| Re: Those that have had a Total Thyroidectomy, Questions!
You only get RAI if you have cancer. Nowdays thyrogen is approved for treatment, so you won't have to feel discomfort of no meds prior to treatment, but if it is cancerous, you would need about a week after treatment off, and this would be several weeks after surgery.
Because your job requires lifting you will have to have the surgeon tell you when you will be ready (there are internal sutures to consider, etc.). I was up and about immediately after surgery, and I worked from home so was ready quickly---but since you work in a physical environment, you may need 2 weeks, but discuss with your surgeon.
In my time, 4 years ago, thyrogen for thyroid cancer wasn't fda approved for RAI treatment---only scans, so after my surgery (I knew I had cancer) I didn't have any thyroid meds, I went without until my RAI. But I should have been given cytomel in the meantime, which was a bit of a mix up.
It takes about 2 weeks for your existing hormone to leave your body, so you won't feel the affects of not having a thyroid without meds immediately---but you might feel tired from the anesthesia.
I had a drain the first night, keeps swelling down and helps them check that there's no bleeding, they took it out in the morning, no biggie. I had regular stitches that the surgeon removed a week later, and virtually no scar.
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