Minimally-invasive is worth looking in to if youre a candidate. If you are working, you will need to take some time off after your surgery. Mine usually last 5-6 days and Im currently on day 12. Hi Linda! However, due to the size of one nodule (1.2 cm) they ordered a biopsy. All authors have no financial, direct or indirect personal relationships that could potentially and inappropriately influence (bias) the work and conclusions of this study. I have my own PR business and need to get back to work quickly. I got tired super easy. My incision is about 2 inches. Things were super easy with the surgery and recovery, except my energy has not returned. Loving all the comments on this site. 200 mg synthroid The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the Thank you so much for sharing this just found out this morning Ill be having a partial thyroidectomy and so it was super helpful when this was the first link I found when i consulted Dr. Go to the ER and it turns out my parathyroids did not kick in again, so my calcium was at a 6.2. was in the hospital from Sunday through Friday, and finally my calcium was above 8 for 24 hours. How is your incision healing since you manipulated removing the glued protection off sooner ? I would say that my scar faded within about 6 months. However, they asked me about allergies beforehand and I know for sure they double checked and kept that in my mind. I was depressed, devistated and angry . Patient reported complications or side effects experienced as a result of thyroid cancer, Factors associated with patient report of worse energy 24 years after surgery compared, Factors associated with patient reports of moderate to very severe fatigue 24 years, Thyroid cancer treatment side effects and complications associated with worse energy and significant, MeSH There is a technique called radiofrequency ablation I hope to be a candidate for, if not I will have 1/2 of my thyroid removed. Hi, Dawn, After one or more incisions are made, your surgeon will remove part of your thyroid gland. I have no energy and my voice is strained easily , frustrated. I have talked myself out of going through with surgery too many times to count and am very concerned about too many things.weight gain, how I will feel immediately after surgery, the biospy results of removed section, whether or not I have to go back for a second round, damaging vocal cords, will I need mediction, what probs does meds present.etc There is not much I am not worried about. It has now been 7 days. Im now 4 weeks post op. I spent one night in hospital and the next afternoon my drain and half the clips were removed. Thanks for the info. It is time to take it out. He explained to me that I had German Shepherd trying to get out a cats door and he had to make 6 inch incision. Hi Amelia Its only 2 months it should go away your throat is still irratated from the surgery. But youll get there, just try to allow yourself a generous amount of time to heal. Please note my Thyroid levels are normal. Have it removed while it is still benign and fine. Prescribing Levothyroxine can help take some of those issues away, including weight gain and, instead, helping to maintain a healthy weight. Went to endocrinologist who sent me for a ultra sound and it appears that my thyroid grew back and it us growing substernal. Today, my throat is feeling sore and overall Im feeling more aches coming out of the anesthesia so am taking pain meds. I know this is forever ago, but how are you? I also work full-time and have no idea what to say to my office. I will also say that it was a very easy recovery and I would tell anyone not to hesitate. I had a total thyroidectomy in 1999, due to nodules that kept growing. was it sent to pathology. In my 4th week Im feeling less tired during the day (I also experienced that naps were necessary) but there are some evenings where Im in bed by 8pm. Im being told the risk for cancer is usually around 60-70% with that diagnosis. Im scheduled for a partial on the 2nd of February. Weight gain, fatigue, abnormally cold legs/hands are some of the more prominent ones. I have the option of general anesthesia or local sedation and wonder if anyone has had this surgery with local sedation since I think it would make recovery faster and easier. government site. Have you had it? I believe the drug you were given is a brand of Levothyroxine. How is the weight management going after surgery ? Good luck! I hate removing half of a perfectly functioning organ. Rationale: Maximizes supply and absorption of calcium if parathyroid function is impaired. Good luck. I was also not able to take vitamins or pain relievers other than Tylenol for the entire week prior (no one said anything about wine, so I drank it). Rationale: Contraindicated after partial thyroidectomy because these foods inhibit thyroid activity. I just have to mentally prepare myself for this. You may also need surgery for hyperthyroidism. Your email address will not be published. Thyroid cancer treatment side effects and complications associated with worse energy and significant fatigue. If you're worried about feeling fatigued after a total thyroidectomy I wouldn't worry too much. eCollection 2023 Jan. