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thyroid removal

I will have thyroid removed April  16 . It will be outpatient at a surgery center he uses often and it is with in walking distance of hospital.   I have a hotel rm booked very close to hospital , I live 2 hr drive away. I have been assured that if he feels it necessary I will be admitted for 23 obs. has anyone had this outpatient and if so how did it go.  I feel comfortable with the surgeon but not spending at least one night in hospital concerns me.  I will have a lot of family with me they have assured me that if they feel I need to be kept in hospital they will make sure of it.  just wanted to get some feed back on this subject .
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have any of you had I131 ablation . After CT scan to see if and or where cancer spread (hopefully has not spread ) this is the next step.  Any information on this would be welcomed.
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surgery went well  (04 16 2014) thyroid removal. recovering with no issues.  Patho report not so great it was papillary (predominantly follicular variant )carcinoma. Some tissue had to be left because risk to vocal cord. Further treatment will be required.
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Glad to here your recovery is progressing well.  Wishing you the best both in recovery and patho. reports. And thank you for your input.  The more I read the more I think 23 Hr. OBS is the best way to go. The cost for the outpatient facility is the same if I stay 1 Hr. or 23. The facility alone is $10725.00 my cost will be around $2000.00 . The doctor, anesthesiologist and labs all separate charges.  I am lucky to have great ins. if not I do not know what I would do.
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Avatar universal
I had total thyroid removal yesterday (4/8/2014) and surgery took 3 hours.  I was released from hospital this morning.  Not much pain yesterday after leaving recovery, but pretty sore today.  Incision does not hurt but neck muscles are really sore.  

My calcium levels and PTH levels were good yesterday and today.  I had large nodule on left side that tested suspicious for cancer both in cytology and Afirma test.  Right side nodules tested benign, but when surgery was done very large mass was found outside of the thyroid attached to the collar bone (on right side).  Surgeon said the capsule of the thyroid was very thick and the entire gland was "dead" and a sticky mess.  The substernal mass he said was about to cause me major problems with breathing and swallowing.  Pathology was indeterminant from frozen section, and I will get final results next week.  Glad the surgery is done regardless of the pathology results.  
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thank you for your response. Hope all is well now for  both of you.  
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Avatar universal
Yes, sometimes the parathyroid get damaged in the process of thyroid removal. I didn't have that problem when they removed mine, however, my niece did...She ended up having had her parathyroid damaged in the process and her calcium levels were a huge problem for her.

I stayed a week with my surgery, but I had other issues as well.
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you are correct V-d and calcium go hand in hand so to speak u need V-d for absorption of calcium.
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The parathyroid glands are 4 small glands attached to the thyroid they have to be carefully dissected away from the thyroid gland.  If damaged during surgery or can not function properly related to inflammation because of surgery the result is low calcium levels.  hypocalcemia affects the muscles.  The effects can range from simple muscle cramps, seizures or cardiac arrhythmias the most dangerous being ventricular fibrillation. Because of my Hashimotos my thyroid is very large and I have several large (5cm) nodules it will be more difficult to leave them intact . I am glad to hear that others have had this outpatient I hope your members all had great outcomes. thanks so much for your response. I am starting to feel a little better about it. I have taken care of many patients in hospital after this surgery, but it is very different when the shoe is on the other foot lol
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Avatar universal
Yes mam it does.  When it is being removed they can cut something. I had to stay an extra 3 days in hospital because if my V-D thought you should know that.  
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649848 tn?1534633700
COMMUNITY LEADER
I haven't had my thyroid removed, but we have had some members who had their surgery as outpatients and went home the same day.  

Why are you so worried about calcium levels?  Calcium has nothing to do with your thyroid removal.
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Avatar universal
Thank you for your response. You did stay for 23 hour obs. Hope all is going well for you now. The fact that they were doing blood draws to check your levels I think was a good thing.  The thing that worries me the most is my calcium level. I have been reading a lot of the comments posted and have yet to come across one that had this outpatient.  however where I will be having my surgery it is common to do it this way. there are several outpatient facilities surrounding two major medical centers. So having the surgery in one of them seems ok but I am ,but I am concerned about going to a hotel rather tan a hospital .
please if anyone has had this outpatient please let me know how it went. also would like all opinions from anyone on this subject.  
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Avatar universal
I had my surgery 3/25 at 10:40am and was discharged 3/26 at 9:00am. Docs ckd my levels every 3 hours. Hope all goes well and wishing u a speedy recovery
Michelle
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