Common Conditions

Thyroid: Back at Home

You are likely to feel very tired and need rests 2 to 3 times a day for a week or more. You will gradually improve so that by the time 2 weeks has passed you will be able to return completely to your usual level of activity. You can drive as soon as you can make an emergency stop without discomfort in the wound, i.e. after about 5 to 7 days. You can restart sexual relations within a week or two, when the wound is comfortable enough and you should be able to return to a light job after about 14 days, and any heavy job within 4 weeks. Complications are rare and seldom serious. Aches and twinges may be felt in the wound for up to 6 months.

The operation should not be underestimated, but practically all patients are back to their normal duties within one month. If you have any problems or queries after discharge, please ring the ward who will advise and contact me if necessary.

It is important that all patients who have undergone thyroidectomy are seen at least once a year to have their thyroid function checked because occasionally, many years after treatment, the gland gradually becomes under-active. Taking a thyroid pill is a simple matter and modern thyroid tablets are an ideal treatment. They are effective, synthetic, pure, easily taken once daily and, in the correct dose, they are free of side-effects-and they are cheap to produce. The appropriate dose can be decided by blood tests and how the patient feels. Patients with malignancy may be seen more often, may take a higher dose and may require ultrasound examination of the neck or thyroglobulin tests of the blood to detect any possible recurrence of cancer.

Despite the Americanisms, you may find this MEDLINEplus® link useful in understanding more about thyroid disease.