shortness of breath and upper chest tightness after total thyroidectomy

I had total thyroidectomy, partial lateral radical neck dissection and 2 normal parathyroid glands removed and paralyzed vocal cords (!) and had MANY problems, not acknowledged by any of my doctors, including massive breathing (or rather non-breathing) events. What I found on my own is that if you flavor the water with OJ or milk, you will be able to swallow so much better, believe me!!! I feel there is something in the throat that can recognized the "flavoring" in the water so you won't choke. Also, Tramadol 37.5/acetominphen 325 1/2 to 1 , 2- 4x a day will help relax your throat muscles. I am currently on 150 mcg of Synthroid, but sometimes get symptoms of calcium deficiency - strange tingling in my left lower lip, then I increase my calcium intake and feel better. My whole left throat is totally numb - I had a node between my carotid and Jugular. I am pretty sure during the surgery that several nerves were "damaged" or "bruised" or "resected" or " " put in any word here that is happening to you and it will fit. I think I would have handled it better had I been better advised as to what the results could. and after reading everyone's responses here, will be in reality. 4 months for me and maybe getting better..mostly have my voice back, can eat pretty good and sleep well with my 5 pillows!! However am depressed more often then not, can't seem to feel "feelings" - joy, happiness - seem to be on a strange even keel (except for crying jags) - don't feel like me - feel like there might have been some brain damage due to oxygen deprivation during surgery. Oh, by the way, my surgeon won't give me a copy, and the hospital-provided copy (not signed off by the surgeon) conflicts with both the pathology and "Brief Operative Report" I have...you tell me...something happened and I think all of us who are injured after the surgery had damage done to us, not on purpose, but due to the seriousness of the surgery, but for crying out loud - ADMIT TO IT, FIX IT or TELL US HOW TO DEAL WITH IT, not that we are crazy.... oh, by the way, Happy New Year to all!

I had the same problem after my surgery. I was feeling fine for a few days then suddenly could not breathe. I went to see my ENT and he sent me to the E.R. After a CAT Scan it was determined that I had developed a hematoma at my surgical site. I was treated with blood thinners and large levels of motrin. I had to stay in the hospital for 3 days. I still have shortness of breath but it has only been a week since I was admitted. I was instructed to remain calm when my breath gets short and try to stay calm as to not make it worse. They now are monitoring the clot in my throat and I am hoping it will be gone soon.

I had my treatment and surgery over a year ago and still have the shortness of breath my doctor says it is something I will have to live with

littlewind, have you tried a semi-recumbant bicycle? It is in a sitting up position, with handles down low on the sides. Maybe if you can peddle 5 minutes a day it can help get your lungs working again. The one I have is extremely comfortable and quiet. I had a total thyroidectomy, partial lateral radical neck dissection, etc, etc, etc. and have had my own breathing issues and still do, but getting better slowly - been 5 months. I think weather plays a big role too - when it's too cold, like now!! or too hot, it makes it difficult to breathe. As far as doctors go, that's one of their favorite lines. The other favorite is - its not because of the surgery!!!! I think slow exercising, if you have a dog, a walk with the dog is always nice - seems to take your mind off your breathing - and don't forget...until you get more air, do not talk while walking - uses up the air too fast!!! Good luck

I have also had a total thyroidectomy two weeks ago after been diagonized with pappilary carcinmaPrio to the operation I had ct scans of the neck and lungs All was apparently clear and no signs of the cancer spread however two tiny lesions were found in my lungs My specialists said they were not related and are most likely benign and may have been there for a long time but of no great concern although she has recommended a follow up ct in three monthsBecause of my neck CT scan showed no evidence of the cancer spread they didnt need to remove my lymph nodes or give me radiation treatment .I have been completely freaked out since the operation the weirdest sensation after my thyroid was removed like my whole throat was hollow and I still can barely talk Thanks so much for everyones posts as I felt like I was also going crazy getting no support from doctors I think the average GP doesnt have that much knowledge on the symptoms and they have only added to my anxiety I have been thinking I must have lung cancer even though I was never a smoker only having an ocassional cigarette at a party Iam usually very athletic and love swimming and jogging but now like the other lady can barely walk up the stairs I did three flights today and couldnt catch my breath I thought I was going to collaspe I had to lye down Iam in constant fear that I have lung cancer as I have also lost a lot of weight in the past 18months Iam a pretty anxious person and have suffered depression also for many years. I did ring up the cancer council and the nurse was really lovely and very supportiveI calmed down.I feel like a complete freak when Im out because I actually cant string a sentence of words together as my voice is so strained and than I sometimes get so out of breath its embarrassing I thank everyone for their support shop around never accept what the medical profession tells you if you feel differently we all know our bodies and trust your gut feeling be relentless doctors are just overworked and underpaid and often lacking in compassion.I went out shopping today and after a few hours had to come home I was so exhausted Iam taking 100mg of thyroxine my GPhas done some bloods to see if my dose is correct as she said too high a level can give you shortness of breath ill find out tomorrow Also taking 4 hugeof calcium tablets per day which I usually gag when taking them I also heard they are bad for your heart so im going to investigate this.Please keep in touch I really feel for you younger women please try to push on and find some answers.

