Partial thyroidectomy on Tuesday would love some advice and tips please...?

[loopyboo]

Hi there! Well it seems like I have been waiting forever for this op and it's nearly here. I can't lie, I'm quite nervous and trying my best to stay positive and keep calm. My biopsy showed 3 in diagnosis so it was recommended to remove the right side where the nodules are etc. My main concern is that I'm ok and that op goes well. I just would like to know if anyone can give me some tips on things like what I may find useful to take to hospital, should I be avoiding any particular food or drink, are there any vitamins recommended? Really anything and everything that you could recommend. I'm having my op at the royal free in London too, anyone any experience of this?

Thanks,

A little nervous me!!

[Clutter]

Loopyboo, Take a drink you can dilute with you and a sandwich and fruit as you may wake up outside of the meal times. I was ravenous when I woke up and had no problem eating or swallowing once the nurse found me a sandwich and a yoghurt. They were generous with painkillers in hospital and to take home. I didn't need much and stopped them after a few days.

They put a drain in my wound overnight which helps reduce post op swelling and bruising. Looks awful but does the job well. Drink plenty of fluids to flush the general anaesthetic and rest as much as you can for a few days.

I'm sure you won't need it, but good luck anyway

ps they run 2/3 litres through you intravenously so don't be surprised if you are bursting for the loo when you come round.

[loopyboo in reply to Clutter]

Thanks clutter for the info much appreciated. Do you think I should have a light meal before fasting this evening and do you think there is any truth in cutting out dairy and gluten or wheat for a while?

[Clutter in reply to loopyboo]

Loopy, yes eat before the fasting deadline. One of my ops was late in the day so the sandwich and yoghurt was all I had until breakfast next morning.

If you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) gluten-free can be helpful and some members also feel better dairy and sugar free. No point in cutting out things for the sake of it though and its best to cut out one food group at a time so you know what is helpful and what isn't. It's probably best to get over the op and research elimination diets before deciding to make changes.

Good luck

[Churchie]

Hi loopyboo

I had this op last wed and currently recovering at home. The op went much more smoothly than I had thought and the pain much less than I had imagined. I previously had an ectopic pregnancy 20 years ago and imagined the pain of the cut to be like that but it was nothing of the sort. I was offered pain killers after and did take them at first but haven't really needed them. The thing that I have found is that I am wiped out tired and yesterday felt a bit achey but apparently that is normal after a general.

Take some sweets to suck as my throat got quite dry. Initially I lost my voice and it was very weak but this is nearly back to normal now - I was warned about this so hope you were too.

Also I did start taking arnica a couple of days before and am still taking this now to help with the bruising. I think it probably helps.

Make sure there are people to pamper you when you get home and don't expect too much. My last tip is to ensure you have laxatives ready if you need them. If you don't go within 2 days use them!! This is my fourth general and I forget each time that this is a side affect for me!

Good luck and five days down I can say so far not as bad as I thought - I'm just nervous about long term thyroid function but too early to say how that has been affected.em

[loopyboo in reply to Churchie]

Hi churchie, thank you so much for the advice. When you say arnica do you mean the homeopathic tablets? Hope your results and long time diagnosis is good. X

[Churchie in reply to loopyboo]

Yes. Little pillules that you dissolve under the tongue. I took them after my second biopsy and the pain was much less than when I had my first. Made by Nelsons

[whiterat]

I had my T3 operated on at Hull hospital this summer. It turned out to be benign Hurthle Cell tumour. They were surprised. I didn't feel wonderful afterwards as anaesthetic knock me up. But the care in Hull hospital was excellent. Nurses made me tea and toast in the middle of the night. No infusion, and ages before I could pass urine. Actually the next day. Pain wasn't too bad. I took ordinary neurofen at home. Rest was needed for a few days too. I went back on night shifts after 3 weeks. Big mistake. Ended up leaving my employment. It's not like having your tonsils out as you feel more tired and its emotionally wearing 4 weeks and 4 days to find out the results. I don't regret leaving work as the nature of the job probably caused my thyroid to develop nodules. At 57 I realise looking after your health is more important than money. What bit I earned. I take vitamins and minerals now and hope for the best. It's possible I'm a little under active and suspect I had hashimoto s as hurtle cells accumulate with that disease. The operation is very safe, don't worry.

