Symptoms after thyroid surgery:
It is common to experience one or more of the following symptoms following thyroid surgery. These symptoms are usually mild to moderate, improving over weeks to months. So if you experience prolonged symptoms, please discuss with A/Prof. Lee or your GP.

• Pain or funny sensations around the wound and/or neck muscles – usually settles in 1 to 2 weeks

• Slight tightness and choking sensation in the throat

• Numbness and/or swelling around the wound

• Weakness of the voice

• Some difficulty with swallowing

• Headaches and tiredness

If you experience difficulty breathing, rapid swelling in the neck, or muscle spasms, please go to the nearest emergency department immediately, or call the ambulance.

Wound Care
When you are discharged from hospital, you will have some sticky tape dressing over your wound. Please leave it in place until you return for your first review appointment in 1–2 weeks’ time. You can shower with the tape in place — just gently dab dry. Please do not be alarmed if it becomes a little blood-stained.

It is common for the skin around the wound to become swollen over the week after surgery. However, if it becomes red, hot, and painful, it may have become infected. This is very uncommon. If it occurs, please see your GP or A/Prof. Lee to see if you need antibiotics.

The tape on your wound will be replaced at your first follow-up appointment with A/Prof. Lee. The wound should continue to be taped for a total of 3 weeks from the day of surgery to promote optimal healing. The 1/2 inch skin-tone Micropore tape can be obtained at your local chemist. After 3 weeks, daily massage of the wound with Vitamin E cream or similar products can help reduce the swelling as well as improve the appearance of the scar.

Activities
Vigorous activities should be avoided for at least 3 weeks after surgery. Driving should also be avoided until you can comfortably and swiftly turn your head without pain — usually 2 weeks. Ease yourself back into various activities when the neck pain and stiffness have settled.

Medications

• For pain: If you need stronger pain medications than those you can get without a prescription, you will be discharged with them. They can be weaned off as soon as possible.

• Thyroid hormone replacement: You will need to take thyroxine (e.g. Oroxine / Eutroxig) for life. Thyroxine is best taken half an hour before breakfast on an empty stomach. After the first 4–6 weeks, you will need to have a blood test to check your thyroid hormone levels. This can be arranged by your GP or endocrinologist, who will also adjust the thyroxine dose if necessary.

• Calcium supplementation: This is usually weaned over the first few weeks after surgery. You will need to see your GP to have your blood calcium level checked and the dose adjusted on a weekly basis. Calcium tablets should be taken with meals.

• Other medications: You may also need to take other medications as necessary, such as laxatives if you experience constipation with the pain medications, or Vitamin D supplements if your calcium level is very low. A/Prof. Lee or your GP will discuss these with you.

Country Patients

• If you are unable to return to Melbourne for follow-up, you will need to arrange all follow-up with your GP. Please discuss this with A/Prof. Lee prior to discharge.

Follow-up Appointments

• With your GP: It is essential that you see your GP weekly after the surgery to have blood tests to check the calcium level in order to wean the calcium supplementation. This process will take at least 3 weeks. Your GP can also help answer any questions or concerns you might have regarding the surgery. If you do not see an endocrinologist, your GP will also check your thyroid function about 6 weeks after surgery.

• With A/Prof. Lee: Your first appointment to see A/Prof. Lee will be made approximately 2 weeks after surgery. Please ring the rooms on (03) 9246 6466 to confirm your appointment. Any subsequent appointments will be made after your first follow-up visit.

• With your endocrinologist: You should also return to see your endocrinologist approximately 4–6 weeks after surgery to have your thyroxine level checked and adjusted. You may also need to discuss other treatments at the time.

Click here for a downloadable pamphlet for total thyriodectomy.

NB: Please note that the information provided is for the purpose of general reference and education. A/Prof. Lee cannot be held liable for any deviations from the information contained within this section. Always discuss your specific circumstances with your surgeon A/Prof. Lee.

Symptoms after thyroid surgery: 

It is common to experience one or more of the following symptoms following thyroid surgery. These symptoms are usually mild to moderate, improving over weeks to months. So if you experience prolonged symptoms, please discuss with A/Prof. Lee or your GP. 

