Tightness, fullness, painful neck post Thyroidectomy

I am having the same trouble after 8 years and I have had all the tests. However when I eat I get a cough I have asked for an allergy test but it hasn't happened. I wonder if something is affecting the glands causing them to tighten causing my discomfort , at times it can be pretty good. At the moment it is driving me mad

I am 2 weeks post thyroid surgery, I only had partial removed and no cancer.  The scar looks awesome so far and it seems as I am healing rather quickly..however, when I swallow it feels really funky.  There is a pulling or tugging..like I dont have enough skin to let the adams apple roll...how soon do ya think this feeling will subside?

BTW...how soon after surgery can I put on mederma and sunscreen?

I am two months post thyroidectomy. I Was diagnosed with painful hashimotos and my neck and throat were very uncomfortable. My neck felt better right after the surgery but now I have a tight, gagging feeling in my neck. I am a little hypo right now. I am wondering if these signs we are getting could be a side effect from our levels being off. I know anxiety can be a sign and maybe this is a side effect of that. Any thoughts?? 

I am having the very same complications, just two months after total thyroidectomy. I recently found out that metal clips were left on my thyroid bed, they were used to tie off blood vessels, but my surgeon never told me he would use clips. I only found out I had clips from a cat-scan done in the Emergency Room, after I complained of shortness, of breath and chest pains. Find out if you have clips, and how many were left in. Find out if you may be allergic to them, even though they claim that the clips used are hypo-allergenic alloy.

Finally, someone else who is having the SAME exact problem that I am after thyroidectomy. Thank for confirming my symptoms. It's been 4 years since my surgery and this started about 6-8 months afterwards.
I am also a singer and thank God for sending me to a surgeon who knew what he was doing. There was no damage to my vocal cords. In fact, my range is a bit better, as long as the tightness isn't a factor.
The tightness is just as you say even though the scar is fine - wearing necklaces that touch the scar, forget it. Just resting my hand over the area relieves the sensation. I have not regularly taken any pain relievers for 2 years now, but use essential oils instead. At least I know I am not Nuts in this feeling.

Are u any better ? My husband is in same misery! Help !

I am a newby as I had a TT just a week ago, but have used the net for my constant questions I have about my condition. I have been feeling this restrictive feeling the last couple of days and decided to see if others have this problem. Oh my word there are several who do. After reading how everyone who has this has gone through test after test with no solution, I realized I'm probably stuck with this problem as well. I thought I'm going to have to find a solution. I went to the freezer and put several ice cubes in a zip lock bag and wrapped it in a mans large handkerchief and tied it around my neck. Then I got a Popsicle and went in to watch a movie to not think about it. I really don't know how or why but it helped me greatly. I have done this now a few times and seems to help. I hope it helps you.

I also have had a complete tt and had cancer in mine it has been seen 2010 and I have tighness and burning in my throat. It is now starting to affect my hearing as well it feels like I have so much pressure on my head and ears . That i feel like I am going crazy. I have tryed everything from ENT's  family doctor, MRI's Cat scans everything. They are not finding nothing I have taken pain pills , mussel relaxers Ibprofun, everything. nothing works. I wish they would find out what this is that is causeing our problems. I pray every night that God will help us find something that works. I get so worked up about this that I am so stressed out that it will never go away. I also take xanax and I am just so depressed because of this problem. it also burning feeling to. I hope and pray someone can find something to help. I do know cold wash rags help a little but not much. Please someone out there help us all.

