Post Surgery Thyroid Removal Post-Op Recovery 11 months later - Cancer Free!

ICYMI: Click here to see my last surgery post with pictures.

I haven't updated this (or anything) in a while. Here's how my surgery scar is healing 11 months later.

It took a while (about 5+ months) to get my scar to flatten out. It's common to have hypertrophic scarring after this surgery. 

I used the Target brand Up & Up silicone scar sheets. They're a generic for Scar Away. I don't remember the price difference but if the name brand is all that is available, it's  worth it to speed the flattening. By the time I finished just 1 box, I definitely noticed a difference. The ends of my scar were puffy, one side more than the other. After using the sheets as directed, one end had flattened and the other was less puffy. At 11 months post-surgery, neither end is puffy. Most of the time my scar is unnoticed by people.  

Thank you to the handful of people who have hopped on Instagram to follow me from here! I'm BourbonLegends on there of you want to peep my average life.

Post Surgery Thyroid Removal Post-Op Recovery Days 11-26 - Cancer Free!

So I'm not going to give a huge rundown of each day and my side-effects of surgery anymore since I'm just down to incision care now. As of now, Day 26, I have very little incision swelling. I don't require the use of any pain medicine, and I can sleep normally, as well as do all of the things I do normally. I still don't have full range of my voice. It's very slowly getting better, but singing still sounds horrible. After I strain my voice (talking loud, attempting to sing...poorly) inside of my throat/neck swells, and I feel like I'm softly being choked. This is all that's been going on since my last update.

If you want to see my post from recovery days 1-3, click here.
If you want to see my post from recovery days 4-10, click here.
If you want to see my post at 11 months post-surgery, click here.

Day 14

Day 16 with triple antibiotic ointment

Day 19

Day 24

Post Surgery Thyroid Removal Post-Op Recovery Days 4-10 - Cancer Free!

Day 9, post-op thyroidectomy, no bandage

To read my progress from Days 1-3, click here.

Yup, my scar looks like Oogie Boogie from The Nightmare Before Christmas. But I wanted to show people what their incision could look like 9 days after surgery, and that after all you've already been through - try and take everything you can with humor. If you missed the post on my recovery days 1-3, you can pick it up right here. 

I experienced no voice changes in my normal speech. But I can tell there's swelling in there because my laugh is a little difficult to reach. So, higher pitches are more difficult. I can't sing at all. I was never a great singer, but I could control a small range of my voice, and now I can control nothing. I sound like those tone-deaf people on American Idol. I'm sure that will change in time.

Here's how the rest of my 1st week post-op recovery went.

Day 4 post-op thyroidectomy, with steri-strips

Day 4: I slept on the couch to get a better angle for my neck. I needed to be able to tilt my head backward to a certain degree, and having a wall/window behind my pillows didn't allow for that. Once on the couch, I realized that I could also lie on my side fairly comfortably. I required one dose of Ibuprofen on day 4. I was still a bit tired sooner than usual. The incision swelling went down to about the swelling of day 1.

Day 5 post-op thyroidectomy, trimmed steri-strips,
and a really stupid expression on my face

Day 5: I went back to sleeping in my bed, knowing I could sleep on my side. I kept my steri-strips trimmed down, as they are supposed to loosen and fall off on their own. I was able to turn my head more comfortably, so I could resume driving again. I was feeling full of energy, and actually did some chores. I required no Ibuprofen.  The incision swelling was still at that of day 1. I didn't really take good photos of my progress. I wanted my friends to know I was healing well, and this is one I sent to my buddy while I was being goofy and called this "Fancy Steri Strips" so that's the expression. :)

NOTE: I had one glass of wine and found I was still kind of surgery-fragile and unable to "hold" my liquor, so to speak. I was really tipsy from just that one glass. Just a little warning to be careful with yourself. You might feel just fine, but you might actually be a little off your game.

Days 6 & 7: were unremarkable. Which is great! I had normal levels of energy. I slept ok, although, admittedly, the swelling of the incision felt tight and uncomfortable sometimes. I was able to drive and still needed no Ibuprofen. The incision swelling was still at that of day 1. 

I had my post-operative appointment with the surgeon and his partner, another doctor/surgeon, on day 6. They both saw me at the hospital and said I was doing great, and would not need to see them again. They also thought it was awesome that I was so pleasant. People haven't called me pleasant in years, so it should go on record that I was feeling really good at this point, if other people thought I was pleasant.

Day 8: The steri-strips began peeling off. The ones on the ends came off easiest. It was really stuck to the incision on the middle pieces, so I let them stay stuck for another day of showering and washing. Still good on energy, sleep, and needing no Ibuprofen. The incision swelling was still at that of day 1.

NOTE: I attempted a Lemon Drop (martini). I had a lot of food with it, and found that I was fine.

Day 9 post-op thyroidectomy, no more steri-strips!

Day 9: The steri-strips came off, and I was left with that lovely smirk on my neck. The "eyes" are bruises that, I assume, will fade in time. The incision is puffy and kind of sore to the touch. I found that my incision looks a little too red and WHOA! on first glance to people, so I chose to wear a light scarf. I used Palmer's Cocoa Butter on it, but I didn't really have a plan for incision care, so that was temporary. My energy was still good, didn't require Ibuprofen, am still able to sleep in most positions comfortably. The swelling and placement of the incision, though, still kind of make me feel like I'm being choked...gently. But, I realize I'm actually ok, so I try to choose a position that reduces that feeling.

