Total thyroidectomy post op

[louised515]

I just recently had a total thyroidectomy on Monday, October 25, 2010, I am a few days into my post op period.  My question is how long do you experience the numbness and tingling in your hands from the loss of calcium? And how long do I need to be taken the calcium pills? I'm having difficulty typing right now because my hands are tingling, numb and are clubbing on me.  I just want to know if this is normal or not.  

[redheadaussie]

No it is not normal. Hopefully by now, some 20 hours after you posted your question you will have seen a doctor or rung your surgeon.
  Low calcium after TT should never happen but it does, as the parathyroids are often bruised or manipulated roughly and causes them to shut down for a while. Some people come good after a few weeks on extra calcium, some like me takes years.

Never ignore the tingling etc of low calcium as it can make you go into tetany and can actually kill you if the heart rhythm is affected. Make sure you get advice if you haven't done so already.

[Debbie1115]

You need to call your Dr. They might want to do bloodwork on you. I had a friend after 2 days of being at home started to have the tingling in hands and then the nose and face. When she called her Dr. they had her go to the hospital immediately. They were waiting for her in the emergency room with iv bags of calcium. She had to stay in the hospital for 5 days on the iv bags. They told her she was close to having a stroke, her calcium was so low.
Good Luck