• Pain or funny sensations around the wound and / or neck muscles - usually settles in 1 to 2 weeks 

• Slight tightness and choking sensation in the throat

• Numbness and / or mild swelling around the wound

• Weakness of the voice 

• Some difficulty with swallowing 

• Headaches and tiredness 

If you experience difficulty breathing, rapid swelling in the neck or severe muscle spasms, please go to the nearest emergency department immediately, or call the ambulance. 

Wound Care 

When you are discharged from hospital, you will have some sticky tape dressing over your wound. Please leave it in place until you return for your first review appointment in 1 - 2 weeks’ time. You can shower with the tape in place, just gently dab dry. Please do not be alarmed if it becomes a little blood stained. It is common for the skin around the wound to become swollen over the week after surgery. However, if it becomes red, hot and painful, it may have become infected. This is very uncommon. If it occurs, please see your GP or A/Prof. Lee to see if you need antibiotics.

The tape on your wound will be replaced at your first follow-up appointment with A/Prof. Lee. The wound should continue to be taped for a total of 3 weeks from the day of surgery to promote optimal healing. The 1/2 inch skin tone Micropore tape can be obtained at your local chemist. After 3 weeks, daily massage of the wound with Vitamine E cream or similar products can help reduce the swelling as well as improving the appearance of the scar. 

Activities

Vigorous activities should be avoided for at least 3 weeks after surgery. Driving should also be avoided until you can comfortably and swiftly turn your head without pain, usually 2 weeks. Ease yourself back into various activities when the neck pain and stiffness have settled. 

Medications 

• For pain: If you need stronger pain medications than those you can get without a prescription, you will be discharged with them. They can be weaned off as soon as possible. 

• Thyroid hormone replacement: Generally, patients do not need to be on thyroid hormone replacement after a hemithyroidectomy. However, 4 - 6 weeks after surgery, you will need to have a blood test to check your thyroid hormone levels. This can be arranged by your GP or endocrinologist. If this shows low thyroid hormone levels, you may need to be started on thyroxine (e.g. Oroxine / Eutroxig). 

• Other medications: You may also need to take other medications as necessary, such as laxatives if you experience constipation with the pain medications. Mr Lee or your GP will discuss these with you. 

Country Patients 

• If you are unable to return to Melbourne for follow-up, you will need to arrange all follow-up appointments with your GP. Please discuss this with A/Prof. Lee prior to discharge. 

Follow-up Appointments 

• With your GP: It is essential that you see your GP 4 to 6 weeks after surgery to have your thyroid function checked. Your GP can also help answer any questions or concerns you might have regarding the surgery. 

• With A/Prof. Lee: Your first appointment to see A/Prof. Lee will be made approximately 2 weeks after surgery. Please ring (03) 9246 6466 to confirm your appointment. Any subsequent appointments will be made after your first follow-up visit 

• With your endocrinologist: If you saw an endocrinologist before surgery, you can also return to see your endocrinologist approximately 4 to 6 weeks after surgery to have your thyroid hormone levels checked.

Click here for a downloadable pamphlet for hemithyriodectomy.

NB Please note that this information provided is for the purpose of general reference & education. A/Prof. Lee cannot be held liable for any deviations from the information contained within this section. Always discuss your specific circumstances with your surgeon A/Prof. Lee. 

What to Expect

After your parathyroid surgery, it’s normal to experience one or more of the following symptoms. These are usually mild to moderate and should gradually improve over the coming weeks or months. If your symptoms are ongoing or concerning, please contact A/Prof. Lee or your GP.

Common symptoms include:

• Pain or unusual sensations around the wound or neck (usually improves within 1–2 weeks)

• A tight or “choking” feeling in the throat

• Mild swelling or numbness near the wound

• Weakness in your voice

• Some difficulty swallowing

• Headaches or fatigue

• Temporary tingling around your lips, fingertips, or feet

Important: If you experience difficulty breathing, rapid neck swelling, or muscle spasms, go to the nearest emergency department or call an ambulance immediately.

Caring for Your Wound

When you leave hospital, your wound will be covered with a sticky dressing. Please leave this dressing in place until your first review appointment in 2–3 weeks.

• You can shower with the dressing on—gently pat dry afterward.

• Some blood staining is normal.

• It’s also common for the skin around the wound to appear slightly swollen for up to a week.

