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Dr.

Amin
7149546928

Dr.delJunco
7145432000

Dr.Lee
7145432000
ENTRUST MEDI CAL GROUP
Thyroidectomy

PostoperativeInstructions
Thyroidsurgeryisperformedundergeneralanesthesia.Youwillbehospitalizedforonenightfollowingyourthyroid
procedure.Yoursurgeonwillseeyouintherecoveryroomandthemorningaftersurgerytoensurethatyouare
recoveringwell.

DIET
Youmayhaveliquidsbymouthonceyouhaveawakenedfromanesthesia.Ifyoutoleratetheliquidswithoutsignificant
nauseaorvomitingthenyoumaytakesolidfoodswithoutrestrictions.Generallypatientsexperienceamildsorethroat
for23daysfollowingthyroidectomy.Thisusuallydoesnotinterferewithswallowing.

PAINCONTROL
Patientsreportmildtomoderateneckpainforseveraldaysfollowingthyroidectomy.Thisisusuallywellcontrolledwith
prescriptionstrengthoralpainmedications.Pleasetakethepainmedicationprescribedbyyoursurgeonasneeded.You
should avoid nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) such as aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen (Excedrin, Motrin,
Naprosyn, Advil) because these drugs are blood thinners and will increase your chances of having a postoperative
bleedintothenecktissuesorneckwound.

ACTIVITY
Sleepwithheadelevatedforthefirst48hours.Youmayusetwopillowstodothisorsleepinarecliningchair.Noheavy
liftingorstrainingfor2weeksfollowingthesurgery.Youshouldplanfor1weekawayfromwork.Ifyourjobrequires
manuallabor,liftingorstrainingthenyoushouldbeoutworkfor2weeksorlimitedtolightdutyuntilthe2weekmark.

WOUNDCARE
Donotwashormanipulatetheneckfor48hoursfollowingthethyroidecctomyMildrednessandswellingaroundthe
woundisnormalandwilldecreaseoverthenext2weeksfollowingsurgery.Ifyouhavequestionsabouttheappearance
ofthewoundyoumayaskyournurseorsurgeonpriortodischargefromthehospital.Allowsoapandwatertorunover
thewound.Donotscrubormanipulatethewoundfor7days.Donotsoakthewoundinabathtub.Pattheareadry,
dontrubitwithatowel.Thesteristripsovertheincisionwillberemovedbyyoursurgeon1weekafteryoursurgery
duringyourpostoperativevisit.

FOLLOWUPAPPOINTMENT
Yourfollowupappointmentintheofficewillbe12weeksfollowingyoursurgery.Thisvisitshouldbescheduledprior
to your surgery (at the time of your preoperative visit). If you not have the appointment made, please contact your
surgeonsofficewhenyouarrivehomefromthehospital.Atthepostoperativevisit,yoursteristripsareremovedand
thepathologyreportwillbereviewed.Youmaybeaskedtohaveabloodtesttocheckyourcalciumlevel.

CONTACTYOURSURGEON
Ifyouhavedifficultybreathingorprogressivehoarseness
Neckswellingorprogressivedifficultyswallowing
Numbnessoftinglinginyourfingertipsorlips
Musclecrampsorspasms
Activebleedingfromthewound
Chokingorcoughingwhendrinkingliquids
Fevergreaterthan101F
Purulentdischarge(pus)comingfromthewound
Increasingrednessaroundthewound

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