Swallowing discomfort after thyroidectomy

I'm had my left thyroid taken out due to an over activate nodule that made me hyperthyroid, in 11/2011, and to this day my neck still gets tight like someone is choking me and it makes my voice hoarse, i even have trouble swallowing. i have seen 2 doctors and they just say your tsh levels are normal. but no one seems to really care about this constant discomfort that i have to endured almost everyday... my next request to my primary dr is going to be to see a neuralegist. i also started having bad headaches and even migraines after my surgery. i rarely ever had a headache before my surgery.

BTW after my surgery i become hypo-thyroid i couldn't tolerate the meds, so i started green juicing and within a 6 months my thyroid levels normalized. i try to green juice everyday. i also take a vitamin supplement that had some iodine in it.

thank you very much

Hi roni,
I am in the same situation. I was operated for a benign nodule and they found 6mm cancer...and freaking out even if they say I am cancer free.. Got two little kids too....What sort of post operative scans do you do to ensure that a three is nothing else ? It's good to talk to someone with the same experience.
Sally

Date: 01/07/15 - I am 8 months post thyroidectomy. I started feel the general feeling of less space (like a lump) in my throat around 5 months ago (three months after surgery). I have the feeling that I need to pull up mucus in my throat and spit it out but it takes a lot of pulling to get it up (like something is blocking it). I have a little difficulty breathing when lying down or after eating and a heaviness in my upper chest and lower throat. My primary physician said it seems that I have acid reflux (which I do have) or developing sinus problems, but this is in my throat and I felt the docs explanations were not related. I scheduled a second appointment with primary but if I am unhappy I will insist on a sonogram to get a closer look. Would love to hear from others that may have the same or similar symptoms.

I just had a partial thyroidectomy, and everything I eat and drinks burns. I've tried jello, mashed potatoes, crackers, chicken and noodle soup, eggs, pudding, ice cream and even apple sauce. Does anyone have this problem? Is there something that wouldn't burn your throat going down? I'm hungry..

Hi, I had the same surgery and spread of cancer as you on the left of my neck, then had I-131 treatment, I had to be in isolation for 72 hours then had to stay with a friend for a week as my son was only 4 at the time and I wasn't able to bath him, hug him or dress him, that was 11 years ago, I have had a recurrence of Papiliary cancer on my Laryngeal nerve, I had this removed 5 weeks ago, and feel this op has a slower and more painful recovery period than the total thyroidectomy and neck disection. This may be because I'm older or from scar tissue, but all I know now is that I have trouble swallowing, I feel like there is a lump on the left of my windpipe, I can only speak in a high tone squeak, I have pain and often feel as if I am being strangled, as if something is pushing on my windpipe. I am now to have another dose of I-131, with isolation for 48 hours but will be able to come home after as my son is now 15 and obviously doesn't need as much care as he did when he was 4, though my 'good morning' hug will have to be foregone for a few weeks. Your children are older so hopefully you should be allowed home quite quickly after. ........good luck, x

After 11 years, I'm sitting here typing right now with the feeling that my throat is closing up. Yes, you will breathe, eat and drink with no problem. I was told by a friend that being tired makes this worse, and I have to say that for the most part, this seems to be true. I believe it's scar tissue from the surgery. It seems to swell off and on. BTW, I had thyroid cancer, so I had to complete thyroidectomy. When I get the swelling feeling I try most of all not to panic, but just drink something cold and lie down if it's really bad. I also think that if you have seasonal allergies, having your allergies triggered may make the swelling start as well. In the spring I take Benadryl if it gets really bad.

I am experiencing exactly the same skin'pulling' and wrinkling around the scar. I am 8 weeks post-op. Having accupuncture as been told the skin is attached to the muscle. Looks awful. I massage twice a day but not improving. Anyone got any further ideas? Maybe I should go back to the surgeon though not sure if they csn do something minor and unpick the problem?? Would really appreciate any ideas.

It's six weeks after my surgery and I have exactly the same issue with the skin folds above the scar and tighter below. Can you please tell me if yours has gotten any better? Should I wait or see a plastic surgeon?

Tomorrow it is exactly one year since total thyroidectomy, for me. At 8 weeks, it's quite normal to have the skin tightening-up (i had left thyroidectomy, about 5 years ago, then the rest removed, last year.) If you had a large mass, as did I, inside of the thyroid, it stretched the skin (and might have displaced structures within your neck.) Things may just be moving back to normal, or more normal than they were up til the time of surgery.
Now, I don't know about your surgeon, but mine left staples in my neck. And they are irritating as can be! My other doctors did not believe i had staples left inside my neck/throat, but because I had a collapsed lung (for too long, which nobody noticed, including the surgeon..) ,I had to have x-rays (and I saw the staples, myself.) Both docs; the fam-med guy and the endo, were shocked to see staples in my neck. I'm not very happy about it because, a year later, and I still feel like I just had surgery (it is so sore.) Hopefully, I can talk the endo into sending me to someone else to get the staples out, as I still have problems with my voice; being hoarse, and the upper part of my voice is non-existant (no singing anymore.)
Watch and see if this resolves itself, but, if you continue to see problems such as intermittant swelling, redness, and problems swallowing, ask your doc to send you for an xray. It could be, like has been done to so many thyroid patients, you've got staples in there. According to some posts I've read, it's because staples are faster than stitches. I never had a problem with sutures/ stitches, but have all kinds of problems with the staples.. So I'd say, keep an eye on it, but 8 weeks out is still pretty early to worry too much about what is probably post-surgical issues..
I am not a doctor, so any advice I give is based, solely, on my own experience(s).
Take care.

Hi,
I know you posted your message a very long time ago, but I came across it just now (4 weeks after a total thyroidectomy). Your description matches exactly my symptoms: "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 went to the surgeon and he said that it will pass in due time. I wonder whether it improved, in any way, for you and if yes - then when.
Thank you!

Did your symptoms improve? I am asking that because I am 4 weeks after my surgery and I don't know what to expect next...

Did your symptoms improve? I am asking that because I am 4 weeks after my surgery and I don't know what to expect next...

Hi there...i am 1 year and 6 month after my surgery and tightness in the neck is still the same. I swallow air all the time when i ear drink or just swallow my own spit. This is driving me crazy..when i told my surgeon what i felt he did a laporoscopy (swallowing a camera) did all his stupid test and No its not acid re flux...I don't know how to stop this and it is driving me crazy...My counts are all fine but i have never had this problem before...I burb all the time No matter what and it all happened just after the surgery...as per you all I felt great after surgery, was only nauseous and anxiety...but lately anxiety is also one of the worst things i am fighting...pain in my chest as if i am going to have a heart attack. Should i consult a second doctor. The tightness in my throat is another thing but that is not so bad...I wish there was some doctor willing to help

See another doctor for second opinion. I get feelings that are still are to put in words.