post op thyroidectomy

aasshhlleeyykk
aasshhlleeyykk Member Posts: 4
in Thyroid Cancer #1

It has been almost 3 weeks after surgery and I've just been wondering if its normal to feel tightness around the incision when I stretch my neck as well as neck pain? It also feels like something is in my throat when I swallow at times? 

I've also been losing a lot of hair! Every time I run fingers through my hair a good amount of hair ends up in my hand. 

Anyone have any input for this? I'm new to this site :)

Comments

  • Baldy
    Baldy Member Posts: 243
    #2
    Post Surgery

    Everything but the hair loss seems normal from what I experienced.

    I had the tightness you describe, and still do 28 months later, but not nearly as bad.  I had some minor achiness around the incision, but that went away fairly quickly.  I did have very short, moderately sharp pains along the incision that have decreased in frequency but haven't completely gone away.  These might be scar tissue releasing or maybe severed nerves randomely firing?  The lump in your throat is because of post-operative swelling, I had this too and it went away fairly quickly too.

    The symptoms that are lingering with me, will probably go completely away with you.  I had a center-right neck dissection (to remove a bunch of lymph nodes) as well as a total throidectomy.  My scar runs from just below my right ear down toward my collar bone and curves across to about an inch or so past my wind pipe, about 9 inches.  Kind of a big "L" with a rounded corner or a big backward "J" with a wide bottom.  So I have a lot more scarring and nerve damage than you do. 

    Perhaps your hair loss is anxiety related.  I had already lost most of the hair on top of my head before the surgery.

    Alan

  • amorriso
    amorriso Member Posts: 185
    #3
    Hair loss

    Hi.  I had hair loss in the weeks after my thyroidectomy too. It got better as my hormone levels stabilized.  I still lose what seems to be a lot of hair..judging by what's left in shadow owner drain and on the floor..but I have plenty to spare.

    there are time when I still go feel like something is in my throat...I notice it most if I haven't had enough water to drink. 

     

  • amorriso
    amorriso Member Posts: 185
    #4
    Hair loss

    Hi.  I had hair loss in the weeks after my thyroidectomy too. It got better as my hormone levels stabilized.  I still lose what seems to be a lot of hair..judging by what's left in shadow owner drain and on the floor..but I have plenty to spare.

    there are time when I still go feel like something is in my throat...I notice it most if I haven't had enough water to drink. 

     

  • galinbakersfield
    galinbakersfield Member Posts: 23
    #5
    Same symptoms

    I had the same symptoms after surgery 5 years ago. What my Dr informed me is the tightness is your skin, and the best way to help it heal faster and not form so much scar tissue on the inside is to gently rub it in a circular motion about 3-5 minutes at a time, about 3-5 times a day for the first few weeks to months. Not only did that help with the tightness, it helped heal my scar quicker and it doesn't show as much as some people I know who have had the same surgery. 

    As for the hair loss, I was told it's normal. It's going to take the hormones a while to get back in correct function.

  • galinbakersfield
    galinbakersfield Member Posts: 23
    #6
    Same symptoms

    I had the same symptoms after surgery 5 years ago. What my Dr informed me is the tightness is your skin, and the best way to help it heal faster and not form so much scar tissue on the inside is to gently rub it in a circular motion about 3-5 minutes at a time, about 3-5 times a day for the first few weeks to months. Not only did that help with the tightness, it helped heal my scar quicker and it doesn't show as much as some people I know who have had the same surgery. 

    As for the hair loss, I was told it's normal. It's going to take the hormones a while to get back in correct function.

  • bouncer
    bouncer Member Posts: 30
    #7
    galinbakersfield said:

    Same symptoms

    I had the same symptoms after surgery 5 years ago. What my Dr informed me is the tightness is your skin, and the best way to help it heal faster and not form so much scar tissue on the inside is to gently rub it in a circular motion about 3-5 minutes at a time, about 3-5 times a day for the first few weeks to months. Not only did that help with the tightness, it helped heal my scar quicker and it doesn't show as much as some people I know who have had the same surgery. 

    As for the hair loss, I was told it's normal. It's going to take the hormones a while to get back in correct function.

    Scar tightness

    I found that rubbing Bio Oil onto the scar helped (but not too soon after the operation, of course). Not sure if available in your part of the world, but easily availabe in UK (usually used for pregnancy stretch marks!).

    My main problem now is internal radiation burn, due to high uptake of RIA, but should disappear in time.

Discussion Boards