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). Most recently, it had grown to 7 cm and still benign. They have been monitoring me for 3 years and the right has been there concern. A partial thyroidectomy means your thyroid gland can produce some thyroid hormone. 2019 Nov;166(5):895-900. doi: 10.1016/j.surg.2019.05.035. I get me check up in about 2 weeksprayers pleAse!! Sun is not good. I had my right thyroid removed 2 weeks ago today. A partial thyroidectomy is surgery to remove part of your thyroid gland. Not fun. So thankful to read this post, I am scheduled to have the right lobe of my thyroid and the 4.5cm nodule removed in April. Im thinking it would be considered a partial thyroidectomy, because the right side is surgically absenti. However, there are some things that everyone can expect with any type of thyroid surgery. My voice is not completely back to normal (I sing) but its getting there. I could do a little bit here or there during the second week, but not much. Your healthcare provider will tell you how to prepare for surgery. What happened in the end? I am going to have a partial thyroidectomy this fall, and my doctor did a biopsy a few weeks ago just to get an updated reading (biopsy results were benign a year ago). Good luck to everyone! What It's Like to Have a Partial Thyroidectomy - La Jolla Mom So far, my levels have been fine. What to expect after the operation Royal College of Surgeons She wanted to rule out anything else, so I went for Ultrasound that showed nodules sent me for biopsy that showed suspicious for Papillary [something with thyroid]. Should I seek one more opinion? I had a transoral partial thyroidectomy two weeks ago (its a relatively new procedure kind of like laparoscopy except they go in through an incision in your mouth instead of your belly button. But Im hoping that every day it will get better! Drugs.com provides accurate and independent information on more than 24,000 prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines and natural products. Thyroidectomy Guide: Recovery, Complications & What to Expect Other than that, all is well. I book an appt with endocrine though just so to ensure i catch hypothyroidism on its onset. I am reading so many examples of benign nodules with normal hormone levels being removed Why? Molly, A CT scan is a good idea. Thank you for any input. I probably read it 3 times per day just to assure myself that people did fine with the surgery. I did stay one night in the hospital, I had no drain, no pain from the surgical site. my seven-year-old doesnt like to look at my scar because it makes him sad so its been encouraging to wear the strips I guess its a win-win situation haha. They are removing my right thyroid (4cm nodule) and a left parathyroid gland as there is a small adenoma on it. In this case it would be an endocrinologist and then usually, an Otolaryngologist is the specialist that performs the surgery. My first thyroid level tests have shown that my levels are good. A month later I ended up in the emergency room because I hadnt been unable to catch my breath since this surgery, and I was so frustrated. Of the 2,584 respondents, 988 (38.2%) reported much worse or somewhat worse energy and 1,310 (50.7%) reported moderate to very severe fatigue. I cant tell you how glad I am that my surgery fell in January. But please monitor yourself and if your doctor is putting you off, find another doctor. The surgeon was surprised and even wrote down the name of the Scar Serum to recommend to his clients. Studies show that long term fatigue is common after thyroid surgery. My levels are staying consistent and taking meds everyday at the same time with no food. I am wondering if the levels will drop more over time. Hi there your post helped me so much. It was something I dreaded for ages and then all of a sudden it was done. Neck was sore just like they told me it would be from the angle during surgery. The surgeon said I wouldnt need pain meds beyond Tylenol after the first few days. Its so helpful and calming to hear from people with positive experiences and that Im not crazy for wanting to get this removed. I am not in the greatest shape, but this will be different for everyone. My experience was similar to other folks I slept a lot the first week. I had a partial thyroidectomy two weeks ago after my biopsies repeatedly came back as indeterminate. As a result , on August 9th I had done the surgery and results were Benign and now Im recovering. You