NOTE: I had a couple of mixed drinks and just took it easy. My tolerance was just fine. My recovery is taking place during the Thanksgiving holidays and several birthdays. I don't usually drink this often, but I want other people to know what to expect. Some people do drink this often, and might like to know when they can resume their social drinking if they're not taking narcotics for pain relief.

Day 10 post-op thyroidectomy, no steri-strips

Day 10: Today is Day 10, and it's only just begun. I'm finding that my incision is still red, puffy, sore, and add mildly itchy to that now. I'm hoping that it's not somehow infected, so I'm going to take it easy today, cover it with triple-antibiotic ointment, and put a gauze pad over it so the ointment doesn't rub off so quickly. I'll do another update in a few days to let everyone know whether it became infected or if this is part of the healing process.

To read my progress from Days 11-26, click here.
To read my progress from 11 months post-op, click here.

Post Surgery Thyroid Removal Post-Op Recovery - Cancer Free!

When I made the decision to go ahead with my partial thyroidectomy, I searched the internet for other people's post-operative experiences so I knew what to expect during recovery. I only found these really awful recovery stories, and I prepared for the worst. Maybe that's ok or that's what I needed to do. But, I think it's only fair to post my experience so far because it's actually been pretty good! 

I hope that if you're finding this blog entry because you're nervous about what's to come for you, that you think of  your thyroid surgery recovery as being on a spectrum of possibilities of recovery. Some people have a really horrendous time, and some people, like me, don't require anything more than regular Ibuprofen and Extra-Strength Tylenol.

NOTE: I do not have cancer.  My nodule came back benign. One of my parathyroids was able to be salvaged, so I will likely not have an issue with calcium absorption. These are some concerns people have after surgery. Look further into them or ask your doctor about it.

Day 1: Immediately after my surgery, I woke up in recovery in awful pain. There's sore throat pain from the trach tube. And then there's incision pain, which stings or burns. And there's a LOT of neck muscular pain from the cutting through your neck muscles in surgery, and probably the stress of positioning your neck for surgery. I wasn't able to articulate this pain because I was still under the stupor of anesthesia. They pumped me full of dilaudid, and I slept for hours, coming in and out of consciousness.

I was admitted for the night because I thought my pain would be as bad as it was when I woke up. I was wrong! The dilaudid certainly stayed in my system and took the edge off, but I knew that I wouldn't need it for longer than the first 24 hours because they didn't have to come back and give me my next dosage for incredibly long periods of time. They would ask, and I'd refuse. The dilaudid did NOT touch the muscle pain. There didn't seem to be a purpose for me to continue to take it. 

The only advice I can give you before your surgery is to gradually step yourself down if you're not used to eating very little or nothing. I was 26 hours without food, and I ended up losing my shit at about 11pm. I had the nurses call my doctor and find out why I was still on a clear liquids only diet. He ended up allowing me to eat, but I was nauseated from the anesthesia still, so I just took apart a sandwich and at the bread slowly. I asked for dilaudid one last time, so I could sleep. And I slept. 

NOTE: EVERYTHING hurts to swallow. Warm liquids hurt the least. 

Day 2: I was sent home. My incision was slightly swollen, but the doctor said it was normal, and actually much better looking than most other patients'. I didn't require any more dilaudid. I didn't request any additional pain medication to go home. I was able to move about like normal, except I couldn't drive because I couldn't freely move my head and neck. I also became tired rather easily, so that was my only complaint for day 2. That night, I took Ibuprofen before bed. I did wake up with a REALLY sore throat, but it was tolerable. I drank some water and went back to sleep.

NOTE: I had to sleep sitting up because my incision and the steri-strips make me feel like I'm choking. I woke up with swollen fingers and hands for some reason.

Day 3: Today! I woke up and my incision was stinging/burning. I took Ibuprofen, and it's manageable. If you're awful with pain, don't hesitate to get your pain meds squared away. I don't like feeling groggy or being bed-ridden, so I find the pain more manageable than the pain medication. Am I sore? Yes, but less sore than a headache. Will I require a nap today? You betcha. My incision is still swollen. I still don't have enough range of motion with my head/neck to drive.

Things to have on hand:

• Soft, squishy, or liquidy foods (soups, puddings, yogurts, stuffing, mac n' cheese). If you have to care for yourself mostly without much help, prepare these things ahead of time.
• Something to prop you up in your sleep. If you have a reclining chair, even better.
• Lots of pillows to position around you. 
• Ibuprofen or your favorite NSAID
• Things to read/do in bed or from the couch.
• Calcium +D vitamins. (This is probably going to be prescribed by your doctor anyway - my Rx was for 500 mg every 8 hours for 1 week.)
• Stool softener of choice - there's no kind way to describe what anesthesia and painkillers do to your digestive system. 

Good luck to you! Don't panic. You're going to do just fine!
To read about days 4-10 of my post-op recovery, click here.