Reason: A thyroidectomy may be necessary if you have been diagnosed with thyroid cancer or you have a nodule that is larger than 1cm and it is growing. Your primary care physician and Dr. Harrison can help you decide when thyroid surgery may be necessary.
Preparation: The day before your surgery, you will be asked not to eat after midnight.
Thyroid Surgery Procedure: The operation is performed through a small collar incision in your neck. The sutures dissolve over time, and the scar should eventually fade.
Post Procedure: You will be admitted to the hospital overnight to keep you comfortable and monitor your immediate recovery. You can expect to go home the next day.
Follow-Up: If your entire thyroid gland needs to be removed, you will need to be on thyroid hormone for life. The medication, Synthroid (levothyroxine), is a small pill that is taken once a day. Your primary care doctor or endocrinologist will periodically check your TSH level via a blood test to ensure you are taking enough thyroid hormone. Dr. Harrison will want to see you back in one to two weeks after your surgery to discuss your pathology and ensure you are doing well.