and your surgeon will decide the kind of surgery that is right for you. I see everyone is different. After researching, I chose them to perform my surgery, because of their experience, and willingly traveled from Pennsylvania to Tampa. It might not, but again hoping for the best. he hardest thing about the surgery is having to sleep sitting up, i the hydrocodon also makes my nausceous abs dizzy, i wish i could just get a good nap. The average initial levothyroxine dose is 50 to 100 mcg per day. you can recommend? Low calcium levels can cause many problems, including an irregular heartbeat, muscle spasms, and seizures. Do whatever it takes not to get sick for the first two months after surgery because it will set you back. Dr mansfield recommend i see an thyroid specialist since the cysts is on the left lobe. I was told that all surgery is minimally-invasive if you have a good surgeon because they will get in and out quickly with minimal damage. The sooner you have it removed, the sooner you can move on. I had a semi thyroidectomy of a giant 6cm nodule in late November. So much helpful information. Quick question- did you have yours done by Dr. Clayman? After my op my left lobe seemed to be functioning fine (no mroe tremors and other symptoms) for about 2 weeks but then went hypothyroid (a whole new set of symptoms! Anyone else having these experiences. The relationship between treatment for differentiated thyroid cancer and patient-report of decreased energy and fatigue remains unclear. Yes your inicision starts to physically heal and you may feel like yourself within a week or two but no one talks about the months following. The standard seems to be six months. I am hoping to go back to work on Monday but am worried i may not be able to cope as i get tired just pottering about the house! "Voice problems after thyroid surgery can significantly reduce quality of life," says Sujana S. Chandrasekhar, MD. My sister asked where my scar was the other day because you cant even see it now. I just had my surgery in January and it was as though you were taking the words right out of my mouth. Well, the last 2 spin classes I felt great. One thing being my right picks up the slack. I feel a little better! In my case, it was home improvement. Then over the years the nodule grew, started to put pressure on the trachea and the jugular. Total or near-total thyroidectomy: This involves the removal of all or most of the thyroid gland.This surgery is often indicated for large thyroid cancers, large goiters, and Graves' disease. No cancer found! The frozen pathology during surgery came back cancer free. I have my follow up on the 30th with my ENT doctor. You may be given pain medicine after surgery. LOL! I haven't started med's yet due to my surgeon wanting the pathology report and my labs in first. The endocrinologist that saw me said I was perfectly fine and I should try to exercise more(?!) Thanks for your post and all the response. Thyroidectomy - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf My hormone levels all test within normal range and I have half a thyroid. They intend to keep me overnight to keep an eye on my Calcium levels. Everyone is righttheres little pain and the sore throat only lasts 2 days. Tiredness and feeling emotional After any operation, your body is using a lot of energy to heal itself, so you will feel more tired than normal. Highly nervous and such. They didnt check the thyroid after surgery so that concerns me a little. Good luck to you, Julie. I think the anxiety I felt beforehand was the worst part. We are awaiting the other report from pathology in hopes that it is truly cancer free. Although my thyroid levels are fine, my CO2 levels are apparently really low. For anyone considering this surgery. I still wear the silicone bandages and probably will until at least April. and a lot of people have this. Yes, I slept in my lazyboy for a couple of nights because it was more comfortable that laying down. You may need a partial thyroidectomy if you have thyroid cancer or a lump on your thyroid. Can you please tell me how you managed the stress leading up to the surgery and the day off. How long was your surgery and how did you manage anxiety before the surgery ? A couple years ago doc switched me to Levothyroxine as TS Just got tested and I have a free t4 of 1.6 (0.8-1.8) a total t4 of 13.9 (4.9-10.5) and a tsh of 0.4 (0.4-4.5). This low free thyroid hormone concentration in the serum may be one of the causes of depression, weight gain, hair loss, fatigue, and so on that many patient's experience after the procedure. Im sleeping much better. I am going to have a partial thyroidectomy and very worried about fatigue and weight gain. Hope that you are feeling better and are fully recovered. The surgery is easier. This was such a great article. Linda, how long after your surgery