Life After a Thyroidectomy (Thyroid Removal)
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Medically reviewed by Kelly Wood, MD
Your thyroid gland is a gland in the front of your neck responsible for metabolism regulation. In some cases, problems with the thyroid can require a thyroidectomy. A thyroidectomy is a type of surgery that involves removing part or all of the butterfly-shaped gland.
In the United States, 150,000 thyroidectomies happen each year, used as a treatment for conditions such as an overly active thyroid and thyroid cancer. It is possible to live without your thyroid if you have a total thyroidectomy, but you will need ongoing thyroid hormone replacement. Learn more about what happens to your body after your thyroid is removed.
Reasons for Thyroid Removal
There are a few reasons why a person might need a thyroidectomy. The procedure may be necessary if you have:
Benign—non-cancerous—thyroid tumors with symptoms
An extremely overactive thyroid—known as a dangerous condition called thyrotoxicosis
A preference to not take radioactive iodine treatment for an overactive thyroid gland
Problems with taking antithyroid medications
Thyroid cancer
Thyroid swelling that results in swallowing problems
Types of Thyroidectomies
The two main types of thyroidectomies are total thyroidectomies and near-total or partial thyroidectomies. The type of thyroidectomy you have depends on how much of your thyroid needs to be removed.
Total Thyroidectomy
A total thyroidectomy is when a surgeon takes out the whole thyroid gland. The thyroidectomy may last for two to three hours.
A surgeon makes an incision from left to right above the collarbone during the procedure. They remove the gland, avoiding blood vessels and nerve damage in the neck.
They may put in a small tube for blood drainage, which is removed one or two days later. The surgeon then closes the incision using stitches.
Partial Thyroidectomy
When you get a partial thyroidectomy, the surgeon will only remove part of your thyroid gland. The procedure is the same as that for a total thyroidectomy but may take a shorter time to complete.
Preparation
Weeks before your surgery, diagnostic tests such as CT scans or ultrasounds may be necessary to determine the location of any abnormal growths on the thyroid gland. You might also have your vocal cords checked and be prescribed thyroid medication or iodine treatments.
A healthcare provider will also ask that you stop taking any blood thinners for a short period. They'll also need to know other medications, herbs, and supplements you're taking. You will also need to fill prescriptions for pain relievers and calcium for the recovery period. The final important part is to follow pre-procedure instructions about eating, drinking, and taking medications.
Thyroid Removal Side Effects
While a thyroidectomy can be helpful, it does not come without potential side effects. These effects can include:
Feelings of numbness and tingling
Infection
Low blood calcium levels
Muscle spasms
Short-term hoarseness or voice loss
The risks associated with this procedure include:
Blood clot formation
Chyle leak—a type of fluid with a milk color from a drain site following surgery
Excessive bleeding
Horner syndrome—a rare disorder related to the eye and nearby tissues that can cause symptoms like drooping eyelids or small pupils
Injuries to the esophagus, trachea, and vocal cord nerves
Too much thyroid hormone
Thyroidectomy Recovery
The recovery period following thyroid gland removal ranges from four to six weeks, but the procedure has excellent outcomes with high survival rates. Under normal circumstances, you may spend up to a day in the hospital following a thyroidectomy, but people could be hospitalized for three days in some situations.
Healthcare providers will check if you can swallow liquids before you leave and may check how much calcium is in your blood if you have a total thyroidectomy. You might also have pain, so talk with a healthcare provider about when and how to take any pain-relieving medications.
Many people will need to take thyroid medications lifelong after a total thyroidectomy, while they may not be necessary following a partial thyroidectomy. In addition, you might be more comfortable eating softer foods and drinking liquids at first. It's best to eat healthier foods, but you're not limited to what you can eat later after thyroid gland removal.
A Quick Review
When a person has whole or partial thyroid gland removal, it's known medically as a thyroidectomy. You might need to have your thyroid removed for various reasons such as thyroid cancer or thyroid growths and swelling.
Although there are risks and side effects of a thyroidectomy, the surgical procedure has good outcomes. For optimal recovery, ensure you follow post-procedure instructions and care recommendations.
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