Thyroid Surgery 101: What to Expect Before, During, and After

There are several different types of thyroid surgery, ranging from the removal of the entire thyroid to the removal of a certain section. This can be done if you have hyperthyroidism, cancer, or a non-cancerous condition causing a mass in the thyroid. Before you see Dr. Jesse Tan, Dr. Jesus Tan, or Dr. Rose Eapen of Tan Head and Neck Center, serving Long Beach, CA, and the nearby region, for a thyroid issue requiring surgery, you may wonder what to expect before, during, and after.

Before  

While you'll need to undergo a physical examination, blood work, or other testing to see if you need thyroid surgery in Long Beach, CA, your doctor may also recommend specific testing based on your health conditions to see if you're healthy enough for surgery or if any accommodations need to be made.

We may recommend you avoid food for a certain length of time before your surgery to avoid anesthesia complications. And our doctor may recommend you stop taking a certain medication, particularly blood thinners, for a designated period before surgery.

During 

You'll be given anesthesia whenever you arrive, which is typically a general. You won't feel anything during the procedure or be aware of what's going on. 

The surgeon will either take a part or all of the thyroid. Patients with thyroid cancer may have their lymph nodes around the thyroid removed as well. 

Depending on the extent of your surgery, a thyroid surgery could take two hours or longer. Sometimes, though, the entire process may only take an hour or less.

After  

Your voice could be weak or hoarse after the surgery, particularly from having a breathing tube inserted. Usually, this issue is only temporary.

Most people can eat or drink as usual after their procedure. For some people, the surgery is outpatient, so they can return home the same day. However, particularly if you had a more extensive surgery, you may need to remain in the hospital overnight for observation.

Usually, resuming normal activities is possible once you return home, though your surgeon will recommend you wait between 10 and 14 days to resume strenuous activities, such as heavy lifting.

After the surgery, you may need a synthetic thyroid hormone medication, levothyroxine, to receive the thyroid hormone you need so you regulate temperature accordingly, not gain weight, and have energy.

Contact Us for More Information

Whenever you have a thyroid issue requiring thyroid surgery in Long Beach, CA, from Dr. Tan, Dr. Tan, or Dr. Eapen of Tan Head and Neck Center, it's helpful to know how to prepare and understand what to expect so you can prepare mentally and in general.

Call us at 562-988-8818.