did you have to wait until were you able to sing again? I didnt get nauseated from the anesthesia. I wish I had realized how different I was. Surgery to remove all or part of part or all of the thyroid gland is commonly needed to treat both benign (noncancerous) and cancerous thyroid disease. It is comforting to hear other stories and know others out there have gone thru the same thing. I am wondering if the right side has not been working since I had large nodules in the left side. Epub 2021 Oct 11. Epub 2019 Sep 30. But once they did, she shed the pounds without effort. As far as the scar, it's not that visible anymore and I also have a "adams apple" like appearance above the scarand i'm sure that it's due to the "surgery", the area that was surgically cut and also not having a thyroid. And if so, did it return to normal? Nice bolg of you experience . I went back for my post op appointment to find out that all was benign (!!). I hope this all goes away, light head aches also nothing I cant handle but still. I actually have more energy now than I had before. Hi Energy level and fatigue after surgery for thyroid cancer: A - PubMed I just wanted to say thank you(!) It was very reassuring. So thats without pain meds from 7:00 am this morning! hope the best for you. This seems kind of unlikely to me given the pain Im in right now even despite the 10mg doses every 4 hours. That was a great relief, because my biggest fear was that my voice would be affected. Subscribe to Drugs.com newsletters for the latest medication news, new drug approvals, alerts and updates. I have an appointment on Tuesday for blood work results. The anxiety is killing me. I asked my dermatologist how best to avoid scarring and she said that vitamin E and other scarring ointments are basically worthless. An endoscopic surgery means small incisions are made in your neck. Followed it up with ultrasound every 6 months. They also tell you that you might be tired for a few weeks. Im also wondering what my energy level will be like afterward, as well as the scar. We investigated the adequacy of our thyroid hormone . My surgeon told me that the half with the nodule would be removed. I felt really comfortable with this new one. Im so thankful for this thread. Hi Gimel not on any Meds yet. I had a partial thyroidectomy last week. It pays to have a good surgeon. What you guys think? It was actually found during a CT of my chest. Even though I have a small nodule on the other side as well, the surgeon is leaving that lobe in. He did, however mentioned that on surgery day hell have a pathologist on site to check my complete thyroid and if he sees something abnormal he will do a complete Thyroidectomy. I had my partial in February. Keep in touch praying all goes well feel better. My doctor found a few nodules on the right side of my thyroid. Im in good shape and energetic. Id also tell people not to worry about this surgery. Thanks so much for posting your experience. Had a partial thyroidectomy Oct 25th for initially suspected nodular Papillary/Follicular thyroid cancer. Needless to say, this whole process two surgeries- was not fun. It was always in the back of my mind. What a great read. My PTH has been elevated as well as my Calcium. I hope this puts anyone going through this at ease. Hopefully Ill get the right balance of things hashed out this week. I am having my right thyroid removed 8/22/18 along with one of my left parathyroid glands. Im afraid that this will be my attitude forever and I dont want that. I had it done at Palomar Hospital in Escondido and was very happy with my surgeon and the staff at Palomar. doi: 10.1136/bmj.i3839. PMC For those who have had cancer though, did you have to do radioactive iodine. For two weeks, I have been dabbing with peroxide and applying Bacitracin. The dose might be increased over time to between 100 and 200 mcg per day. I now put Earth Science Skin Serum on it every day. Also, how long was your surgery ? Terrible sore throat for 48 hours along with intense headache and back of neck pain. I was told that if I worked from home (which I do), that I could likely return to work the following week which I hope is true! Please continue to post on this blog. I was totally fine post-op butfor the past 3 weeks Ive been very fatigued (I wake up tired even after a good nights sleep and I cant stop yawning). The BEST way to buy attraction and theme park tickets is my discounted site. Thanks so much for your replies- I really appreciate it and find it helpful. Recovery wasnt bad as I took it easy for the first week and eased myself into working and life the second week. Due to suspicious nature & high rate of numerous cancers in my family we are just going to surgically remove it. I dont know much about the pathology indetermine, but what I was told was that if it wasnt pure benign they would