Don’t risk your neck by confusing these myths about thyroid surgery recovery from the facts:
Myth 1: You risk losing your job due to a lengthy recovery
There is no risk on your job just because you had to undergo a surgery. Insurance companies recognize the need for a thyroid surgery if the case warrants it. Your employers also recognize that two weeks is the allotted time allowable for a leave after a surgery. A routine thyroid surgery recovery is two weeks. Well within the range of the time period allowable. So no, you are not risking your job.
Myth 2: You’ll get fat after a thyroid operation
While going through thyroid surgery recovery, you will be given instruction on what thyroid hormone replacement therapy is best for you. Taking the thyroxin drugs will balance your metabolism and, with proper diet, exercise and a healthy lifestyle, you should not get fat. Even if you still have your thyroid gland, you can get fat or even obese if you are not vigilant on what you eat.
Myth 3: You’ll be addicted for life to the maintenance medicines after the surgery
Thyroxins are not medicines or drugs that cause addiction. These are hormone replacement drugs. Meaning, they provide your body with the proper dose of hormones that your thyroid gland usually produces thereby lowering the risk of an unbalanced metabolism.
Myth 4: Don’t take a bath for two weeks after surgery or else risk a relapse
While researching for this article, I happened to talk to one of the patient’s I know who was going through thyroid surgery recovery. The patient was crying because the relatives were seriously reprimanding the patient for having taken a shower two days after. They said the surgery was going for naught as now it will have to be done again. It was such a ridiculous mania that some of the nursing staff was laughing secretly at the thought that cleanliness was a main cause for a relapse.
Cleanliness is the key to a faster recovery for any type of surgery; it is even considered a healthy lifestyle. No shower will cause a relapse either. The gland has been removed! It is no longer there! What relapse? However, it is best to also know that after a shower, the area should be gently patted dry as moisture can be a breeding ground for the lovely bacteria.
Myth 5: Recovery is so fast and easy, you can drive out of the hospital
There are some sites on the net that really word their services irresponsibly. Yes, you can drive out, but you are not the one driving. Someone else is. You have just undergone a surgery. Your neck is still sore and you cannot turn your neck to look at something behind you without suffering from pain. Also, you had to undergo anaesthesia. The wearing off effects can make you dizzy. So no, you can’t drive.
Myth 6: You can stop taking the post of antibiotics once you feel better, you’ll heal faster
One of the first rules of thyroid surgery recovery at home is take your oral antibiotics and other medications properly and at the right time. Not going through the full course of antibiotics leaves you open for complications like infection. Infection will incur more medications. So please, just take them.
Myth 7: Once they remove the gland, you will risk dying earlier
This myth is again related to that friend who underwent the surgery. The grandmother came in with a priest and had the last rites performed. The grandmother was convinced that the loss of the gland equates to her granddaughter’s death. At that point, the attending surgeon and physician had to intervene. Of all the ridiculous… Okay, let’s just say it was an uneducated guess on the grandmother’s part. My poor friend.