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For those of you who read my earlier post or follow me on Facebook or Twitter, you’ll know that I underwent surgery on my thyroid last month.
One thing I noticed when frantically googling in a pre-op panic was there didn’t seem to be much information on people’s personal experience with having a thryoidectomy.
I don’t know if I was just looking in the wrong places, but for those of you who are facing a similar situation to me, I wanted to provide an insight into my surgery and my personal experience of having a thryoidectomy (thyroid removal).
I’m sorry for those of you who think it’s slightly irrelevant and a deviation from the coeliac theme of this blog but hey, variety is the spice of life!
After suffering years of an over-active thyroid, which can be linked to coeliac disease, I finally had my thyroid removed on 14th December.
Because I had a bit of a goiter (lump) where my thyroid was – a big part of the reason I was having it removed – the incision ended up being relatively low down on my neck – nearer my collar bone.
The transformation has been amazing – I may have a scar (which is healing remarkably well) but for once I feel like my neck is normal and there’s no lump!
I stayed in hospital for four days, had half of my staples removed the day after my op and had the other half removed a few days later along with my drain.
For those of you that are curious (as I was) having staples removed sounds far worse than it actually is – I couldn’t even feel half of them coming out and the relief I felt afterwards made it worth it!
The drain however, was slightly less pleasant and having that removed was probably the worst part of my experience!
Now, three weeks later, my scar has improved a lot – I still have some numbness around that area and it’s still a bit sore but I figure that’s only to be expected after having major surgery!
Bio-Oil has also been my saviour – I would DEFINITELY reccommend this to anyone as it has stopped my scar itching or hurting as much and it is healing up so well already, I can’t believe it.
It took about two weeks for me to be able to drive and move my head properly again. Now I still have a little trouble moving my head enough to reverse and if I’m around a lot of people I can get a bit of an achey neck but I’ve found moving it has helped a lot with feeling better.
So there you have it – it’s not the most comprehensive view on my surgery (I didn’t want to bore/scare you all!) but I am feeling so much better for it and now I only have my coeliacs to think about!
If anyone has any questions or wants to share their experiences of thyroid surgery, comment below or email me on: [email protected].
Hi can i say thank you so much to everybody who has commented on here because i have just had my ultra sound and cell tests with the needle in the throat last week and am due to have my operation in january , the consultant on monday made it very clear to me the pros and cons but i have a large goiter and have had it for over 20 years and it is now to big to ignore. I was very scared till i read your stories on here but now feel alot calmer. After years of teasing and men looking at me like i have some child developing in my throat i have decided to have surgery and my daughter gets kids coming up to her and saying her mum used to be a man coz she has an adams apple…i was told that i will be low in calcium and on tablets for live and if the vocal chords fuse together then i will have to breathe through a tube in my throat but from what i have read and heard this is very rare.
Sheryl, I am just now 2 days post op with the same problems you have. I had a very large mass that had even began to push down on my left lung that had likely been there for about 10 years. The surgery went very well and I do have a long scar but I believe it will be minimal after healing. I was in the hospital overnight and was able to come home with orders to take a calcium supplement along with pain meds and antibiotics. My doctor had also warned me about the nerves around my voicebox since the mass had been there so long. He told me after the surgery that he was able to easily move around them and I’ve had no problems with my voice.
Kelley that is so good to hear your surgery went well, thankyou for commenting and sharing your experience.
Sheryl I am so glad that these stories have helped to calm your nerves – I was panicking massively before my operation which is why I wanted to encourage people to share their stories – it is always the bad ones that get published but really there are so many more that are actually positive – people just don’t shout about them!
HI Sarah,
Hi Sarah, Thank you so much for sharing your experience,.
How are you doing now. I just ended up reading your blog today for the first time when i was googling regarding the surgery. I am commenting first time online after reading your good experience. Did you had total thyroidectomy or partial thyroidectomy. I am having hashimotos and left side 4.5 cm nodule and recently started breathing and chest congestion, shoulder blade pain, pain in the ear and ear socket , shoulder pain, left side of my brain feeling tight , pain at the left base of my neck but the ENT surgeon says its not all related and told me that removing the nodule not necessarily guarantee that my chest tightness will go. I am thinking to consult another doctor. , Wanted to know from you was your doctor a ENT SURGEON.. ?. My thyroid levels are normal. What symptoms you had before the surgery. Thanks once again.