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Thyroid Surgery
Thyroid Surgery
What You Need to Know About Thyroid Surgery
First, you need to know about the thyroid gland. It produces hormones that regulate many areas of your body, including your body's metabolic rate, heart and digestive function, brain development, mood, and more. In order for your thyroid to be functioning properly, you need to have a good amount of iodine in your diet. If you do not, problems can result.
There are a few reasons why we might suggest thyroid surgery. Those circumstances include:
• If you have been diagnosed with thyroid cancer
• To remove cysts or nodules on your thyroid gland
• When treatment for hyperthyroidism has not been effective
• If you are having breathing or swallowing problems with an enlarged thyroid gland
There are risks involved as there are with any surgical procedure, however the risks of bleeding and injury to nerves are extremely low. Before surgery, you will make arrangements to meet with with a practitioner and take a pre-op exam that can include x-rays, lab work, an EKG, among others. Doctors will give specific instructions based on your surgery on when to stop drinking, eating, and taking medications. Following guidelines provided by your doctor is required in order for the surgery to take place.
Recovery after surgery might bring on a sore throat, neck pain, or difficulty swallowing. Your diet can usually resume to normal the next day. While most people are ready to return back home within a day of the surgery, they usually take around two weeks off work to recover fully.
Two Main Types of Thyroid Surgery
Total Thyroidectomy
This surgery removes the entire thyroid gland and is the typical route for someone who has thyroid cancer. Typically, this type of surgery will be necessary if your thyroid has large goiters with multiple nodules, if you have been diagnosed with Graves' disease, or if you have hyperthyroidism.
This surgery removes the entire thyroid gland and is the typical route for someone who has thyroid cancer. Typically, this type of surgery will be necessary if your thyroid has large goiters with multiple nodules, if you have been diagnosed with Graves' disease, or if you have hyperthyroidism.
Partial Thyroidectomy
There are two popular routes. The first involves a bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy that will leave behind one to two grams on each side/lobe of the thyroid. The second is a Dunhill procedure, where there is a total lobectomy on one side and a subtotal on the other, which will leave behind one to two grams of thyroid tissue.
Do you have questions or want to learn more? Please contact Amherst Surgical Associates PC today. Our general surgeons proudly serve our patients throughout Buffalo, NY; Williamsville, NY; Amherst, NY; Tonawanda, NY, and the surrounding areas.