Surgery approaching

Hi Westerdale and a very warm welcome to the online community which I hope you'll find is both an informative and supportive place to be.

I'm just 'bumping' your post back to the top of the discussion list as I noticed you hadn't had any replies yet. If no one from the group responds, have you been allocated a clinical nurse specialist, sometimes referred to as a keyworker? If so, they should be able to talk to you about your upcoming operation and give you some idea about recovery time.

While you're waiting for replies, it would be great if you could pop something about your diagnosis and treatment so far into your profile as it really helps others when replying to you and also when looking for someone on a similar pathway. It also means that you don't have to keep repeating yourself. To do this click on your username and then select 'Profile'. You can amend it at any time and if you're not sure what to write you can take a look at mine by clicking on my username.

x

Hi,

I've only had a hemithyroidectomy then a total thyroidectomy, so with lymph nodes yours might be more extensive so I'm not sure how much help this is. But I found the recovery okay. The second time was better than the first. I found the wound not that painful with regular pain relief, my throat was more sore from the anaesthetic procedures. I asked for more pain relief in recovery just after surgery the second time instead of being brave and that really helped in the first few hours. I spent about a week not doing much, then a second week doing pretty normal activity but off work. But everyone is different so do what feels right for you and follow the advice of the 

I hope surgery goes well! Hopefully someone else might reply who has been in a similar situation to you 

Hi Westerdale. I had a total thyroidectomy and 31 lymph nodes removed on 6th January this year. My biggest advice is to listen to your body and allow yourself the time to heal post surgery. I tried to do too much too soon and ended up with an infection (not saying they’re closely related but I do think it played a part). It can be tough at times, I struggled with my mental health and losing my independence doing things like showering and brushing my hair. I lost most of the feeling on the left side of my neck where the lymph nodes were removed so I didn’t feel much pain. I was prescribed high dosage pain killers but after speaking with the doctors, changed to just paracetamol which worked great for my pain management. I’m happy to say I’ve been back at work for a month now and starting to feel physically better (it’s definitely a journey and you need to take each day as it comes). I hope your surgery goes well and if you have any other questions, let me know. Alison

Thank you for your reply. I am glad you feeling much better. How long was you off work for? 

I have just the one lymph node .. and a total thyroidectomy to be removed 

Thank you. I was off work for 11 weeks and had been doing a phased return for the 1st month before going back to full time this week.

Oh ok .. at the moment I am planning 3 weeks. 
I will only receive SSP so cannot be off too long. 
Dud you have any treatment after? I am due to have liquid radiotherapy x

Everyone recovers differently, I’ve heard of other people going back to work after 2 weeks. I was off work longer due to the infection I ended up getting post surgery - I had a 2 week dose of antibiotics so this took time to clear up. I had radioactive iodine in February. My cancer is slightly more aggressive as the tumour on my thyroid was ready to burst. I’m going back in May as I may need another dose of radioactive iodine.

Good luck tomorrow. I’ve had a hemithyroidectomy and am just recovering from the completion, but no lymph nodes removed either time. What a quick time to surgery for you - I imagine that it all feels very overwhelming. I had two months between diagnosis and surgery to get used to the idea. 

I was completely wiped out the first week each time and then tired but much improved the second week. First surgery was more complicated for me because of tumour location so the pain was worse and I got a rare side effect. It was a good 6/7 weeks before my energy levels came back fully. This time the pain is better, but I’ll have to wait and see about the energy levels. Week 2 and still napping daily so a bit worried about returning to work next week.

Excellent advice about asking for more painkillers in recovery. I did much better with this in my second surgery too and have felt much better for it. My friend (a nurse) says painkillers will be prescribed ‘as needed’ so all you have to do is ask, but you do need to ask. paracetamol didn’t touch my pain for the first 2-3 days but I found dihydrocodeine and the liquid morphine at hospital really helpful. After the initial few days, though paracetamol and/or ibuprofen was fine and by a week out, I was fine  

Also, it was weird but I found thicker consistencies easier to swallow - ask for yogurt! Cool and easy to manage for me loved it and my hospital had some lovely ones you could have any time of day or night.

I’ll be thinking of you tomorrow. 

That was quick to get your operation done so quickly, which I notice you had yesterday, so just wanted to send my best wishes and hope you have a quick recovery.  I think everyone is different, personally I was fine and although I work for myself from home so could get back to normal when I wanted, I felt fine within a few days.  Obviously things take time to heal and you will know when you feel well enough to go back to work, listen to your body and don't rush yourself @Westerdale.