THYROIDECTOMY

The thyroid is an H-shaped gland. It lies just in front of the windpipe in the neck. It is about 3 inches across. It makes the hormone thyroxine. Thyroxine passes into the blood stream to keep the body active. If the gland makes too much thyroxine, the body gets overactive and the heart can be strained. If the gland swells, it presses on the windpipe and other parts of the neck. It may cause an ugly swelling in the front of your neck. When this happens, the gland, or parts of it, need to be removed.
The Operation

The operation will be performed under general anaesthetic which means that you will be put to sleep. A cut is made across the front of your neck. Some or all of the thyroid is taken out. Usually enough thyroid is left to supply your needs for thyroxine. Sometimes this is not possible, but you can easily take tablets of thyroxine to top up your supplies. Great care is taken to avoid damaging the nerves that control your voice. The surgeon also avoids the nearby glands (parathyroid glands) that control your blood calcium salts. The cut in the skin is closed so that it heals with a barely visible scar.

How long do I have to be hospitalized?

You need to remain in hospital between 3 to 7 days for observation. The wound may be mildly to moderately uncomfortable and you may have discomfort in your neck. Swallowing may be uncomfortable. You will be given injections or pills for the pain.
There may be some swelling and bruising around the wound and the surrounding skin which also improves after about two to three days. The wound is usually closed with stitches under the skin. These stitches dissolve over time and result in a very neat scar. Sometimes, the skin can be closed with metal clips or stitches which are removed three days after the operation and are replaced with small pieces of sticky paper tape to allow a better cosmetic result for the wound.

Recovery and Recuperation

You are likely to feel very tired and need to rest two to three times a day for a week or more. You will gradually improve so that after about a month you will be able to return completely to your usual level of activity. You can drive as soon as you can make an emergency stop without hurting your neck, ie after about two weeks. You can restart sexual relations within two to three weeks when the wound is comfortable enough. You should be able to return to a light job after about two weeks, and any heavy job within four to six weeks.

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