Thyroid surgery is recommended for thyroid cancer, cysts, Grave's disease, and symptomatic nodules on the thyroid. According to Weill Cornell Medical College (WCMC), the recovery time for thyroid surgery is relatively fast for most patients.
Preparations
To reduce the risk of complications, do not drink or eat after midnight the day of your surgery. Discontinue the use of aspirin and anti-inflammatory medications one week before surgery.
Procedure
During the operation, a four-inch incision is made in your neck. Once the thyroid gland is partially or completely removed, the surgeon stitches up the incision. The procedure takes up to three hours under general anesthesia, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine (JHM).
Recovery
If the operation is free of complications, expect to recover in a week or two.
Exceptions
Infection---which is rare, according to JHM---may delay your recovery. Discharge or redness at the incision site are signs of an infection.
Restrictions
JHM reports that there are no restrictions following thyroid surgery, except for a one-week ban on driving. Avoid activities in which your neck is strained for two weeks, suggests WCMC.
Supplementation
Whether your thyroid is partially or completely removed, you likely will take thyroid replacement hormones for the rest of your life. Also, according to WCMC, you may need temporary calcium supplementation.
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