Watch out for signs of infection: Redness, warmth, pain, or increasing swelling may suggest an infection. Although uncommon, it can be serious. Please contact your GP or A/Prof. Lee if you notice any of these symptoms.

Ongoing Wound Care

• The dressing will be changed at your follow-up appointment.

• We recommend keeping the wound taped for 3 weeks to support healing. Skin-tone ½ inch Micropore tape can be purchased at your local pharmacy.

• Once the tape is no longer needed, gently massage the area daily with Vitamin E cream to help reduce swelling and improve the appearance of your scar.

Activity Guidelines

• Avoid vigorous activity for at least 3 weeks after surgery.

• Do not drive until you can turn your head comfortably and quickly, without pain, and you are off all pain medication.

• Gradually resume your normal activities once neck pain and stiffness have settled.

Medications

Pain Relief

• If stronger pain relief is needed, you will be given a prescription when you’re discharged. These medications can usually be weaned off after a few days.

Calcium Supplements

• Although the goal of surgery is to lower your calcium levels, a sudden drop may cause tingling or cramping—even if your levels are within the normal range.

• To avoid this, you may be prescribed calcium tablets, which are gradually reduced over the first few weeks post-op.

  • Your GP will check your calcium levels weekly and adjust the dose as needed.

  • Take calcium tablets on an empty stomach (e.g. 30 minutes before a meal).

Follow-Up Care

With Your GP

• Your GP plays an important role in your recovery.

• You’ll need weekly blood tests for at least 3 weeks to monitor and manage your calcium levels.

• If you don’t already see an endocrinologist, your GP will also check your thyroid function around 6 weeks after surgery.

With A/Prof. Lee

• Your first appointment will be 2–3 weeks after surgery. Please call (03) 9246 6466 to confirm.

• Any future follow-up appointments will be arranged during this visit.

With Your Endocrinologist (if applicable)

• If you already see an endocrinologist, you should plan to see them 2–4 weeks after your surgery.

• You may also need to discuss any further treatment plans at that time.

For Country Patients

If you live outside of Melbourne and are unable to return for your follow-up appointments, please ensure you discuss your care plan with A/Prof. Lee before being discharged. Ongoing care will need to be coordinated through your local GP.

Click here for a downloadable pamphlet for Parathyroidectomy.

NB Please note that this information provided is for the purpose of general reference & education. A/Prof. Lee cannot be held liable for any deviations from the information contained within this section. Always discuss your specific circumstances with your surgeon A/Prof. Lee. 

Symptoms after hernia surgery:
It is common to experience one or more of the following symptoms following hernia surgery. These symptoms are usually mild to moderate, improving over weeks to months. So if you experience prolonged symptoms, please discuss with A/Prof. Lee or your GP.

• Pain or funny sensations around the wound – usually settles within 1 to 2 weeks

• Numbness and/or mild swelling around the wound

• Muscle stiffness

• Tiredness is common after general anaesthesia

• Scrotal swelling or bruising after inguinal hernia repair

If you experience severe pain or rapid swelling around the wound, please go to the nearest emergency department immediately, or call the ambulance.

Wound Care
When you are discharged from hospital, you will have some waterproof dressing over your wound. Please leave it in place until you return for your first review appointment in 1–2 weeks’ time. You can shower with the dressing in place, just gently dab dry. Please do not be alarmed if it becomes a little blood stained.

It is common for the skin around the wound to become swollen over the week after surgery. However, if it becomes red, hot, and painful, it may have become infected. This is very uncommon but potentially serious. If it occurs, please see your GP or A/Prof. Lee to see if you need antibiotics.

The dressing on your wound will be replaced or simply removed at your first follow-up appointment with A/Prof. Lee. Usually, the stitches are dissolvable. This means there is usually no need for any stitches to be removed. However, if you had a drain tube in place after surgery, there is often 1–2 stitches that might need to be removed after about 1 week after removal of the drain.

An infection can compromise the healing of the hernia repair, especially if the repair is achieved by placement of a mesh. Therefore, it is important that any signs of infection are detected early and treated adequately to prevent the mesh from getting infected. Simple things you can do to help prevent infection include keeping the area clean and dry, not smoking, keeping good blood sugar control, and having a healthy and nutritious diet.

