What to Expect After Surgery:
Thyroid Surgery:
- Recovery and Hospitalization:
Patients who undergo a thyroid surgery may be admitted overnight for observation or discharged the same day as their procedure. Pain following thyroid operations is variable, but most patients do not require narcotic pain medications and are comfortable with Tylenol and/or ibuprofen. It is very common to have a sore throat following thyroid surgery which usually lasts for a couple of days. - Diet and Showering:
You can eat anything you want following thyroid surgery, and it is ok to shower the next day. Your incision will be closed with stitches underneath the skin that will dissolve on their own, and then covered with a waterproof skin glue. Avoid rubbing or picking at the incision. We suggest you do not take a bath or submerge the incision for 2 weeks following surgery. Patients who have their entire thyroid removed require thyroid hormone replacement, which is a pill you take once a day. It is important to take this pill one hour before a meal to assure absorption. - Returning to Work and Driving:
Patients typically take between 5 – 7 days off work following thyroid surgery. Most patients feel back to “normal” by two weeks after surgery. You may drive once you are no longer taking narcotic pain medications and feel comfortable turning your neck, usually about 3 days. - Potential Complications:
One common complication following thyroid surgery is low calcium. Patients with low calcium usually feel numbness or tingling in their fingers or around their lips. This can progress to cramping and pain and usually presents within the first 72 hours after surgery. If you experience these symptoms, it may be a sign of low calcium, and you should contact your surgeon at 916-734-5959 (during business hours) or 916-734-2011 (after hours). - Your voice may be hoarse for a day or two following surgery because of the breathing tube in place during your operation. Longer term voice changes occur after about 5% of thyroid operations. Most voice changes will improve within 2-6 weeks following surgery. Bleeding after thyroid surgery is rare, but potentially serious. Patients should call 911 and then their surgeon immediately if you are having excessive neck swelling or problems breathing.
- Improving Healing:
To improve healing and protect the new skin, we recommend you keep your incision out of the sun or use sunscreen for at least 6 months following surgery.
Parathyroid Surgery:
- Recovery and Hospitalization:
Patients who undergo a parathyroid surgery can usually go home the same day as their procedure, but sometimes will be admitted overnight for observation. Pain following thyroid operations is variable, but most patients do not require narcotic pain medications and are comfortable with Tylenol and/or ibuprofen. It is very common to have a sore throat following parathyroid surgery, which usually lasts for a couple of days. - Diet and Showering:
You can eat what you want following parathyroid surgery and it is ok to shower the next day. Your incision will be closed with stitches underneath the skin that will dissolve on their own, and then covered with a waterproof skin glue. Avoid rubbing or picking at the incision. We suggest you do not take a bath or submerge the incision for 2 weeks following surgery. - Returning to Work and Driving:
Patients typically take between 5 – 7 days off work following parathyroid surgery. Most patients feel back to “normal” by two weeks after surgery. You may drive once you are no longer taking narcotic pain medications and feel comfortable turning your neck, usually about 3 days. - Potential Complications:
One common complication following parathyroid surgery is low calcium. Patients with low calcium usually feel numbness or tingling in their fingers or around their lips. This can progress to cramping and pain and usually presents within the first 72 hours after surgery. If you experience these symptoms, it may be a sign of low calcium, and you should contact your surgeon at 916-734-5959 (during business hours) or 916-734-2011 (after hours). - Your voice may be hoarse for a day or two following surgery because of the breathing tube in place during your operation. Longer term voice changes occur after about 5% of thyroid operations. Most voice changes will improve within 2-6 weeks following surgery. Bleeding after parathyroid surgery is rare, but potentially serious. Patients should call 911 and then their surgeon immediately if you are having excessive neck swelling or problems breathing.
- Improving Healing:
To improve healing and protect the new skin, we recommend you keep your incision out of the sun or use sunscreen for at least 6 months following surgery.
Laparoscopic Adrenal Surgery:
- Recovery and Hospitalization:
Patients undergoing laparoscopic adrenal surgery are typically hospitalized overnight. Patients often require narcotic pain medications for a few days to a week following surgery. We encourage you to walk and socialize with your family once you have been admitted to your hospital room. A bladder catheter that is placed while you are asleep during surgery can be removed once you can ambulate safely. Patients frequently have pain in their shoulders and a sore throat from the operation. Both of these issues will improve in a couple of days. - Diet and Showering:
You can eat anything you want following laparoscopic adrenal surgery, and it is ok to shower the next day. Your incision will be closed with stitches underneath the skin that will dissolve on their own, and then covered with a waterproof skin glue. Avoid rubbing or picking at the incisions. We suggest you do not take a bath or submerge the incision for 2 weeks following surgery. It is common to not feel like eating much for several days following laparoscopic adrenal surgery. - Returning to Work and Driving:
Patients typically take between 7 – 14 days off work following laparoscopic adrenal surgery. Most patients feel back to “normal” by 2 - 4 weeks after surgery. We recommend avoiding lifting greater than 20 pounds for 6 weeks after surgery. You may drive once you are no longer taking narcotic pain medications and feel comfortable wearing a seatbelt and reaching for the brake and gas pedals. - Potential Complications:
Complications following laparoscopic adrenal surgery are uncommon. Give us a call during business hours at (916) 734-5959 or after hours at (916) 734-2011 if you experience any of the following after your laparoscopic adrenal surgery:- Fever (>100.5 F)
- Redness, swelling, or drainage from your incisions
- Inability to eat or drink or nausea/vomiting
- Inability to urinate or burning/pain with urination
- Excessive pain, bloating or bruising that seems beyond what you anticipated
Improving Healing:
- To improve healing, we recommend you keep your incisions out of the sun or use sunscreen for at least 6 months following surgery.