Am I a candidate for a thyroidectomy?
Thyroidectomy is recommended on patients with conditions like hyperthyroidism, enlargement of the thyroid, or nodules. We recommend you to refer to one of our ENT surgeons for an evaluation to determine if this surgery is best for you.
How do I prepare for a thyroidectomy?
As with any surgery, your otolaryngologist will perform a physical examination before the procedure, you will be asked to not eat or drink at least 8 hours before the procedure. Additionally, you may need to take some medication to control thyroid function.
What can I expect during recovery?
After surgery, some patients experience neck pain and hoarse or weak voice. These symptoms are often short-term. You’ll need to wait for 10 days before doing heavy lifting or strenuous sports.
Do I need to take hormonal supplements after the surgery?
This depends on how much of your thyroid gland was removed.
If you had a partial thyroidectomy, the remaining portion takes over the function of the entire gland, but if you had a total thyroidectomy, you will need to take thyroid hormone supplements. Your ENT surgeon will let you know how much you’ll be needing.