Lymph node surgery after total thyroid removal - papillary cancer

Dr Jambu Jain hello, thanks for sharing all these with us. I will pray for your health and wellness, be strong and take care

Sorry to hear you are struggling with your neck and shoulder @Zoe I am 13 weeks post op and had neck dissection on one side, and do have numbness there still, although the swelling has gone down quite a lot now, there are still some bits that feel slightly swollen.  I am waiting for my first RAI treatment and hoping that is all I will need, but we just don't know do we.  Take care and I hope your 2nd dose of RAI goes well and does it's job so you don't need any more.

Hi Zoe. 

I had TT and left side neck dissection in April. What I was told by my surgeon was that TT by itself is not very complicated surgery. Neck dissection is on the other hand major one. I was on my sofa for 4 weeks after surgery and without help I don't know how wound I manage.

I have some shoulder damage. Cannot hold it higher than shoulder height. Started physio for it but results are not here yet. Neck is fine but was swollen for weeks. It will eventually go down. Numbness still there 6 months after surgery, not everywhere but some places and I think it's here to stay. But I was aware of it before surgery.

I hope you will feel better soon.

Take care xx

Hi Zoe,

I have also had TT and full neck disection with all the lymph nodes removed. I will be 3 weeks post op on Monday. The recovery is alot more than i had imagined. I cant lift my arms higher than shoulder length either. I havent been offered physio yet but have my first follow up appointment on Tuesday with my consultant. I find that im uncomfotable alot, ive done a few short car journeys which were not nice either. My neck is still very swollen and also the lower parts of my cheeks. I find if i move too much my neck and cheeks get very warm - i think this is due to all the pulling but unsure, have you experianced this? When did you find was best to start moving about or going out more?

All the best

Aby