Thyroid Surgery: Three Critical Considerations for Smooth Recuperation
Your doctor might recommend thyroid surgery for resolving certain medical conditions. For instance, the removal of part of or the whole thyroid is a suitable treatment process for managing nodules, enlarged thyroid, cancerous growth and general hyperactivity. The thyroidectomy surgical procedure is not complicated, and the risk of unusual adverse effects is quite low. Therefore, the recovery period is usually quite smooth. However, it is still important to maintain caution to prevent complications. Here are some of the issues that you should address during your thyroid surgery recuperation period.
Potential Side Effects
Thyroid surgery is a generally safe procedure, but there are normal side effects that you should expect. These reactions should not be a cause for concern, and they will disappear after the body begins to heal. Naturally, you will experience some pain, swelling and stiffness around the neck area due to the incision. You can manage the discomfort using analgesic and anti-inflammatory drugs. You should also plan to perform stretching exercises to relieve the stiffness. However, you should consult your doctor before beginning. If you experience throat soreness, you should ask your doctor to prescribe a throat spray or lozenges.
Caring for the Incision
You should protect the incision on your neck after thyroid surgery for uncomplicated wound healing. Typically, when the procedure is completed, the doctor will close the incision using surgical products such as staples, tape, dissolvable sutures or glue. You should not remove these surgical products until the doctor approves. You should protect the incision site from water during the early days after the surgery. This protective measure should minimise the risk of infection while accelerating healing. Once the wound starts and healing, it might become itchy and numb. Also, a scab might form. You should not scratch or pick the incision scar because poor handling will open up the wound.
Concerning Symptoms
You should monitor your condition after being discharged from the hospital following your thyroidectomy. If you notice any unusual symptoms that could indicate complications, you should consult your doctor for immediate care. You should watch for significant swelling around your neck. Slight inflammation is expected while actual swelling could indicate infection and bleeding around the wound. Other symptoms which could indicate complications include high and persistent fever, redness at the incision site and difficulties when breathing. You should not hesitate to seek medical attention.
Finally, you should remember to attend the follow-up appointments with your doctor after the thyroid surgery for continued monitoring of the healing process.