Your thyroid glands play a pivotal role in regulating your metabolism, temperature, and heart rate. They are located right in front of the neck. An ENT surgeon in Navi Mumbai may recommend total thyroidectomy as part of cancer treatment, hyperthyroidism, or an enlarged thyroid. In simple words, the surgery involves a complete removal of your thyroid gland.
No matter the reason, the surgery is quite major and an invasive procedure. The recovery requires patience. In this post, we’ve shared the life you can expect after thyroidectomy.
1) Early Recovery
After surgery, you will be taken to the recovery room, where your vitals will be monitored for the first few hours. It’s not uncommon to feel a little sore around the neck and notice swelling around the incision for the first few days. You might also notice changes in your voice, such as difficulty speaking louder and a hoarse voice.
Depending on the type of surgery, you might get discharged from the hospital the same day or stay overnight. Your doctor will give instructions on how to take care of the incision site. Ideally, you must keep the area clean, avoid strenuous exercise, and avoid putting pressure on the area. Over-the-counter pain relief medications are often enough to get relief from discomfort and pain.
2) Hormone Replacement & Health Changes
Since your thyroid gland is completely removed, your body won’t produce thyroid hormone, without which you might have an underactive thyroid. This may cause symptoms like fatigue, dry skin, and rapid weight gain.
It’s essential to have medication that imitates the effect of thyroid hormones and helps regulate your heart rate and metabolism. Your surgeon will prescribe the dosage based on your blood test and may adjust it depending on how well your body takes it.
3) How to Manage Your Weight and Mood Swings
After thyroidectomy, you will experience many changes, such as excess fatigue, weight gain, and mood swings. These changes are temporary and usually resolve once you start hormone replacement. Here’s what else you can do in the meantime to keep your weight and mood in check:
- Practice light physical exercises and stretching if your doctor allows
- Eat a nutritious and balanced diet
- Get ample rest
- Practice yoga and meditation to manage stress
4) Possible Complications
Like any invasive medical procedure, thyroid surgery in Navi Mumbai comes with certain risks. The two most common complications of thyroidectomy are hoarseness in the voice and low calcium levels. Both are temporary.
Your doctor will recommend supplements for calcium. A hoarse voice might persist for a while. This happens when the nerves in your vocal cords get irritated during surgery. Permanent damage to your vocal cords is rare. Other potential complications from surgery include bleeding and infection.
5) Life After Thyroidectomy
With proper care, you can expect your life to go back to normal within a few weeks. Make sure you stay in touch with your healthcare provider and mention any unusual symptoms. Add fresh fruits and veggies, lean protein, whole grains, and calcium to your diet. Sleep well, exercise daily, and stay hydrated.