Hello,I am a 54 yrs. old female.On July 30,2012 i had a complete thyroidectomy,after surgery both vocal cords were paralized. couldn't talk for 7 wks.,one vocal started working  and about  Nov. or Dec. the other one stared working.still not working like their supposed to, not going together,can't breathe get chocked on my own saliva..my ENT  told me that my Vagus nerve was severed in the surgery..the surgeron didn't have the guts to tell me what he had done..Every day is a stugel for me..I have had numors things that i have had to deal with in my life,strokes Heart attack,open heart surgery,BUT This is BY far the worst expereince that i have ever had..When your from a small town no one whats to do anything for you because "YOU HAd the BEST SURGEON" No I beg to differ, I told him (Dr.) that he had sent me to hell in a hand basket and back..Has anyone ever heard of a device that they put in your neck to componsate   for your vagus nerve?I could go on and on, I am so tired and wore out fighting with these Dr. and  Iam not feeling any better.i am willing to travel to another state to get help just don't know where??Please some one give me some advice...thank you 

Sorry for your troubles, but glad to see I am not alone. I had 1/2 thyroid removed 12 days ago (Feb 2013). One of the surgeons said it was so enlarged with nodules (most benign, one cancerous spot) that it looked like a kidney. It had deformed my windpipe. Glad to have it out. Though I never had (or realized?) I had asthma, I have had intermittent trouble breathing, plus constant throat-clearing ever since waking up in post-op. 

Four days after surgery I went to the hospital emergency room, couldn't get air, thought I had pneumonia. They said no, more like severe bronchitis. I then saw my general practitioner doctor, who used the flow meter, which I could hardly make register.  He prescribed an Albuterol inhaler, which I have had to use about every 4 to 8 hours since.

I am startled and dismayed to find myself with asthma, or asthma symptoms, and really hope this will go away or alleviate as the surgery gets farther behind me. I have been diagnosed with sleep apnea in the past, plus GERD, so my Internet readings tell me I'm right in the mix of those hand-in-hand characters.

Ah me. Is it possible for surgery/anesthesia to trigger late onset asthma? What a rude shock. I am a 66 year old male, a tennis player, and this will alter my active lifestyle, I fear. 

Has anyone had this condition disappear? I always believed that which appeared suddenly, could disappear as quickly, but perhaps that is not so.

Very happy to have found this Website. Blessings to all who post here.

Dave

 

Dave, I don't think it's asthma - probably something damaged in your throat during surgery - I have found there are so many nerves in the neck that correspond with so many other parts of the body, it's incredible, and all they have to do, in surgery, is bruise it slightly to cause a problem. I had a total thyroidectomy and partial lateral left radical neck dissection in August 2012. I came out unable to breathe and had to be put on helium and oxygen (helium is lighter to breathe in than oxygen). A month later I ended up in ER and had to take an ambulette to major hospital where surgery was performed in NY. They couldn't identify anything wrong! To this day, I can't lay flat, when I sit in a chair and read, I have to put a cushion around my neck to support it. I had laryngeal spasms, which TOTALLY close up your throat and NO AIR gets in at all, but those seem to have slowed down, thank goodness. I slept the first few weeks sitting up in bed, still need 3 pillows to sleep with. I can manage 5 minutes on exercise bike, but hopefully that will go longer as time goes by. I still get breathless, can't tolerate the heat or excessive cold. Get out of breath putting my snow boots on to walk the dog!!. Get copies of your surgical and anesthesia reports...study them carefully - they may (or may not) show something was damaged, but I have found, as have most others on these blogs, that most doctors say, "oh, it wasn't as a result of the surgery" when we all know it never happened BEFORE the surgery.... I have found it to be a life changing event in my life, and not a good one at that. Good luck to you.

