Post op problems after a full Thyroidectomy

Hi Emilycharlotte91 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 not a member of this group but noticed that your post hadn't had any replies yet. Responding to you will 'bump' it back to the top of the discussion list where it'll be more easily spotted.

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

Definitely be careful when eating and drinking as I have had the same and have had a couple of episodes over the last 10 months where I seriously could not get my breath and when trying to breathe in I made the most terrible noise, I was really quite scared.  It has also happened when I have just swallowed the wrong way and wasn't eating or drinking.  My cancer nodule did however damage one side of my vocal cords and I now have problems with my voice and am waiting to have an operation to put a stent in so that my vocal cords will meet again as there is a gap which is causing the problems.  I am wondering if you had a scope into your vocal cords to see if there is any damage, I had a couple  before my op, several times while in hospital after it, and since a couple of times.  It does make my think that  if not you should mention your problems to the hospital, it may well just be trauma from the operation and many find that things rectify themselves slowly but it does come right.  As far as the cream is concerned I think it was about 3 weeks when I started and still do massage every day and every night after 10 months.  It helps the scar to heal and the massaging also does its bit in breaking down the scar tissue.  

Hi, I had surgery 6 weeks ago and am suffering with similar issues but I keep feeling a lump in the back of my throat which makes me very hoarse when I talk.  I am waiting for another operation so thought i would just leave it but I did email my surgeon yesterday because I was feeling worried.  I know they don't want to worry us but I do feel I was so unprepared for all that has happened and I have experienced post op.

I started using cream straight away on my scar, but the numbeness makes it so weird to massage

Hope you get some answers, if things are not right do make a fuss

Vicky x

Thank you for your reply.

I feel the same in regards to not being prepared at all for what was to come. I have my post op appointment on Tuesday next week so will update you on what he says about the lump. It really is worrying me, my constant thoughts are "I can't live like this forever"! 

Hope you get some answers also. It's a worrying time without added extra stress. 

Kind Regards

Emily

It's very worrying that 10 months after surgery you're feeling like this. I hope things get easier for you. 

The swallowing, eating and drinking is really worrying me right now and I totally relate to it happening when not even having a drink or food! 

I had a scope done the day before my op to check my vocal cords and they were perfect then. However, now I'm still hoarse and not back to how it was - I kind of expected this. Not really sure how long it is meant to take.

I will mention it at my appointment on Tuesday. 

Thank you and good luck with your op on vocal cords.

Kind regards

Emily 

Thank you @Emilycharlotte91 and hope you get to the bottom of things with your problems x

Hi Emilycharlotte91 sorry to hear of your troubles. I also have swallow problems after surgery. I find it hardest to handle thin liquids - my own saliva can be a real challenge! Disordered swallowing is called dysphagia and if you are aspirating (choking, food or liquids going down the wrong way) you should get advice from a speech and language therapist/pathologist (SALT). Hopefully your surgeon will have referred you today. If not, ask your CNS or MacMillan nurses. 

I also have spasmodic dysphonia which is affecting my voice. It’s not hoarseness, but feels similar to laryngitis where I try to make sounds but nothing comes out or my voice cuts in and out. The ENT team and SALT assessment are quite confident that both my primary nerve and vocal cords are unharmed from my surgeries so it’s likely due to trauma and so will hopefully heal. It has improved immensely since my first surgery three months ago but not entirely so I’m waiting on my SALT appointment. So even if you had an effect on your voice in the first surgery, you may not in the second - I think my voice might even have improved!

Hope you see some improvement soon - but push for a SALT appointment. I had no idea speech therapists covered swallowing as well, but they’re specialists!

I hated the numb sensation too, so only started with vitamin E oil and sunscreen about 4 weeks after the op. Yucky but getting it done. 

Good luck!