hemithyroidectomy

[Jodie782]

hello, I have a very large nodule on my thyroid and was put on a waiting list for surgery last year. I’ve just contacted my consultant this week as it’s been 10 months, and it’s grown so much I can barely breathe. They have just called me today to book in for an ultrasound tomorrow- I’m assuming and hoping it’s going to be soon now. I just would like to know what happens now? if anyone has any advice who have had this operation - what tests do they do before the surgery and what to expect. I’ve never had an operation before and as much as I want this thing out I am terrified!

Tell everyone you meet ‘on the way in’ that you’ve never had surgery before, and any concerns. They’ll go above and beyond to make you feel comfortable.

Thank you, I do have quite a few close friends who work there and are nurses. I definitely will be letting them know it’s my first one ever!

i think I had that when I first went to ENT,
it completely shocked me, I wasn’t expecting it and he done it so quickly with out me having time to Panic!

I’ve had two hemis! Although I didn’t actually go down for them at the time! Every surgery I have ends up more complicated than expected! Anyway I also have had an emergency total abdominal hysterectomy and the two hemis were a piece of cake in comparison! First hemi op was a bit more complicated as they were looking for parathyroid glands and they also took out my thymus gland. The left lobe of my thyroid was removed as it was enlarged and compressing my trachea. It also had a fairly big thyroid nodule that was a growing out of it as well. I was on stronger painkillers that time as I’ve had two DVTs and I had a drain in. The second hemi they were looking for more parathyroid glands and the right side of my thyroid was removed as it had a parathyroid embedded in it. The recovery was quite quick. Only had panadol and codeine for a few days. Had a shower the following morning just avoiding the neck area. A straw is very handy to drink with. A neck pillow is useful too. I flew to England to have the second operation and it was great on the car and plane journey back to Dublin. If you need the camera for the vocal chord check, I’ve had two of those as well! One with and one without numbing spray. Thr one without spray was the least unpleasant one!

I had several cameras up the nose and never offered numbing spray. Think I had it at least 3 times.

It’s not pleasant but over quickly.

Funnily enough. The one I had spray for was a public appointment (so free in Ireland) and the one I didn’t have the spray for was private (so expensive appointment)!

I didn’t even know there was a numbing spray option until friends told me they’d had it! When I went back for the follow up, I questioned the consultant about why I wasn’t offered it - apparently, I look tough 😂

I had mine done in summer 2025 for a big toxic nodule. Like yours, it was pressing on my windpipe and causing lots of compressive symptoms. It also made me very hyperthyroid. Since the op my thyroid is mostly quite well behaved.

I had also never had surgery under a general prior to this op so I was extremely nervous. They did do the camera up the nose but they gave me midazolam for it so I was completely off my face.

The larger your nodule is, the more rummaging they will have to do. I woke up feeling like I was pleasantly tipsy. Afterwards they need to check your calcium is OK and that your parathyroids are fine too, I think this was bloods after I'd left hospital. They will biopsy it for cancer, they do for anything they remove, but I had to wait three months to be told I didn't have cancer - which tbf was apparently quite obvious from my ultrasound. They didn't do a needle biopsy for me either because either way it needed evicting.

I was in hospital for a night, once the pain kicked in it was like a really bad sore throat, but external rather than internal (if that makes sense). Was OK to be eating mousse and soup, had some sort of chicken stew rhe next day too. Then lots of soft foods at home and a v shaped pillow. Iirc I could wean myself off the painkillers quite quickly but really needed them at first.

Whether it's the anaesthetic or the surgery or the painkillers, I was shattered afterwards for a couple of weeks- take all the recommended time off work if you can. I would just be dropping off to sleep randomly (!)

Scar wise: yes, it is a big scar on your neck. Yes, it is very noticeable at first. But they try their absolute best to make it as subtle as possible and mine is nearly invisible just over a year after surgery. Get some nice scarves if you like!

Finally: voice. I sing soprano in a choir so was terrified they'd damage my vocal cords. They didn't, and I was speaking and singing pretty normally a few weeks later although I've had some voice lessons to help me recover. In the event your voice needs more help they will refer you to speech therapy with a specialist.

Edited in case relevant - you can drive as soon as you're normal levels of alert and can comfortably fully turn your head for observations. This took me approx 3 weeks to be able to turn without slight pain or jerkiness.

In summary: you WILL be fine. It is very nerve wracking but ultimately you just have to turn up and then they will take care of it all. And it feels so good to be able to swallow normally! Good luck!

