Parathyroidectomy: Before Your Surgery
How do you prepare for a parathyroidectomy?
Surgery can be stressful. This information will help you understand what you can expect. And it will help you safely prepare for surgery.
Preparing for surgery
- Be sure you have someone to take you home. Anesthesia and pain medicine will make it unsafe for you to drive or get home on your own.
- Understand exactly what surgery is planned, along with the risks, benefits, and other options.
- If you take a medicine that prevents blood clots, your doctor may tell you to stop taking it before your surgery. Or your doctor may tell you to keep taking it. (These medicines include aspirin and other blood thinners.) Make sure that you understand exactly what your doctor wants you to do.
- Tell your doctor ALL the medicines, vitamins, supplements, and herbal remedies you take. Some may increase the risk of problems during your surgery. Your doctor will tell you if you should stop taking any of them before the surgery and how soon to do it.
- Make sure your doctor and the hospital have a copy of your advance directive. If you don’t have one, you may want to prepare one. It lets others know your health care wishes. It’s a good thing to have before any type of surgery or procedure.
After parathyroidectomy: When to call
Call 911 anytime you think you may need emergency care. For example, call if:
- You passed out (lost consciousness).
- You have sudden chest pain and shortness of breath, or you cough up blood.
- You have severe trouble breathing.
Call your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if:
- You have loose stitches, or your incision comes open.
- You have blood leaking from your incision.
- You have signs of infection, such as:
- Increased pain, swelling, warmth, or redness.
- Red streaks leading from the incision.
- Pus draining from the incision.
- A fever.
- You have a tingling feeling around your mouth.
- You have cramping or tingling in your hands and feet.
Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor if:
- You have trouble talking.
- You are sick to your stomach or cannot keep fluids down.
- You do not have a bowel movement after taking a laxative.
After a parathyroidectomy: Overview
Parathyroidectomy is the removal of one or more of the four parathyroid glands in the neck. These small glands, located on the thyroid gland, help control the amount of calcium in the body. When they are too active, these glands cause high levels of calcium. This is called hyperparathyroidism (say "hy-per-pair-uh-THY-royd-iz-um").
You may leave the hospital with stitches in the cut the doctor made (incision). Your doctor will tell you if you need to come back to have these removed. You may still have a tube called a drain in your neck. Your doctor will take this out a few days after your surgery.
You may have some trouble chewing and swallowing after you go home. Your voice probably will be hoarse, and you may have trouble talking. For most people, these problems get better within a few weeks, but it can take longer. In some cases, this surgery causes permanent problems with chewing, speaking, or swallowing.
What happens on the day of a parathyroidectomy?
- Follow the instructions exactly about when to stop eating and drinking. If you don't, your surgery may be canceled. If your doctor told you to take your medicines on the day of surgery, take them with only a sip of water.
- Take a bath or shower before you come in for your surgery. Do not apply lotions, perfumes, deodorants, or nail polish.
- Do not shave the surgical site yourself.
- Take off all jewelry and piercings. And take out contact lenses, if you wear them.
At the hospital or surgery center
- Bring a picture ID.
- You will be kept comfortable and safe by your anesthesia provider. You will be asleep during the surgery.
- The surgery may take several hours, depending on how complex it is.
©2011-2024 Healthwise, Incorporated