Discharge Instructions for Thyroidectomy

This sheet goes over some common questions or concerns you or your family may have. If you have additional questions, or if you don’t
understand something about your operation, please ask the nurses or your doctor.

Medications Wound care

Your incision  If you have surgical clips or nylon suture, they will be
If all or part of your thyroid was removed, you may be started on removed the morning after surgery and Steristrips may be
 Your incision may be slightly red. thyroid hormone replacement medication such as Levothyroxine, placed across your incision.
 The area around your incision will be somewhat swollen. Over Levoxyl, Synthroid or Cytomel. If you are started on one of these  If you have Steristrips, you may trim the end of the strips if
the next weeks, you may begin to notice a healing “ridge” medications, you should have a TSH level checked in six weeks. they curl. Do not remove Steristrips until 10 to 14 days after
above and below the incision. your operation. At that time, you may gently remove them
 If your incision suddenly becomes more swollen, or if you yourself or you can have them removed at your follow-up
Taking your thyroid medicine visit.
have difficulty breathing, please call your surgeon right away
or go to the nearest emergency room. This could be a sign of  If you have surgical glue on your incision, it will become
 Take first thing in the morning on an empty stomach (or at scab-like in about 10 days. You can peel off the glue after 10
bleeding.
 You should not see any drainage coming from your incision. If night before bed). days or have it removed at your follow-up visit.
you do, please call your surgeon/doctor.  Take your medicine with a full glass of water and  It is not necessary to wear any additional dressing over your
 Do not use any ointments on the incision for now. preferably no other food or medicine for at least 1 hour incision.
 Over the next 6-12 months, your incision will fade and after or 4 hours before taking the pill. The pill needs to  After your Steristrips or glue have been removed, be sure to
become less prominent. reach your stomach and not dissolve in your throat. use sunscreen on your incision if you are going to be
exposed to the sun.
After taking your medicine:
Activity Diet
 Wait 4 hours before eating or drinking anything that
 You may have trouble moving your neck normally. contains soy.  Resume a normal balanced diet as tolerated. Be sure to drink
 Give yourself time to heal. DO NOT do any strenuous  Wait 4 hours before taking certain medicine. These plenty of fluids.
activities, such as heavy lifting, jogging, or swimming for the include:
first few weeks. o Iron supplements
Bowel movement
 Get plenty of rest. Plan on one or two weeks of rest as you o Calcium supplements  To prevent constipation be sure to drink plenty of water and
recover from your surgery. o Antacids that contain either calcium or aluminum add some high-fiber foods to your diet. Bran cereals, wheat
 Slowly start your normal activities when you feel ready. DO hydroxide germ, dried fruits and fresh vegetables all contain high
NOT drive if you are taking narcotic pain medicines o Medicines that lower your cholesterol levels of fiber.
 If you experience constipation, you may try a fiber
 Walking outside, going up and down stairs, and  Never stop taking medicines on your own. supplement such as Metamucil or a mild laxative such as
performing light activities are all encouraged. milk of magnesia.
 Gentle neck stretching in all directions is also encouraged  Make sure to continue drinking plenty of water -- eight to
to avoid stiffness. 10 glasses per day.
 Return to work when your doctor says it’s OK.
Follow-up care
Discharge Instruction
Common Post-Surgery Side Effects  See your doctor for regular visits. These are For
needed to monitor your health.
 Have routine blood tests done. These check the
level of thyroid hormone in your body. This
Thyroidectomy
helps your doctor know whether to adjust the
dosage of your medicine if needed. These tests
are generally done no more than once every 6
weeks. Later on, you may only need blood tests
once a year.
 Early after surgery, your calcium level will also
need to be checked, particularly if all or most of
your thyroid was removed.
 Tell your doctor about any signs of further
thyroid problems.

When to seek medical care

Less Common Post-Surgery Complications

Call your doctor right away if you have any of the

following:
 Fever above 100.4°F (38°C)
Thyroidectomy is the removal of the
 Swelling or bleeding at the incision site thyroid gland, which is shaped like a
 Choking butterfly and lies across the windpipe
 Trouble breathing
 A sore throat that lasts longer than 7 days (trachea). The gland makes hormones
 Tingling or cramps in your hands, feet, or lips that control how your body makes and
uses energy (metabolism).