Thyroidectomy

  1. No heavy lifting >20lbs or heavy exercise for 7 days

  2. Follow-up in clinic at SHC in 2 weeks, your sutures are absorbable and you can shower the morning after your surgery. The surgical glue (Dermabond) will be debrided at this visit.

  3. You will be given a prescription for Codeine (or equivalent). This can be taken on an as needed basis for pain not controlled by regular acetaminophen and ibuprofen

  4. You can take 1000mg of acetaminophen (Tylenol) and 400mg of ibuprofen (Advil) every 6 hours unless otherwise directed.

  5. If you underwent a total thyroidectomy, you will be given prescriptions for oral Calcium Carbonate and Synthroid +/- Calcitriol. Please use as directed.

  6. If you underwent a total thyroidectomy, you will be given a standing order postoperative calcium requisition form. Please obtain this bloodwork at an outpatient CLS clinic 7 days after discharge from hospital. You will be called by Dr. Livingstone’s office for instructions about your medications. You will be slowly weaned off of Calcium and Calcitriol (if prescribed). Continue taking the Synthroid, you will require this medication permanently as thyroid hormone replacement.

  7. If endocrinology followup is required, we will arrange this once our pathology team is able to examine your thyroid gland (and neck dissection if performed).

Clinic Phone & OR Bookings: 403-453-7055

Clinic Fax: 587-387-7267