What to expect post op

[dscoochie]

Surgery is on Monday (OMG!) and I'm just wondering what it was like for you all immediately following surgery.  Did you have some sort of brace holding your head up?  Did you have a drain?  Were you in a lot of pain, neck area and otherwise? How did you sleep the first night?  Just simple answers would be great so that I can be prepared!
Dont mean to be selfish - but please keep me in your prayers! (Me and KelDC, too - her surgery is Monday as well.)
DSC

[MJ13]

Fear of the unknown is probably the worst part of thyroid surgery.  It helped me a lot listening to people on this site describe what they went through.  I had one shot of morphine post-op.  That night was rough for me because I had a reaction to the anesthsia...had incredible hot flashes and nausea.  Getting up to go to the bathroom was the worst part.  My throat was sore that night from the intubation.  All I could eat was ice chips and orange sherbert.  However, the next morning was like someone flipped a switch.  I had light, but full breakfast and had no problem swallowing it.  By 10 a.m. I was up wandering the halls with my IV in tow.  Another problem I had was my calcium level dropped and my fingers. lips and toes started tingling.  Make sure to tell the nurse if you experience any tingling in these areas and asked them to check  your calcium levels.  

Hoping you both a quick and easy recovery....and an early welcome to the double smile club!!

[Venora Moonwind]

GEt the anti nausea patch to go behind your ear.  those are great I had it for both of my surgeries. I cant imagine throwing up after thyroid surgeriy although i did sneeze after my sub sternal surgery and I thought I was going to die. I took 2 loritabs.yeah baby didnt feel a thing. I loved it.
take the pain pills you wont get hooked I am amazed by the posters that wont take them. why suffer needlessly?
I had a drain after both surgeries that scared has bugged me more than the tt or the sternal scar. but next tomy gall bladder surgery the tt was pretty easy to get over. the sternum took forever to heal but not everyone has a sub sternal goiter either. you wil do just fine you have all of us pulling for you. Post as soon as you feel up to it when you get home.
Love Venora

[Call_me_MN]

I had no nausea and not a lot of pain. What pain I did have was primarily from the intubation. That sore throat lasted about three days, but it didn't affect eating at all. My surgery was about four hours long, so I was surprised that I didn't have more problems with my neck muscles. It wasn't too bad, though, unless I coughed. That did hurt, so I held on that part of my neck if I had to cough. I'm not sure if that really helped, but psychogically it did. That only lasted about a week. The rest of the muscle aches were more like dull pulls. I did sleep with a lot of support behind me (the hospital bed inclined up and a couple of pillows at home). I took one pain pill in the hospital, I think, that first night, and I took one when I got home. THAT one gave me a bad headache (different prescription, I think), and I didn't take one again. All in all, the pain level never got above 5 on a scale of 1-10.

[Thypatient]

Thoughts and best wishes to the both of you.

[worriedinmd]

I slept a lot that first night. Was in the hospital, so being able to adjust the incline on the bed helped a lot. The ice pack was my constant companion. I had one dose of morphine (no wonder I slept, hunh!) and after that it was just Tylenol. And lots of ice :))

As for the nauseau, I asked when I got to the hospital if they could give me some anti-nauseau meds. They put a patch behind my ear that lasted for three days. The anaesthesiologist (sp?) also said that thyroid surgeries are the most likely to cause nausea, since they are working so close to the nerve that triggers it. He had stuff in my IV, plus the patch, so I was in good shape.

- viv

[purpladybug]

You will be surprised at how quickly it is over.  And that you worried for nothing as we are strong and can handle anything life throws at us.....just throw it right back!!
I had my thyroid removed with cancer on one side.   And the worst part was when the dr. came in and took the drain tube out....OH MY GOSH it hurt, but you know what, it was over and done with quickly and the pain went away just as quickly....you sleep most of the rest of the day.....just take the meds they offer for pain and it's really nothing....I mean why suffer with pain when you don't have too....up peeing a lot and the leg thingy's gave me a rash but other than that a piece of cake....just one stitch the length of the incision the dr. took out after a few days....didn't sleep that night in the hosp. as they were very noisy, talking in the hallway at the desk...I ask them to shut the door and that helped......but really, honestly you can do it....walk in with your head high, think good thoughts....and with all these prayers...shoot....a piece of cake.....over and done with....with just a slight scar that is in the fold of the neck and can hardly be seen.....if you have a lump or two in the incision area, after a few days when it doesn't hurt to touch it rub the lump back and forth...I did it with the towel after my shower every day....and it is totally gone now......hugs, JoAnn

[MKlacza]

Couldn't have said it better myself!! :) Our mind can play the dirtiest of tricks on us and sometimes we allow ourselves to fall prey and then BAM... the panic/anxiety/doom all start and its a vicious cycle to stop.

When you take a step back, we truly are some of the strongest people out there. We have children at home, hubby's and wives to care for, work to attend, dinner to be made, houses to be cleaned etc... and all on top of having no thyroid or half!! Then, we have to wait and see if our meds work properly or have to tweeked 1-10 times!!! I mean who goes through this??? WE DO LADIES and GENTLEMEN!!! I am sitting here, 1 week post op taking care of a 5 month old and 3 year old. Making them luch and bottles, changing poopy diapers and having DORA THE EXPLORER screaming inthe background! LOL!!

My point is that we are very strong people and I am thankful that the good lord above made the strong person that I am. I know many many people that might be in our situation and would never make it!! :) Meaning the strength they dont have. And I believe my husband is one of those people unfortunately. He gets a cold and I hear it for a week!! My MY MY!!

Hang in there team!! We shall all prevail!! maybe not today or tomorrow, but soon!!

