Do you need to follow a special diet after thyroid surgery?

After surgery for thyroid nodules, patients will experience some of the following symptoms:
Changes in voice such as hoarseness, difficulty speaking loudly, fatigue, changes in voice timbre.... Changes This is due to damage to the laryngeal nerves during surgery. This condition can last a few days or weeks but is rarely permanent. Your blood calcium may be low because your parathyroid glands are damaged during surgery. This is only one of the temporary symptoms and can be treated with calcium supplements for a few days. Some signs that you have a calcium deficiency include: numbness, tingling sensation in the lips, hands and soles of the feet, like ants crawling on the skin, cramps, muscle spasms, headaches, anxiety and depression. Your neck is likely to be swollen, stiff, and numb shortly after surgery. According to experts, this symptom is completely normal and stops when the wound heals.

For most people, a special diet after a thyroidectomy or lobectomy is not necessary. Because the patient can eat and drink normally the morning after surgery. But initially, patients should eat foods that are softer and easier to swallow to avoid pain and stiffness in the neck. Doctors also advise patients to eat slowly and drink plenty of water during - after meals to soften food and prevent blockages. You can also use a blender to prepare hard foods.
To be able to ensure easier eating after thyroid surgery, you should consult your doctor for accurate and complete advice.

In order for the wound to heal quickly and the body to recover soon, here are some notes to help you take the best care after surgery.
After total thyroidectomy, you will take thyroid hormone replacement medicine for the rest of your life. Because the entire thyroid gland is removed, it will no longer supply the hormone needed to control the body's metabolism. You may also need to take supplements after your thyroidectomy to balance your calcium levels. In some cases, the patient must have thyroid hormone levels checked and will be prescribed thyroid hormone replacement. Before you leave the hospital, your doctor will schedule a follow-up appointment, instruct you on how to recover at home, and use any prescribed medications. Most people can go home within a day of surgery, but you should take about two weeks off work to recover. You should limit lifting heavy objects or other tasks that can strain your neck for up to three weeks after surgery. Patients should also not soak or scrub the incision for at least a week to give the incision time to heal. According to the doctors, you will be allowed to shower after about a day. In the days immediately following surgery, you will need to care for the incision area(s). Thus, the diet after thyroid surgery only needs enough nutrients as recommended, without any special dietary restrictions. It is important for the patient to keep an infection and heal quickly.

References: pennmedicine.org, medtronic.com