Thank you, Utahgirl, for sharing your experiences. I won't complain about mine so much, now. You've really been through the ringer. I can only hope that having passed the six-month mark, your body will start to rally and allow you to increase your walking and get closer to the life you had!
My surgeon is a minor local legend. At 77, he's been operating for 52 years! With all that experience, he was anxious to tell me how difficult my operation had been, how it went double the time allotted, which tells me more than I want to know about how much cutting, pulling, etc. my throat, nerves, and all went through. I think we all need to acknowledge the trauma our bodies undergo with surgery, and though it takes inhuman patience, we have to give ourselves the time needed to truly heal, and make all the best decisions about nutrition and exercise and positive thoughts. A few hours of labor for the docs, months and years for us! God grant us strength.
Dave

Dave, you are lucky that your doctor was so open with you. I got nothing, absolutely nothing. I think it's just as important in the healing to understand what happened to you - I was told everything went well, everything is great, you can eat a full diet (when I couldn't even get watery oatmeal down my throat!). He wasn't LISTENING to what I was saying and still isn't. Last night I thought I was going to choke when I laid down to sleep. Have to stuff a pillow under my throat to support it. I feel like the teeth on my lower left jaw are going to fall out as whatever he did in there is starting to take effect. At work, any type of stress causes me to lose my breath, but I can't tell my boss too much or he will close up (inside, not the shop!! he's been so totally supportive to me) and we are so busy that I just try to focus and walk out to the bathroom when I can't anymore. After 6 months it seems to be getting worse, not better. Personally, I think a medicine dose change is needed, but not due for MRI and blood work til 3/28. And what will they find then when I've got swelling in my neck already and tightness. Sorry for bringing everyone down, but it just has destroyed my life and I don't know what to do. What state are you in? My doctor is also an older doctor, however, I do have uncertainties whether he actually performed the surgery or not as it is a teaching hospital.....Thanks for your kind words.

I have same symtoms,had my surgery in 2004 was promised to feel 100% better now I'm 100% worst! I gained weight can't keep it off,tired all the time,no energy,can't sleep at night,always hot even in winter,depressed,moody,mood swings left and right,anxiety attcks,out of breath easily....I'm a wreck....doc keeps saying I'm fine but I'm not...and I'm tired feeling this way...I'm thinking looking into medical lawyer?

Thank you for describing your symptoms. I feel like it was me writing this post. I had my surgery at the end of March, (with 4L blood loss on the operating table) and and as result was told by the surgeon that he had to tend to this first and I might have problems with my vocal cords. Since then it's not vocal cords causing the problem, but my breathing and tightness of chest the same as you described. So far I was put on all sort of tablets, including calcium ones but not getting better. Waiting to see the surgeon on the 5th June, Had CAt scan so hoping that it will show what is going on since so far everyone else is telling me that things are O.K.

Maybe this post does not provide an answer to you, but it surely made me feel better that i am not the only one suffering the same symptoms! Felt O.K. before the op.

I am in New Orleans and I had my thyroid removed about 4 years ago I am just now beginning to experience the same problems with breathing, going through the same procedures as you guys and getting the same responses I hope some doctor would respond to these blogs so we all can get some help.

I cannot breathe after total tyroidectomy, I need help. It has been six months had to quit work

 

Wow I can really relate to this post. I had a TT and mod right neck dissection on 4/17/13 due to papillary thyroid cancer. I also had a cancerous lymph node under the internal jugular removed. Since the surgery I have felt a constant choking sensation around my throat every waking second. Swallowing also feels different. I am also having chest pain and tightness and shortness of breath - breathing is no longer a natural process. Also have horrible anxiety and depression and the same inability to feel joy and happiness. To not feel like I can enjoy life is the worst. Of course according to the doctors, I'm fine and it's anxiety related. Wrong!!!

I think this has to do with damage to the vagus nerve. Did you know it runs right between the internal jugular and the carotid artery? They would have had to pull it out of the way to get to the lymph node. It innervates everything in the throat including muscles involved in swallowing, vocal cords, the lungs and diaphragm, the heart and the stomach. I just wonder if it will heal.

Hope you are doing better. I always wonder about the people who post once then never again. Did they get better?

Missy