Specific Instructions

After Key Hole Surgery
Despite small incisions, it is important that you do not rush into too much physical activity after surgery. The repair takes as much time to heal as open surgery.

After Inguinal Hernia Repair
A very common “surprise” for men after this procedure, whether done open or key-hole, is swelling and bruising of the scrotum. This can sometimes be quite significant. There is no need to be alarmed. As long as it is not associated with significant pain, it will slowly subside without further active treatment. Beware that it can sometimes take weeks to go away. For comfort, supportive jocks are recommended.

Some men can also have difficulty passing urine after this procedure. If that is the case, please alert your doctor. If you are able to pass urine before being discharged, this is very unlikely to happen when you are home.

After Umbilical Hernia Repair
Surgery near the belly button is prone to infection. Please seek medical advice if the wound becomes tender, swollen, and red, or if the dressing becomes soaked with fluid and emits a foul smell.

After Large Abdominal Hernia Repair
If you have been fitted with an abdominal binder, please keep wearing it for 3 weeks, only taking it off for showering/changing.

After Multiple Hernia Repairs
You can experience increased levels of discomfort if you have had multiple hernias repaired at the same time. Therefore, it is important that you discuss with your doctor the amount of pain medication you need, so that you can maintain your mobility and movements.

Diet
There are no specific restrictions to your diet. You can resume your usual diet after the operation. However, you are encouraged to have a balanced diet high in fibre and drink plenty of fluids to facilitate regular bowel habits.

Activities
Vigorous activities and lifting of more than a couple of kilograms should be avoided for at least 6 weeks after surgery. You are encouraged to go for walks at a leisurely pace up to 20 minutes at a time. You should be doing this on a daily basis, starting with once a day, increasing the frequency as you start to feel more comfortable.

Driving should be avoided until you are off pain medications and can comfortably use the brake pedal without pain — usually 2 weeks. After 6 weeks, gradually build back up to your previous level of exercise intensity.

There is no hard and fast rule on how quickly you can get back to your normal activities. A good rule of thumb is to listen to your body. If something you are doing is causing discomfort during or after the activity, you are probably not ready for it yet.

You may need to consider consulting a fitness professional to help adapt to the kind of activities you are able to do in the future.

Avoiding Recurrence
After any hernia repair, there is a very small risk of the hernia coming back, called recurrence. The risk factors for recurrence are similar to those that might have contributed to the development of the hernia in the first instance.

Any factor that chronically increases the pressure inside the abdominal cavity can be a risk — such as constipation, enlarged prostate for men, chronic cough of a smoker, or heavy lifting at work/gym. See the Activities section regarding exercise after surgery.

Other factors that impair the healing process may also increase the risk of recurrence. These factors include poorly controlled diabetes, smoking, long-term steroid medications, other immunosuppressants, connective tissue disorders, and poor nutrition.

Some of these factors are beyond the control of an individual. However, there are many that can be modified through lifestyle adjustments or medical treatment. Therefore, the modifiable factors should be as well controlled as possible to avoid recurrence.

Medications

• For pain: If you need stronger pain medications than those you can get without a prescription, you will be discharged with them. They can be weaned off as soon as possible.

• Other medications: You may also need to take other medications as necessary, such as laxatives if you experience constipation with the pain medications. You should also go back to your usual medications. Please discuss with A/Prof. Lee when to restart your blood thinners if you normally take them.

Follow-up Appointments

• With your GP: Your GP plays an important role in your postoperative care. They can help you with adjusting your medications, answer any questions you might have, or check your wound/dressing if you have any concerns. They are your first port of call if you have any issues. Details of your surgery and hospital admission will be forwarded to them.

• With A/Prof. Lee: Your first appointment to see A/Prof. Lee will be made approximately 2 weeks after surgery. Please ring the rooms on (03) 9246 6466 to confirm your appointment. Any subsequent appointments will be made after your first follow-up visit.

Country Patients
If you are unable to return to Melbourne for follow-up, you will need to arrange all follow-up appointments with your GP. Please discuss this with A/Prof. Lee prior to discharge.

Click here for a downloadable pamphlet for Hernia Surgery.

NB: Please note that the information provided is for the purpose of general reference and education. A/Prof. Lee cannot be held liable for any deviations from the information contained within this section. Always discuss your specific circumstances with your surgeon A/Prof. Lee.

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