some damage but can't stop! I will try a bath thanks x

@ALS26 I struggled with the cough as well, it's horrible. Mine passed in about 5 days, just go with it for now, theres very little else you can do but it will get easier with time I promise.

Gosh 5 days 😥😥 the phlegm and the cough is worse than the actual cut! Did you manage to cough ok and not cause damage?

How was everyone's voice after the surgery? I'm still unable to cough or talk and swallowing takes some concentration! I read this could be due to vocal damage. Wondering if there's anything I should do about this or is it just about waiting? X

I had a very sore throat and neck for a good few days both from the op and the intubation. Swallowing was tricky for a couple of days. Coughing was scary because of worrying about the incision. I maxed out on painkillers, including codeine.

But things did improve quite a bit after about 4-5 days. The incision was still sore but the internal soreness was much improved.

How is your voice and swallowing doing now?

I’m here to join the post-op club!

Had my surgery yesterday, feel like I’ve been run over by a bus this morning but glad it’s over 😁 hope everyone is recovering well!

ETA I see what you all mean about the phlegm, I’ve been coughing pathetically all night trying to move it 😂

Well done, it's out the way 😀 how are you feeling?

Home now, thank goodness! Never been so glad to have a bath. Still trying to shift the phlegm and cannot wait to get the staples out of my neck as they’re pulling constantly.

Most importantly though, I’m back home with my little baby ❤️

That's brilliant - so happy for you. I had a Humidifer on constantly which helped with the phlegm. How is your voice and your swallowing?

Swallowing is sore and my voice is croaky!

In a lot of pain today so I’ve asked my GP for some dihydrocodeine as I can barely move my neck. How are you doing?

I'm on day 10 today and feeling a lot better - no pain just abit tight and still not much voice and struggling with swallowing. I get health anxiety so that's been a massive struggle for me!

Hope you've got some pain relief sorted and can manage some sleep! Xx

I feel hideous 😫 I’ve got a bloody chest infection, coughing up all sorts and feeling achy and shivery. I must have picked up some virus as my poor baby is coughing too ☹️

Oh no you're joking!! I hope you're feeling better now and got some anti biotics? How are you doing?

Yes, on antibiotics and feeling a lot better now, thank you! Still coughing a LOT, but not feeling as terrible.

I’m 9 days post op now and my neck is still very hard and swollen around the incision, how long did it take for your swelling to go down?

Glad you've got some anti biotics and are getting better. Have you got a humidifier? Might help with the cough.

I'm almost 3 weeks out and my neck swelling has gone down but it's still quite swollen and feels hard behind the scar. I read about massage helping it but I don't think I can face massaging my neck any time soon 🤮

My main struggle atm is my voice 🙄 you don't realise how lonely it is when you can't speak much. Praying it's back soon

@ALS26 I am two years down the line after a complete thyroidectomy after being diagnosed with cancer in my thyroid and lymph nodes. I went on to have further surgery last year due to growth.

I still feel very restricted in my throat and have issues with my voice. It is very noticeable when 'out' and I find it quite isolating. You don't realise how much you rely on it. Have had speech therapy and it didn't help. I have an ENT appointment soon and am planning to mention it.

Goodness me 2 years must be hard - did they say if you had any damage to your vocal chords after surgery? What did they do at speech therapy?