Post thyroid recovery

Surgical treatment of the thyroid gland is resorted to when large nodes are detected, with hyperthyroidism and malignant neoplasms. During the operation, the organ can be removed completely or partially, and a few days after the surgical intervention, the patient is discharged home. Many people are interested in the question of how to live after removal of the thyroid gland , and whether such an operation will somehow affect the work of the whole organism.

Postoperative period after removal of the thyroid gland

After the removal of the thyroid gland, the recovery period begins, which experts divide into several stages:

• hospital treatment;
• outpatient monitoring;
• independent life without a thyroid gland.

Immediately after the operation to remove the thyroid gland, the recovery period begins in the intensive care unit. The patient stays in it until he wakes up from the narcotic sleep. In the event that the postoperative period proceeds without any complications, the effects of anesthesia usually disappear after a few hours, and the patient is transferred to a general observation regimen.

Immediately after coming out of anesthesia, minor pain in the area of ​​​​surgical intervention is disturbing, and this can be achieved through painkillers. Gradually, the patient begins to develop pain on the anterior surface of the neck, and this is considered quite normal, since the integrity of the skin has been damaged.

In the postoperative period after removal of the thyroid gland, the patient may experience the following specific conditions:

• inflammation of the tissues in the field of surgical intervention, that is, severe swelling and redness of the sutures;
• restriction of neck mobility due to severe damage to the ligaments and muscles;
• hoarseness as a result of the introduction of a tracheal tube during anesthesia;
• weakness of the vocal cords due to nerve damage during surgery to remove the thyroid gland.

Such pathological conditions can be easily identified immediately after removal of the thyroid gland in the postoperative period . Specialists take appropriate measures to eliminate them, and thereby avoid unpleasant consequences.

In the hospital, the patient is prescribed hormonal drugs, which are injected. In the absence of any dangerous complications after removal of the thyroid gland, the patient is discharged home for 3-7 days.

Outpatient monitoring

After discharge from a medical institution, further recovery after removal of the thyroid gland takes place under the supervision of an endocrinologist. The specialist examines the patient and selects the necessary drug therapy for him. The main task of such treatment is to provide the body with hormones that were previously produced in the body by the thyroid gland.

Oral levothyroxine is usually prescribed, which suppresses the production of thyroid-stimulating hormone and helps prevent the development of secondary hypothyroidism and relapse. In addition, radioactive iodine is introduced into the human body in a destructive amount. This is done to preserve the residual part of the thyroid gland, but only in the absence of distant metastases. Combined treatment with levothyroxine and radioactive iodine helps to significantly reduce the risk of cancer recurrence.

An important stage of rehabilitation after removal of the thyroid gland is the outpatient period, when the patient re-adapts to living conditions. It is possible to ensure a further full life due to properly selected medicines and determining their correct dosage. During the rehabilitation period, it is important to take prescribed medications in a timely manner and consult a doctor if any complications develop.

The following conditions are considered dangerous manifestations of the body:

• a sharp decrease or increase in weight for no apparent reason;
• increased fragility of the skin and mucous membranes;
• skin rashes and hair loss;
• constant fatigue of the body and drowsiness;
• loss of appetite or its complete disappearance;
• unstable body temperature.

Such complications during the recovery period after surgery may appear if the wrong dosage of the hormonal drug was selected. You do not need to endure such symptoms, but you need to contact a specialist to adjust the appointments.

It is important to remember that after the removal of the thyroid gland, the patient will have to take medications for the rest of his life. It is for this reason that it is necessary to choose the right dosage, which will help to avoid various problems.

Recovery after removal of the thyroid gland

After surgical removal of the thyroid gland, scar formation occurs over several weeks. A month after the operation, no swelling remains on the neck, and the redness of the skin disappears, and the discharge stops. Only a small light strip on the throat can remind of the experienced operation, which does not stand out from the rest of the skin. A month after the operation, all inconveniences with the movement of the neck and discomfort disappear.

An operation to remove the thyroid gland is not a basis for assigning a disability. In fact, a person can live normally and fully without a thyroid gland, and disability is given only in the following situations:

• injury or serious illness has led to a serious impairment of human health;
• a person is not able to live and work normally;
• technical aids are required.

In the event that after the operation to remove the thyroid gland, any complications arise, then disability may be assigned. In addition, an indication for this may be a surgical intervention, which was carried out due to oncology.

Nutrition and physical activity

An important place in the rehabilitation period is occupied by proper nutrition after removal of the thyroid gland . There are no special restrictions, but it is necessary to adhere to some rules of a healthy diet:

• limit the consumption of fatty, smoked and sweet foods;
• do not drink alcohol-containing and carbonated drinks;
• give preference to natural products and minimize the use of semi-finished products and canned food;
• all products during cooking should be subjected to gentle heat treatment;
• eat regularly, which will avoid complications with the work of the gastrointestinal tract;
• organize a diet after removal of the thyroid gland with a sufficient content of fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and fiber.

In the first year after the removal of the thyroid gland, it is necessary to limit all physical activity on the body. At the same time, moderate physical activity contributes to the speedy recovery of the body after surgery and improves the appearance of a person.

During the rehabilitation period, you can engage in the following activities:

• bike rides;
• walking;
• swimming;
• jogging.

Contraindication after removal of the thyroid gland is weight lifting, traumatic sports and team contact games.

The thyroid gland is considered one of the important organs and its removal entails lifestyle changes. With the observance of a healthy lifestyle and the correct intake of medicines, it is possible to ensure a person's longevity and well-being. .