recommend removal. So they took out the left lobe and it did turn out to have a follicular carcinoma in it. God Bless. I visit the endo this week to see if I require the levothyroxin. so you can imagine im biased towards skipping a second one. But the anesthesiologist took care of all that for me. Happy Belated 19th Birthday! Did you gain any weight during the wait time? I am a 33 years old male and have discovered in 2016 a 2.2cm nodule in my left thyroid. As a singer my biggest fear is/was not being able to sing again. My nodule was 4cm. You might also have to take supplements after thyroidectomy to balance your calcium levels. But I guess what Im trying to say is we make the best decisions we can at the time and we can manage whatever happens, especially with support. My nodule was 5cm only on the right, so I only had that side taken out. I have a large scar on my throat (about 2.5 inches long). Why I got it done was due to possible concerns if would compromise my breathing, eating, and drinking all together. Hopefully the exercise and eating healthy routine will keep my weight stable. Hi, Orpa, I agree, this site was so valuable to me when I had my hemithyroidectomy. This message board is very helpful to everyone and your details will be very helpful to others. Has anybody here been on medication and then been weened off? I knew I would eventually have to have some sort of removal, but am nervous at the timing. I don't have my post- op check up til 28/11/16 and I'm not on medications. If you can, try to go in late and no matter how tempted you are, do not work late. thank God my insurance paid for it. Thought it was the pain meds but havent had to take them for a couple of days so it's not that. Thanks so much, Linda. Epub 2019 Jul 8. I, too, have a need for a partial thyroidectomy and am pretty scared, unsure what to expect, etc. (1) So if you have hypothyroidism, have had a thyroidectomy or partial thyroidectomy, this means you! The edema went away after about 5 days. By using this Site you agree to the following, By using this Site you agree to the following, Tiredness ,lethargy after partial thyroidectomy. You may instead be given local anesthesia to numb the area. Long-Term Fatigue Is Common After Total Thyroidectomy After a week I think even I was driving again and running errands. i didnt have any pain in the surgery area but i didnt take pain killers just in case. The surgery was recommended once they found a very suspicious nodule after having it biopsied. Hi Linda, Irrespective of this, I was wondering if anyone could recommend a good endocrinologist in the area who is willing to give meds for a slightly hypothyroid condition. Symptoms caused by too much calcium in the blood may go away or greatly improve after this procedure. The pain is fairly intense for sure. Thanks for the reassurance! I plan to use scar away. I have to say that my surgeon did a great job. I had my surgery on a Thursday and I slept through the weekend. My prayers will be with you after surgery take one day at a time dont rush. The pain is minimal but my cyst was way larger than they expected so swallowing is rough. I finally had it yesterday and it went well, although the nodule was much larger than the ultrasound had detected. I had migraines and nausea for several long days after the fact. Dont put it off, it was not a problem at all. But, since my gum graft surgery recap seemed to help so many people, I thought Id share my partial thyroidectomy experience. I am so glad I had it done. I am scheduled for surgery next monthscared.If anyone can email me with words of wisdom I would be greatfulThank you in advanceAnnMarie. It turn out to be a 4 mm tumor- papillary carcinoma with follicular variant. Thank u for your insight. Im not sure if this is a side effect of the surgery? Today he suggested I get the right thyroid removed. Should I still scar,there are lasers that help and steroid injections should the scar pop out. Youll do fine! Also, while the recovery is not bad, it is not fun for a couple of days. I had my left thyroid removed 12/17/18. You may also feel a sensation of swelling or firmness that will also resolve over time. I caught a terrible flu/cold during my 2nd week of recovery just as I was ready to return to work. I had a partial almost two weeks ago. Between the two years of pondering whether or not I should do this, biopsies and appointments with various surgeons, nothing really prepared me for how it really would go for me, which may be differentfromhow you will recover. Most likely the remaining half of your thyroid gland is unable to produce enough thyroid hormone for your needs, thus the symptoms you are having. Am I being over cautious or should I just get on with the tiredness and slight weight gain to wait and see. I had severe nausea from the anesthesia. The operation went smoothly