Cheers to Team Thyroidless!!

[dscoochie]

You are so right - Thank you, Shannon.

[KelDC]

Beautifully said - thank you.

[shannon828]

You ladies are going to make it through this with flying colors!  Please try to have a relaxing weekend and do something wonderful for yourselves.  Look at how many people have made it through this surgery so beautifully, we are in the best of company on this board.  Soon we'll be able to share with others who are scared, nervous (terrified) about having this surgery what a breeze it was.  For those of us who are dealing with conclusive biopsy results, this is the first step in our cure.  For those who don't know the nature of the cells you're dealing with- whatever the outcome you will conquer it!  Take this whole situation as a wake-up call to your life.  Life is short and worth living to the fullest.  Whatever that is for you- time with your little ones, more romance with your spouse, diet, exercise whatever it is- look at this whole experience as an opportunity to see how strong you are, how resilient you are and how magnificent you are.

God Bless.

[MKlacza]

I also had issues with the anesthsia part as well. That was really the worst part for me. As you can see in my pic.. I had the stitches removed yesterday. Not sure what your thoughts are on how it looks. The first night was a bear... I had the drain and the brace and those goofy things on my legs. The next day they removed the brace and that helped almost immediately. I was able to sleep much better. I only had the pain meds one time. I had Ativan though for the Anxiety that I was experiencing. Today is one week from the day I had my surgery and I have been up and about since last Sat taking care of my 3 yr and 5 month old. Started meds today and I have been feeling decent. I cant complain. The back of my neck has been hurting but I think that is related to  me herniated disc.

[skeeter42]

You are welcome!!

:)

Take care of yourself and keep us posted!!

[dscoochie]

Thank you, Skeeter42.  You are a kind and generous person, and I hope life brings you only joy and laughter!

:)

[skeeter42]

I promise you you will be fine!!  I know it is hard to tell you that because everyone kept telling me the same thing.  It will all be over with before you know it.  You will be home with your babies and all will be fine.  I've seen a few people on here lately that had stitches but I also had the glue and I think it was probably the best way to go.  My neck was swollen for about a week and the swelling has went down for the most part.  I look as if I have an adam's apple right now but am assured that will go down as well.  I also had throat pain from the tube down my throat but all in all it wasn't too awful.  If we can go through childbirth than that pain didn't even compare!!!  People tell me all the time they can't even tell---you can some---but when my head is straight you really can't even seem the scar.  It is still a little red but that will fade in time and just blend right in with the wrinkles----ha.

You take it easy and quit crying---I will say prayers for you now until after the surgery!!  You will find the strength!!

Lots of love and luck!!

[KelDC]

Thanks for the shout out, D.  =)  We're going to do just fine - believe me!!  No matter what happens with the results, we're going to do GREAT. We have all of these amazing people to help us through it, and we'll be able to help the newcomers, too. We have great family, friends, and faith - we just have to believe it.

Thanks for all the info on post-op, everyone...it is SO helpful.  I think fear of the unknown is a huge factor in this, so all info helps!

[CatieC]

I have to say I was really good after surgery. As of today, I have not taken a stitch of pain medication because I had no pain at all, even right after surgery. I had no drains or neck brace, there were surgi-strips on the cut. I had swelling in my neck and still do. Oh and my neck around the surgery is numb. As a matter of fact my husband told me that if it wasn't for the cut on my neck, he wouldn't know that I just had surgery 3 hours ago. He said they didn't even mess up my hair too much...

I was kept overnight and how did I sleep? lol...not too good. I had these "things" on my legs that inflate and deflate in order to prevent blood clots from forming. They drove me crazy all night. I also had IV fluids which caused me to have to urinate every 2 hours. I was told to sleep with the bed slightly elevated and that too was uncomfortable.

The only discomfort I had was from that darn tube they shove down your throat...and that went away after a couple of days.

You are not being selfish asking for prayers...it is truly my pleasure to say prayers for you.

[dscoochie]

I'm having a left thyroid lobectomy, on Monday.  How am I holding up?  Not so well.  I'm leaving notes all over the house for my husband and sons to find incase I ... well ... you know.  

And mostly I'm terrified of the pathology results.  They found hurthle cells and everything I've read is super scary where those !@#$% cells are concerned.  

Yup, I'm a certified mess.  Cyring right now.  

But I find few and short moments of strength with the help of people on this site like you, and I'm so greatful for that.

Thanks for being honest about what to expect - its very helpful! (and thanks for praying for me, too!).

D

[whittie918]

Well it was a bit sore in the neck area and I had to sleep with the bed in an upright position.  I had more pain from being intibated as they obviously tore up my esophagus when doing it.  I asked for about a total of 2 shots of pain meds.  Never took any they sent me home with.  

I was up and doing my hair next morning though and felt good enough to work that following Monday.  The absoulte worst part was not the incision but rather the affects of the Anesthesia.  Made me have wretched vomiting for the rest of the night after surgery.  Ask for a nausea pill before you wake and get anohter one as soon as you do wake.  

[skeeter42]

Hello!!  That isn't selfish.  I know I will keep you in my prayers.  The first night after surgery was tough.  I'm not going to lie...you are going to be uncomfortable.  I didn't have any drain tubes or anything.  I actually went home the same night I had my surgery.  My surgery was at 7 and I was home about 7:30 that evening.  No neck brace.  I didn't sleep worth a **** for a few nights at all due tot he pain but I also do not like to take pain pills.  He prescribed 15 and I still have 15.  I just took Motrin so maybe if you take the medicine they prescribed they will help you sleep more comfortable.  Refresh my memory---are you having a TT or what??

You will be in my prayers!!  How are you holding up??