I don't know how long ago thE ABOVE wAs POSTED. I HAD A THYROIDECTOMY 8th oct 2013. ITS NOW 24th November and I have a "golf ball" in my throat. IT LOOKS TERRIBLE. Doctor said it didn't need draining and put me on antibiotics which did nothing, I JUST WANT TO KNOW IF THIS IS NORMAL dR SAID DON'T WORRY, BUT IT LOOKS TERRIBLE AND ISN'T GETTING SMALLER

Amen to that my friend. I had a total thyroidectomy on 11/21/13. My thyroid was so large when my surgeon sent to the first gland to the lab they thought it was both sides. Please keep in mind I only weigh 125lbs :-). At any rate, the surgery took about 3 1/2 hours and I had no complications beside my calcium being on the low side which kept me in the hospital an extra 3 days. I didn't even request any pain meds (which I have a high tolerance for pain) because I wasn't hurting besides a severe sore throat. I've had a tonsillectomy so my sore throat was a piece of cake. I too sing and I have found myself unable to sing or talk at any elevated octave. I go to the doctor next week so I am going to request voice therapy if it doesn't get any better. I know that it was nothing but GOD who has carried me through this journey and he hasn't brought me this far to leave me. He will give me my voice back and I will continue to heal at a miraculous rate. I too have a small knot above my scar, which I will ask about next week but I didn't notice it until I had my drainage tube removed. So it could be fluid built up with no where to go right now. Stay strong brothers and sisters and know that GOD is the BEST healer around...............To God Be the Glory!

I have the very same complaints after 6 months post surgery. I ended up in the Emergency room for shortness of breath as well. On the ER visit they did a Cat-Scan which revealed surgical clips. I was not informed by the surgeon of any surgical clips being left in place. Since surgery I have had a pinching sensation, best way to describe it is a fish hook sensation, which pinches and causes pain if I move or turn my head a certain way. Also, I must flex my neck forwards to swallow which is done in an exaggerated fashion. I asked the surgeon if this could be the result of the clips left in place, and of course he denied it. You should inquire if clips were used, they say that the clips used on me are hypollergenic, but I am concerned as to how long these clips will remain hypoallergenic, and is I am allergic to the alloy used to manufacture these clips. If I find out further info. I will post for you. God Bless take care

Have you requested a Cat-Scan, to find out what the problem may be??...Get a copy of the surgical report. I am wondering if they may have left a foreing object like a surgical sponge??? it may sound odd, but these things do occur. HE he do a blood culture prior to placing you on antibiotics??? find out why the site became infected??? I will do some thinking and research on this If I find anything out I will post. I will pray for your recovery. God Bless

I have this same problem with the pain deep in the throat like a stabbing that goes through the ear. Did you ever receive an explanation for this?

I had my left thyroid removed in July of 2013 and have been experiencing tightness in my neck everyday. I thought I was going crazy, but after reading your post and many others like it, I'm discovering that I might just have to live with it. I didn't want to waste my time and money going to doctor after doctor and having them tell me they don't know what it is. It's a shame not one doctor could give you any answers. Thank you for sharing and I hope you are improving!

I had my thyroid removed Jan 2001 and still today suffer with chronic neck pain.  Despite every test I've done nothing shows up.  My doctor is scheduling another MRI on the neck even though we've done several.  I cannot get my doctor to understand that the neck pain started right after my thyroidectomy.  I think that the thyroid foundation just doesn't want to admit that this surgery causes significant neck problems.  Unfortunately, I went on disability in May 2013 from work and awaiting federal disability approval due to this pain along with other chronic pain issues.  I didn't have much of a choice but to remove the gland due to the size, the left being the worst.  They told me they rather do the surgery than RAI because they would have to give me a large amount to destroy it.  Since I stopped working I do see a difference in my pain level.  If I do too much or move the wrong way it flares up in a heartbeat.  The pain is constant no matter what I take or do.  It's very miserable to live with.  I wish I can give everyone some hope that their pain will get better over time.  My numbness in my neck lasted about 18 months after surgery.   I had injections for the scar since it was swollen and so red.  I also had an injection of some kind in the left side of the neck which didn't help.  The tightness, tenderness and swelling never goes away.  I think it has something to do with the muscles and tendons along with significant scar tissue but to get a doctor to listen is a nightmare on Elm Street.  Good Luck to everyone!!!