Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Surgery

I'm having Thyroid surgery on Sep. 19 because there's suspicious cells that could look like cancer.
My questen is this. Can I talk after the surgery? I have a friend and she also has had this surgery. She couldn't speak for 1 week and after that she was only allowed to whisper for another 5 weeks.
Is that what I can expect?
7 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
I'm having my right side removed and NO I don't think it's stupid not to take all of it. The Thyroid is very important to our bodies and even if we have half left that's way better then none.
If my right Thyroid is positive for cancer I also need another surgery but at least they can go in the same place they took the other one out so there will only be 1 scar.
I JUST WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU THAT HAVE ANSWERD MY E-MAIL IT HAS HELPED ME A LOT. MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Are you having your whole T removed or just half?  I am having the surgery on Mon the 10th due to suspicious cells as well but have told the doc to just remove half unless the frozen section during surgery says positive for cancer.  If they can't call it during surgery and it comes back positive from the pathologist 2 days later I will be back in for a second surgery.  Am I crazy?  At least they won't remove the whole thing and have it come back as benign.  At least I hope not.
Helpful - 0
228015 tn?1223693378
I had my surgery last wednesday and I had a voice right away, it was raspy and would get tired but I had a voice.  Mine still gets tired and cuts out sometimes but mine is practially back to normal.
Hope everything goes well for you, prayer changes things I believe that 100% and you will be in mine.
Dana
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
My husband had his rt thyroid and a kiwi size nodule (under his sternum) removed on Friday. He does not have a voice and what voice he can muster up is very little. He says it's a strain for him to talk. He says its not sore, so we don't think it's from the breathing tube. We know his doctor had to move his vocal cord around to get the nodule out. They also said it was stimulated, so he is hoping it's only a going to last a while longer. His surgery lasted 4 hours, which is uncommon, but the nodule was in a peculiar spot. Luckily the thorasic surgeon did not have to "crack" his chest to get it out. That was an option on the books that day.
Anyway, I hope it goes well for you.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I just had my surgery recently(a couple of days ago). I was able to talk right away but it was hoarse due to vomiting so much. I didn't have vocal nerve damage just starined my vocal cords by vomiting too much. Its a rare complication to lose your voice that long. I only had very hoarse voice for couple of days now it coming back to normal. I am used to loosing my voice for a long period due to my gastroparesis(vomiting too much due to my weak stomach muscles) it can put a strain on my vocal cords when it flares up. Good luck on your upcoming surgery!
Helpful - 0
197575 tn?1215532624
I think everyone is different.  I spoke right away after my surgery.  I was a little raspy, but I think that had to do with the tube in my throat after surgery.   My voice in normal now.  I do have some difficulty raising it to a louder tone, but other than that, it is fine. Good luck,
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Tomorrow will be two weeks since I had my surgery.  My voice is fine and has been for most of my recovery period. For the first two or three days I had a very weak voice, but that healed and I speak in my normal voice now.  I've heard that losing your voice for that long is a rare complication of the surgery.

Good luck to you!
Laura
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Thyroid Disorders Community

Top Thyroid Answerers
649848 tn?1534633700
FL
Avatar universal
MI
1756321 tn?1547095325
Queensland, Australia
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
We tapped the CDC for information on what you need to know about radiation exposure
Endocrinologist Mark Lupo, MD, answers 10 questions about thyroid disorders and how to treat them
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.