Swallowing discomfort after thyroidectomy

seadog · Newbie Joined: 20 Jul 2006 Posts: 5

I still have an issue 4 weeks post total thyroidectomy (large nodule and hashimotos) that concerns me and I'm not sure if it's normal or not.

Immediately after surgery I felt great. About two weeks after surgery I noticed my scar itself seems to be attached to muscle or something else under the skin, and it always seems to feel like it's pulling upward. I have folds of skin above the scar, yet it's tighter skin on skin lower than the scar, as if it has adhered too high on my neck to the muscles - or whatever - underneath. When I swallow, the scar lifts up and takes literally a second or two to go back down. My surgeon said to give it time, since the scar will soften in a few weeks after sugery, but this seems very strange to me and I'm always aware of it. I also seem to burp more and have a general feeling of less space in my throat (although I can eat and breath fine!), and wondered if it was related. If someone has had this happen post thyroidectomy, please let me know. I can wait for it to heal if it will heal, but want to start looking for a solution with otolaryngologist or plastic surgeon if there's something wrong.

Thanks

Guest · Guest

I have just had a thyroidectomy this week for the same reasons that you noted. I was told that I could have a sore throat up to a month. I feel like it is easier to swallow since the surgery. I have chest pain that seems to get better with drinking more milk and taking a magnesium supplement.

Here is another bit of information that my surgeon told me post-surgery. Some time after the surgery, I will feel fine. However, I will get swelling at the site of the surgery that will be quite swollen. He told me to not be alarmed by this. It will usually resolve in 6-8 weeks. I wonder if this is happening with you?

I hope all goes well for you.

seadog · Newbie Joined: 20 Jul 2006 Posts: 5

Thanks for your post. I hope you're feeling better soon. I am noticing less 'effort' is needed when I swallow, but I still feel some pulling. The 'slowness' of the swallowing has improved (not as slow anymore). Another post suggested massaging and I am going to do this a lot more. I also noticed using the silicone strips has helped, especially in minimizing the scar appearance. And suncscreen stick.

One thing I definitely noticed, even though the first week I noticed the space in my throat had improved immediately after surgery and I felt great, was that it seemed to tighten and I felt the swelling about 2-3 weeks post surgery, perhaps when more scar tissue is forming. This lasted another 3 weeks (so far). You might notice the same. It was VERY alarming to feel it get worse weeks after surgery. It's about 7 weeks past now and it is improving. I do think it has adhered or internally stitched to the muscles behind the scar but no massaging was going to change that. Perhaps time and more massage will help that improve. My neck skin is more wrinkled about the scar.

Thanks for your post - I hope you're doing well.

RoniZ · Newbie Joined: 01 Jan 2007 Posts: 2

I had a total thryoidectomy September 5 due to a 1.5cm cancerous nodule. I felt tired and the other things that go with a total thyroidectomy but my throat seemed to get better with time.
It is now 4 months later and it feels like when I swallow my throat at scar level is still tight and also like the food sticks ( like when you have a sore throat).
I can breathe fine it just seems like the scar still pulls and I have a smaller esophagus. Anyone with any input on this is appreciated. The whole cancer thing scares me to death even though they said I am cancer free now.

Thanks and have a great HEALTHY New year,
Roni

Guest · Guest

I, too, am four weeks post thyoidectomy. Second time. Removed left lobe with large growth three years ago; removed right lobe with impairing growths four weeks ago. I am now having significant trouble swallowing. Feels like bread dough stuck in my throat. The doctor said the mass was larger than expected, all the way up to my right jaw bone area, and was in a difficult spot to get out. He said there was a lot of scare tissue from 36 months before. I, too, am wondering if the new scar tissue is growing near or on my swallowing and vocal nerves. Anyone else have that problem?

Bam Bam · Newbie Joined: 23 Feb 2007 Posts: 3

Wow, yes I too have tightness in my throat when I swallow! Doc says it will go away and it has been improving. I notice though when Im stressed it gets worse like a lump in my throat and it gets hard to breath. I have to slow down and take a deep breath because my throat feels tight. Again, this is normal and will go away. I also used to burp uncontrollably but this went away finally. Thank God my husband loves me! It took a month to return to work and feeling dizzy is very common. Do your breathing excercises!!! I cannot stress this enough. Feeling dizzy will go away after you strengthen your lungs from surgery. The dizziness is from a sympathetic nervous system this is a real term; it causes your heart to race and BP to rise. Not to mention feeling really dizzy because your hyperventilating and don't even know it. Seriously.

My voice is still hoarse though but improving daily. It's my understanding they cut through 4 layers of muscle to get to the thyroid so I guess excercise should be on the agenda. Massage definitely helps my tightness too. Anyone have sore boobs though?? Weird. My scar is very small and I have no swelling but, I also had a specialist / surgeon who does like 500 thyroid surgeries a year, she's quite amazing. If your skin is stuck in weird places get a second opinion that is not normal! The Cleveland Clinic Foundation will give you a FREE second opinion. Go for it! Finally, if your feeling tingly all over your body and your heart is racing take some chewable caltrate pills because it was my calcium that dropped and caused all kinds of issues. Did you know your calcium regulates your heart, muscles etc? It's horrible when you don't have enough. I however am not cancer free yet. I have to have my radiation dose next month and then God willing be free from cancer!! I'm starting a website called LifeAfterThyroidectomy.com if anyone wishes to visit in the near future to blog about their experience for others.

nichold · Newbie Joined: 21 Feb 2008 Posts: 1 Location: SLC, UT, USA

I also have a tightness in my throat. I am only 1 week post Total Thyroidectomy, but I was really hoping that the swelling and tightness would be gone by 4 weeks. I hope so, but it sounds like that might not be the case.
My doc told me that he does not cut through any muscle. He said that he cuts through the skin and then speads the muscles. Takes more time, but he said that the recovery time is shorter. Hope he's right. He does over 300 thyroidectomies per year, so hopefully he's right. I got my stitches out today and when I asked about the swallowing, he said that that is normal, but should go away within about a week we will see.
I have a hard lump beneath the incision. My doc said that it looks good, so I didn't ask more. Do they fill the cavity where the thyroid was with anything. My wise-cracking brother told me that they fill it in with a play-dough / silly putty type of substance. I know I shouldn't believe him, but I was wondering if anyone else knew the answer to this. BTW....thanks for the post. Someone needs to create a thyroidectomy support group.

efelbab · Newbie Joined: 21 Feb 2008 Posts: 11 Location: wisconsin

I had a total thyroidectomy on Feb 1st 2008 and it's now been two and a half weeks. I had a mass that was 4cm. At first my scar and the swelling around the incision were just awful, but now the scar is hardly noticable and the swelling is still present. Recently here in Wisconsin we recieved a HUGE amount of snow and I had to shovel... after I shoveled I noticed the same sort of discomfort and pulling I had when I had just gotten out of surgery (similar to what you describe). I then remembered my surgeon telling me that it may take up to a month or so for the stitches inside to disolve and if I do anything too strenuous it will 'pull' on the muscles that they had sewn shut. I hope everything works out for you! Very Happy

Swallowing discomfort after thyroidectomy

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