and I was pleasantly surprised by the easy recovery. i would have never know about this cyst if it werent for the mri. My voice was fine after surgery, just a bit scratchy. . Before Physiotherapy exercises I wish I could solicit her name on this site, however, I relent. Thank you Mary & Linda for replying and advice. National Library of Medicine . Thoughts? Its very frustrating and definitely not as easy as people told me it would be. I felt zero anxiety, due to the medication. In 2013 had a right thyroidectomy with a removal of a large non-cancerous follicular mass that 7cm4.5cm5cm. If it wasnt for that, I think Id have been off the heavy duty painkillers within a couple days of the surgery instead of taking them for a week. Fatigue may be the one symptom you are experiencing. honestly, the recent biopsy was more painful than id expected and i was swollen for a week. Thank you for posting. The beginning of the year as exhausting as it is! Its a safe procedure. I had the needle biopsy prior to the surgery and it came out as benign. I did the legwork on that one for you.). On the table he offered me the option to take the half, do a test there and if it was bad or unsure, that he would take the whole thing. I take 50mcgs. My nodule was approximately 5cm, and was causing hyperthyroid symptoms (tremors/heart palpitations/anxiety/etc). HHS Vulnerability Disclosure, Help Methods: Statewide survey of thyroidectomy patients (2004-2017) was carried out. Ive felt really well for the first 4 weeks post surgery, but now I feel quite wretched. Inconclusive biopsy, no other cancer-like symptoms or family history and normal T3-T4. You might increase 15 mg per day every 2 to 3 weeks until you feel your best. I was told 1-2 weeks as well. They were unable to biopsy twice by aspiration. I would definitely ask the surgeon on your return visit why you had bruising down there. As with my levels, they appear normal But what is normal the standard medical range. You may be given antithyroid medicine to lower the amount of thyroid hormone made by your thyroid gland. The incidence rates vary widely depending on the follow-up period and on how I had 3 biopsies all of them benign but the surgeon ENT has booked me for a surgery at the end of November. My Dr assures me that within time it wont be noticeable as he positioned it in a crease of my neck. INDEPENDENT AFFILIATE, CADENCE TRAVEL Not even a whisper. I took a decent amount of pain meds for the first week and ate mostly soft foods. Just like a bad throat infection. I first resembled someone that had been tripped by a washing line or a mug victim(everybody always wanted to know who slit my throat ;) ) - but today its just a thin line - which is not noticeable really until I tell you I had a partial thyroidectomy. My levels are normal so no one wants to take it out only now I feel like Im choking cant see out of my right eye so I decided to bite the bullet and just do it. The nodules do not have to be massive to put a significant amount of pressure on vocal chords and throat and can be extremely uncomfortable to swallow and in extreme cases can even put pressure on your airway. exclusive discounts on theme park tickets, 13 Benefits of Drinking Warm Lemon Water in the Morning (Its Good for You), 20 Fun Beach Games and Toys That Make Sand Play Awesome, Turmeric Lemon Water: Your Daily Detox Drink, 15 Health Benefits of Cucumber Water Plus Recipes & Helpful Tips. With a nodule of that size, even though my 3 biopsies showed benign, there was always the question. I did gain a few pounds but I think its to do with age and lots of recent travel. Its done! Late 2017 through 2018 I was having a lot of weird symptoms like feeling like I was suffocating while in bed and trouble swallowing and waking up choking on Saliva. I had a TT on 12-23-09 and I must say that after 19 days, I'm fine. Its not common to remove a nodule thats 1CM approx 3 1/2 becomes suspicious and they suggest to remove. Again thank you all for your comments. You will be ok, just get it done. I put off surgery for a couple of years, but if I had known that the recovery was so easy I would have had it done sooner. Had partial thyroidectomy 11/28/16 after the exploratory did not find anything. I have had unexplained anxiety for the past couple years and a matter how many therapists are doctors I go to they all seem to tell me they think its related to my thyroid. So take care - and just take it one day at a time. Its itchy. I do suffer being lethargic though my TSH, T3, T4 and free T3 as well. my surgery was this year in Jan. I had a 5.3 cm module removed on January 3rd. The procedure can be performed in two ways: 1. Is Weight Gain After Thyroid Removal Inevitable? - Low Iodine Dietitian so i did & they did a FNA wich was done thru some company Afirma $6,500! A cat scan revealed that mine was sub-sternal.