I had a hemi in sept 2024, I was in over night and had a drain - my tumor was 5cm so I bled quite a bit. I had several nasty infections afterwards and so was quite poorly which affected my recovery and I ended up back in hospital.

Take a pillow for the car ride home so you can support your head as speed bumps were terrifying (!) and def a v pillow and straws for afterwards.

Mine was sadly cancer so I had a total thyroidectomy in the November, and then RAI in the Easter. I have struggled with fatigue, and they also accidentally took my parathyroid glands so have needed several calcium transfusions until that was under control.

Recovery after my hemi was brutal, but the calcium and infections didn’t help. I definitely couldn’t have gone back to work 2 weeks later. That said, after my total surgery, it was a totally different recovery and I was up and about after a few days.

I’ve attached a photo of my scar now - but this is after 2 surgeries and I’m also very pale!

Thank you that’s really helpful to know and good tips, I’m so glad it’s all worked for you.

I’m so sorry yours was cancer, sounds like you’ve been through the worst. I hope you’re feeling okay now? Your scar looks very faint can hardly see it.

How are you getting on OP? Pleased to say I got a call yesterday from my consultant to say its all benign! I've been very lucky indeed. Still need my post op appointment but I'm assuming that's for a blood test and to check my scar.

It was so kind of him to call, I really wasn't expecting it.

I'm still tired and back at work Monday but they're really flexible so I can WFH a lot.

I have chronic fatigue anyway so it's knocked me sideways but thank god I've been so lucky.

I hope it all goes smoothly for you. Thinking of you.

Stay positive and look after yourself.

No idea if it's relevant but I'm on Mounjaro and have diabetes. I've lost 6 stone. I was convinced I would loose weight post op due to sore throat etc...but my god I was bloody starving!

I ate a lot but maintained weight so maybe it was my healing that needed more calories?

Anyway, don't be afraid of the surgery. They will look after you. It will all be fine. 💐

Late to tge thread - but my surgery & recovery was really easy for me. I didnt have a drain, and no parathyroid damage, but surgeon removed lymph nodes at same time and "gave it all a good scrape" in his words.
Operation about 8pm, discharged mid morning. I work outside but not a wildly physical job, think I had about a week off.
Buff bands are your friend!

Hey, that’s amazing news that it’s benign! How lovely your consultant called you. Im
sure all will be fine post op appointment.

wow 6 stone that is absolutely amazing well done! I hope you feel better soon, I think the fatigue is common. You’re lucky you wfh, I use to, but that’s recently changed jobs and now I have a physical job. I am going to book off 3 weeks off.

I have my ENT appointment this week to discuss my scan and I’m hoping they give me a surgery date. My breathing is getting worse so hopefully won’t have to wait much longer.

thank you, oh I hope my surgery is like this! Glad you recovered well. Was you waiting from the morning until surgery? What is buff bands? I have a physical job but luckily they are really nice and said that I can have as much time as I need off, I’m hoping to go back after 3 weeks.

@Jodie782 , I mightve got the name wrong! Tubes of fabric for your neck, almost like the neckline of a very loose polo neck. Seasalt calls them "Handybands".They hide the wound which looked pretty grim for the first few weeks or so - lots of dramatic bruising, obviously sore if you poke it but fine otherwise! DD was 5 & horrified when she caught sight of it, so I got her to draw eyes and nose above the scar - which is smile shaped. She wasnt botgerrd after that.

Re: timing, my surgery was scheduled for then.

Oh thank you il look into this, I would hate to see my own wound and I bet it protects it. Clever idea, glad your little girl was after I can imagine it can look quite scary after.

I would prefer that, but il be waiting all day knowing my luck.

Just an update if anyone is interested, I have my surgery booked in two weeks! I know everyone is different, work has given me two weeks off with sick pay (not full 🙄) I can’t afford to not get paid, what is everyone’s recovery like?. I have a physical job.

They all, just in case anyone reads this still. I had my operation last week. Was very easy, day surgery- you was right about the camera in the nose, it was awful (I had to have with out numbing spray and twice) I just had a very sore throat/neck pain and headache for a couple of days. Lovely to be able to breathe in better now, but I think my throat is still a little inflamed from surgery and lots of phlegm is making my breathing a little restricted like before surgery. I can now swallow without a massive lump in between making food stuck. I don’t get my results until December! My neck is slim again :) Thank you everyone for great advice it really helped.