[loopyboo in reply to whiterat]

Thank you whiterat, I will take that onboard. Yes, your health is way more important. I work pt as a beauty/ massage therapist at the moment so not too stressful...thanks again. X

[2ndtimeround]

Having had 2 of these now all the advice above is right. Not as bad as you may think eating for me after the op was ok just drink plenty, take sweets to suck and plenty if rest. When you get home plenty of rest don't push yourself too quick, it has always knocked me for 6 after about a week so don't be surprised if your energy levels are low. I had my last one a year ago in the south east and found it strange that the clips were removed the following day and steri strips applied. I was really surprised they did this so quick the first time I had the clips for 10 days. Some consultants do this now to stop scarring dots at either side of the scar. My voice initially became very quiet and didn't have much strength which my family thought was a good thing but I can say there not so pleased now cause its well and truly back to normal. Good luck with the op x

[Wired]

Hi, I don't have personal experience of the procedure you are going to go through, but just wanted to give some encouraging words and wish you all the best for the op and your recovery. I think trying to stay as calm as possible, this helps with how you feel when you come round from the op - even a little meditation can be really useful for this or some music that makes you feel calm

Take good care of yourself afterwards, I hope you get some sleep tonight!

[loopyboo in reply to Wired]

Thank you so much x

[Churchie]

Good luck today - wishing you a speedy recovery

[loopyboo in reply to Churchie]

Hi churhie! Thank you, I'm at home now. The operation went well I'm just trying to relax as much as possible which is quite difficult with a two year old. X thanks again.

[Churchie]

Glad to hear you are home and although I can understand it must be tricky try to give yourself time to recover!

[loopyboo in reply to Churchie]

Hi, can I just ask which strength arnica pills you took cod I'm not sure which ones to get in Holland and barrat. Also, did you get any hot flushes as I've been experiencing a few this morning?

[Churchie in reply to loopyboo]

The ones I take are made by Nelsons and are 30c pillules. They come in a purple click container.

Can't say I had any hot flushes, just extreme tiredness which has thankfully gone now. I am presuming that if you have a 2 year old you must be much younger than me so not likely to be menopausal.

Are you taking any thyroid replacement medication?

If they go on for longer than a few more days I would speak to your doctors about them, or post another question to see if anyone else has been affected.

How are you feeling otherwise? Managing to get any rest?

[loopyboo in reply to Churchie]

Well I'm 42 so had my daughter a bit older than usual. Hot flushes seem to have subsided. The most annoying thing is lack of mobility in neck too scared to move it incase I danage something and feel like head is being pulled forward and back is getting tight moan moan moan lol

Btw did you use any cream to help scar tissue on neck?

[Churchie in reply to loopyboo]

Yes totally agree with feeling like head being pulled forward. I had the dressing off on wed and that has helped a lot. How much dressing have you got on? I took the one totally covering the area off as soon as I got home as that was irritating me and I was fine with just the steri strips one.

I have been recommended by a nurse to use bio oil( never heard of it before) so off to get some today.

[loopyboo in reply to Churchie]

I had op on tues the hospital gave me discharge letter to take to the doctors so and made apt for stitches today but when I got to the doctors the nurse said she didn't think they were ready to come out yet and re booked me in for tuesday? She said it would be better to have them out later. She took original dressing off and put a big sticky dressing back over it. When do d you get your stitches removed?

[Churchie in reply to loopyboo]

Hmm yes I am incline to agree 3 days seems very short. I had mine out on wed, a week after the op. I only had a small dressing over the wound so the pulling wasn't so bad. I'm sure different hospitals have different ways of doing things.

Bought some bio oil today so will let you know how I get on with that.

[loopyboo in reply to Churchie]

Well I'm 42 so had my daughter a bit older than usual. Hot flushes seem to have subsided. The most annoying thing is lack of mobility in neck too scared to move it incase I danage something and feel like head is being pulled forward and back is getting tight moan moan moan lol

Btw did you use any cream to help scar tissue on neck?