Thyroid Surgery Discharge Instructions

Things to expect

Mild/Moderate pain is normal and should be controllable with the pain medication provided by the doctor.
A surgical drain is sometimes left in place for about 1 week after surgery.
Record the daily output from this drain and bring it with you to your follow up clinic appointments.

There is typically no dressing to remove as Dr. York typically uses surgical glue for the surface layer of the closure.
Begin to wash your surgical wound approximately 48 hours after surgery using only warm, soapy, running water. Pat the wound gently rather than scrubbing it.
If a surgical drain was left in place, keep a daily log of the amount of fluid coming out of the drain and bring this with you on your clinic appointments after surgery.
Call Dr. York's clinic to make a postoperative appointment for one week after surgery.
No strenuous physical activity for 2 weeks.
If a total thyroidectomy was performed, monitor for signs of low calcium such as numbness/tingling of the skin around the mouth or at the tips of the fingers.