Thyroidectomy (partial)

[horsesrbestanimals]

Hi everyone. I have had a thyroid nodule for at least 10/15 years but it has only been investigated the last 3 or so. I am scheduled for a partial thyroidectomy (whole of right side) and was wondering what advice anyone had for the recovery? I have a 6 yr old and a 2 1/2 year old at home. Did you suffer any lasting affects? Did you need levothyroxine? My consultant said a lot of people function okay without medication when only half is removed. Any general but honest advice/experiences please for someone who is having procedure in a weeks time and it is their first surgery ever too! Hope you are well, thanks for reading x

[bantam12]

I had a partial when I was in my teens, was totally fine without any meds until I was mid 40s when I went hyper again.

[Haze1975]

I was told when I had mine. You could go without medication if they took half of it away. But if you have a full thyroid removed you will have to go on medication.

[DoeStewart]

I had partial 30 years ago, don't let them leave you too long without Levo if you start feeling symptoms of hypo - I was left for 2 years without meds, had a 15 month old at time of operation. I bought a tube of pure lanolin on the advice from a pharmacist, once home from hospital, massaged it into the scar and it flattened in a very short time, you can hardly see it at all. I felt ok after the op, sore throat as you would expect but that only lasted couple of days. I would say recovery was about 2 weeks but within a few weeks after that I developed hypo symptoms and really struggled. I have been on Levo ever since, the hardest part is getting to the right dose. I hope all goes well for you and your recovery is speedy.