Hi everyone. I had a hemithyroidectomy a week ago and I have another week before I have to go back to work. Will this be enough time to recover?
For anyone that has had a similar surgery, how long were you off work for?
Hi everyone. This is my first time posting on reddit, I just wanted to share my experience of a right hemithyroidectomy as I read quite a few on here before having the surgery and it really helped me feel a lot less anxious.
Bit of context: I am a 32 year old female and I live in the UK (so this is an NHS experience not private health care)
Due to an unrelated medical issue, I was sent to get an ultrasound on my neck and they found 2 suspicious nodules on the right side measuring about 3cm each. I was then sent for multiple fine needle aspirations, but unfortunately after 8 attempts the consultants were unable to get a good cell sample so I was listed for surgery to remove the right side.
My original appointment was in April but after prepping for the surgery and waiting outside the OR in my gown for 3 hours the surgery was cancelled due to an issue with the heating in the recovery room. This was frustrating but couldn't be helped. The next appointment was 2 weeks later at the start of May.
I was first in that day, so I arrived at the hospital for 7:30, the nurses took my blood pressure, repeat swabs and a history from me and had me check the previous consent forms I signed. The consultant then called me in and answered any questions about the surgery and drew a little arrow on the right side of my neck. I then had a conversation with the pharmacist and the anesthesiologist who answered any medication questions I had and explained the process of surgery to me.
I had to wear a gown, compression stockings, a hairnet and non slip socks and walked into the OR with one of the nurses. I spoke to the surgeon and the anesthesiologist then talked me through every step, inserting the canula, explaining what the meds did and how I would next be waking up in the recovery room.
When I woke up, I wasn't in any pain but I felt a little groggy and confused. The nurses monitored my pulse/BP and pain score as well as having a bit of a gossip while we waited for the ward bed to become available. I stayed in there for around an hour. Everything was fine and there were no complications during the surgery but I had to have a drain in under the incision for the excess blood, this was attached to a little bag and that was clipped to my gown.
I was then transfered to a ward and my care was handed over to a new set of nurses who would look after me for the next day or two.
Although I had some stiffness in my neck, the pain was controlled with meds and honestly the worst part was trying to get comfortable with the drain still attached as I could feel it moving when I spoke and pulling when I tried to turn my head. Because of this, the first night was quite difficult, I felt quite upset and emotional, but the nurses were amazing and so supportive.
I was discharged after 24 hours once the drain output was less than 21ml and could be removed (the removal was painful but it think that may have been because I had a student nurse attempt it and have to pass it over to another nurse half way through)
I had a bit of a scare on post op day 2, I started having pains in my back and numbness in my hands- this meant a trip to a&e to rule out a clot. The Dr said he thinks it may be hypocalcemia but I just need to wait and get bloods done in a few weeks to confirm this.
I'm currently writing this on post op day 6, and I feel a lot more myself today. I'm less pain but I still feel very tired and the skin on my neck is getting a bit itchy. The numbness in my hands hasn't fully gone away but hopefully it will over the next week.
If you have a thyroid op and are anxious like I was, just be assured that the Drs and nurses 100% know this is not the norm for you and are so accommodating, I cried a lot and not once did I feel judged or alone in it.
All the staff were amazing and we really are so lucky to have the NHS.
Sorry for any spelling errors and thanks for reading :)