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Amin
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Dr.delJunco
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Dr.Lee
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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