Surgery

Hey there Charlie, 

I'm glad you've felt up to posting, and glad to hear you've found help and information from other threads too. 

After surgery you'll feel tired and sleepy for a bit, while your body gets rid of the anaesthetic. Now, fat cells also absorb anaesthetic, and so in a month or two after the op, you might suddenly feel really tired again. This is usually just your body breaking down those fat cells and releasing the anaesthetic they had absorbed, so nothing to worry about. 

Your neck will feel stiff, a bit sore, and you'll tire easily. Pain levels differ for everyone, I was just on paracetemol and Ibuprofen, but some people who have popped in have said they needed morphine. It takes a week, maybe 2, and then you should feel back to normal again.

When you go to bed, you're best off building a slope out of pillows, duvets, etc to lie on. Your neck will not like body lying flat then head on pillows as normal. But an incline works really well. Also, when you sit on the sofa or in a chair, make sure your head is supported so that your neck gets a rest. 

Your throat will possibly be sore and irritated from the tube being down in it, and you may find that you've got gunk in your lungs to cough up too. Both are perfectly normal after any surgery, so just cough it all up and keep your fluids up and it'll clear.

Car journey home, I'd make sure you take some pain killers before you set off, and also have a couple of pillows. A full size bed pillow and a neck or travel pillow. Try them both out if needed to make yourself comfy. Also, recline the seat back so that you're lying back rather than sitting up. It doesn't need to be too far, it depends on your body shape and height etc. But just to the point where when you relax, your head is resting back on the headrest rather than flopping to the side.

With the kids, I'd get some help in for the first week if you can. Can your partner take the week off work or do you have friends or family who could pop in a couple of times a day just to give you a break? Also, if you can do some meal prep and freeze it before you go for your op, you'll thank yourself afterwards. Standing and cooking is prob not something you're going to want to do. But whipping something out of the freezer the night before, to be reheated - totally doable.

Most folks here who had half removed were found to have had cancer. So in most cases the other half was then removed too. This is done too quickly for anything to have happened and changed in our bodies. However, if you're lucky and either don't have cancer or don't need your other half out, make sure to have a thyroid function blood test 8 weeks after your operation. In lots of cases, the half thyroid picks up the slack and does the job of the whole, which is ideal. However sometimes, it doesn't, or is in shock, or has been damaged, etc etc and so people need some thyroxine just to raise their levels. But the blood test after 8 weeks will give them an idea as to what's going on. But whatever happens, nothing should change with your body because of it.

Hope that helps! 

Lass

Xx

Hi Charlie,

Like you, I am new to the board and find it a great source of information and support. There is very little I can add to what Lass has said because she's given you such comprehensive, sound  advice.

I myself had a Hemithyroidectomy almost 7 weeks ago and was as apprehensive as you were before the op. But it really was nothing as difficult as I thought it might be- neither the surgery nor the pain and recovery afterwards. Obviously we're all different and have different pain thresholds but I found the pain in my wound site very tolerable with the help of some over counter medication. It was stiff and tender but if you follow Lass's advice about position etc , it should be very manageable.. I do have arthritis in my neck so that was aggravated for a while because of the position you have to lie in during surgery and my neck doesn't like leaning backwards, but I'm a lot older than you. I was very tired, for the first week in particular, so I agree with Lass that, if possible, you should have help with your children. Things improve quickly after that though and I suspect  you'll look back, like so many other people here seem to, and realise you worried more than you needed to. It really isn't so bad for most people.

Very best wishes for a speedy recovery after your surgery,

Kit xx

Unfortunately, it's just about impossible to predict how painful it will be or how long it'll take to get over the op. Some of us are only on basic painkillers for a couple of days whilst others need them for a few weeks. It's probably best to assume you shouldn't drive until the stitch(es) are out - usually about a week after surgery though some will need more time.

Just take your time, don't do more than feels 'right' and listen to your body. It will usually let you know when you're ready to do more.

Hi Charlie

i had my thyroid removed in April and didnt find the scar too painful. I had a drain put in which caused me to hunch shoulders and I was very sore and stiff with this. I has one visit to an osteopath and it was fixed. 

I was tired for the first week, and did sleep every afternoon and was in bed early. It would be helpful if somebody could have your children in the afternoons to allow you to rest. I was also very cautious about lifting things and got my food shopping delivered. 

Good luck and remember to take things easy.

Hi Charliej

I had half my thyroid removed after a thy3f biopsy result and a then a diagnosis of papillary thyroid cancer. As soon as I woke up from the op the nurses were amazing, checking pain levels and keeping an eye on me. I went home the same day and had paracetamol and codeine before I left( ibuprofen causes me problems) half an hour journey home, pillow as Lass suggested is a must to support your neck. 

At home the main thing is to take your pain relief regularly. I wrote down the times, and never missed a dose. Drink plenty and I found eating fruit pastilles( a tip I got of the forum) kept my throat moist. A slope of pillows adjusted so you’re not lying down flat, and if sitting I supported my neck  with a pillow. Biggest mistake I made was lifting my shoulders up and keeping myself really stiff, made the back of my neck really sore, I soon realised that!  As far as pain goes, it all depends on your pain threshold, some people might find it worse than others. How ever you feel, just remember it’s only for a short time and be kind to yourself. 

All the best and good luck with it all ! 

Hi all, sorry for the delay in replying and thank you  so much for taking the time to give some advice.
Lass thank you for your very detailed info, definitely makes it a little easier knowing we have all been or are going through it. I've ordered myself a trav pillow so hoping that helps with the car journey and sitting around at home. I usually have a high pain threshold so fingers crossed I'll be Ok with just paracetomal and ipubrofen.
It's worked in very well as my husband works away and surgery is the day of him getting home for 4weeks, it is also the day before my little ones birthday so that's hitting me hard :( very lucky that hubby is hands on and a great cook so had to jump at the chance of this surgery date.
Good idea about keeping a note and taking regular pain relief oban17 as I would probably only take as I felt needed which I know wouldn't help as much.

I think as surgery is only a week away now I'm getting very nervous, though I know it will all be for nothing just the unknown is scaring me.

Hi Charliej 

I know that coming up to my operation I was really anxious, I had never had an op before, and the whole thing just seemed so scary. When my husband dropped me off, I really didn’t want him to leave. A year earlier my 30 yr old daughter had major knee surgery and wandered in carrying her bag, a quick wave bye bye to us and off she went. Yet here was me a 53 yr old woman, quaking in her shoes. 

Can I say from the moment I stepped in the nurses put me at ease, the anaesthetist then visited, she was so calm and reassuring that I felt totally at ease, I explained how nervous I was and what I was worried about and she explained everything so clearly, it made me feel so much better.

So try not to worry, I know that’s not easy, but it’ll soon be over and you’ll be feeling so much better. 

All the best