Thyroid Surgery and Voice Changes: What to Expect

Eight esteemed, experienced, and board-certified otolaryngology doctors head up the West Coast ENT in Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, Oxnard, & Camarillo, CA. One service we provide is thyroid surgery. We are here today to discuss this surgery, voice changes, and what to expect after your surgery.

Thyroid Surgery (thyroidectomy)

The thyroid gland sits at the base of your neck. This gland regulates your body's temperature and metabolism. Thyroid cancer, goiter, or excessive thyroid hormone production may cause you to have a thyroidectomy.

West Coast ENT in Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, Oxnard, & Camarillo, CA, explains that thyroid surgery means that some or all of your thyroid gland needs removal. There are different types of thyroidectomies depending on your diagnosis.

Partial or total thyroidectomy for large goiters, cancers, Graves' Disease
Hemithyroidectomy (thyroid lobectomy) is the removal of one of the two thyroid gland lobes.
Isthusectomy is the removal of isthmus tissue crossing the trachea and thyroid lobes.

Each of these surgeries requires a short in-hospital stay.

Voice Changes

Many patients find that a two-week recovery period is essential. While neck pain, stiffness, difficulty swallowing, and sore throat are common, you will likely experience some voice changes, either temporary or permanent.

After your surgery and for about two weeks, you may experience a hoarse voice and talk in a whisper. These changes are usually temporary due to irritation of the nerves during your surgery.

After surgery, you may have some temporary inflammation around the nerves. These changes could last at least two weeks to six months. In rare cases, the nerve is injured and creates permanent voice changes.

Expectations after a Thyroidectomy

A thyroidectomy, considered safe and common, could have complications and risk factors.

Complications

A hematoma
Nerve injury in the larynx
Possible infection
A collection of fluid in the area
Thyroid Storm
Anesthesia Risks

What to Expect

24–48 hours: eat a soft diet, then a regular diet
Avoid fatty, spicy foods
Pain medication
Numbing throat sprays
Calcium/vitamin D supplements
Possible thyroid medication forever
Two weeks off work, sports, exercise as recommended
Avoid scrubbing, soaking, submerging your neck until healed
Incision care as per your doctor (incision will look red)

Report to your doctor any fever, incision discharge, increased redness, swelling, pain, numbness in lips, fingers, toes, trouble breathing, high-pitched voice, increased trouble swallowing.

Is a Thyroidectomy in Your Future?

Call West Coast ENT (ear, nose, throat, head, and neck surgery) at 805-379-9646 in Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, Oxnard, & Camarillo, CA, to schedule your thyroid surgery with one of our eight doctors. You are in excellent hands with any of our board-certified doctors/surgeons to meet all of your ear, nose, and throat, health needs.