Otorhinolaryngology focuses on the ear, nose, and throat. Learn about the diagnosis and treatment of hearing loss, sinusitis, tonsillitis, and voice disorders.
Send us all your questions or requests, and our expert team will assist you.
Recovering from a parathyroidectomy is generally much easier than patients expect. Because the surgery is often minimally invasive and involves very little cutting of muscle, the pain is usually manageable. Many patients report that the worst part is a sore throat from the breathing tube, rather than pain from the incision itself.
However, the body goes through a significant chemical adjustment after surgery. For years, the body has been dealing with high calcium. Suddenly, the source of that high calcium is gone. The remaining healthy glands, which have been “asleep,” need time to wake up and start working again. This transition period requires careful management of calcium supplements to prevent symptoms of low calcium. This section guides you through the days and weeks following the procedure.
When you wake up in the recovery room, you will have a small bandage or surgical glue on the front of your neck. You might feel groggy. Nurses will monitor your vital signs and check the wound for any swelling. You will likely be allowed to drink and eat as soon as you feel up to it.
Most patients are discharged home within a few hours. You will need someone to drive you. You might feel a bit stiff in the neck, like you slept in a strange position. Ice packs can help with this swelling and discomfort for the first 24 hours.
The incision requires very little care. If you have surgical glue (which looks like clear nail polish), you don’t need to do anything. It will peel off on its own in a week or two. If you have strips of tape (Steri-Strips), leave them alone until they curl up and fall off.
You can usually shower 24 to 48 hours after surgery, letting soap and water run gently over the neck. Avoid scrubbing the incision or soaking it in a bath or pool. Keep it dry and clean.
The scar will look red and slightly raised at first. This is normal healing. Over the next 6 to 12 months, it will flatten and fade to white. Once the incision is fully healed (usually after 2 weeks), applying silicone scar sheets or vitamin E oil and protecting it from the sun can help it disappear almost completely.
The most important part of recovery is taking your calcium pills. Your surgeon will give you a specific schedule. Because your bad gland is gone and the good ones are sleepy, your blood calcium will drop. This level is the goal, but we don’t want it to drop too low too fast.
You will likely take large doses of calcium (like Citracal or Oscal) and vitamin D for the first week or two. Do not skip these doses. The goal is to keep your calcium in a safe range while your body resets.
You need to watch for signs of hypocalcemia (low calcium). The classic sign is tingling or “pins and needles.” This phenomenon usually starts in the fingertips or around the lips. It can feel like your foot falling asleep. If you feel this, it means your calcium is dropping. You should take extra calcium pills immediately as instructed by your doctor. If the tingling doesn’t stop or spreads to muscle cramps in your hands or feet, you should call your doctor or go to the ER, but this is rare if you follow the pill schedule.
In patients who have had severe disease for a long time with massive tumors, the bones are “starved” for calcium. Once the hormone levels drop after surgery, the bones rapidly suck up calcium from the blood to rebuild themselves. This is called “Hungry Bone Syndrome.”
These patients require much higher doses of calcium and sometimes prescription vitamin D for a longer period. They might experience more tingling and need closer monitoring with blood tests in the weeks following surgery. It is actually a positive sign—it means your bones are healing—but it must be managed carefully to keep you feeling well.
Recovery is quick. Most patients are back to their normal routine within a few days. You should avoid heavy lifting or strenuous exercise for about one to two weeks to prevent raising your blood pressure, which could cause the neck wound to bleed.
You can usually drive once you are no longer taking prescription pain medicine and can turn your head comfortably to check your blind spots. Most people return to work within a week. If you have a sedentary job, you might go back in 3 or 4 days. If you have a physically demanding job, you might need 2 weeks.
You will typically see your surgeon for a check-up one or two weeks after surgery. They will check the incision and your vocal cord function. More importantly, they will check your blood calcium and PTH levels.
Seeing the calcium level return to normal and the PTH drop to normal is the confirmation of a cure. Once the glands have stabilized, usually after a few months, you can stop the Consider taking high-dose calcium supplements initially, followed by a normal daily maintenance dose. Bone density scans (DEXA) are usually repeated one year after surgery to document the improvement in bone strength. The risk of recurrence is very low, but having your calcium checked once a year during your annual physical is a beneficial idea to ensure the problem hasn’t returned.
Send us all your questions or requests, and our expert team will assist you.
Many patients report the “brain fog” lifting within 24 to 48 hours. Energy levels usually improve over the first few weeks. Bone pain often resolves rapidly.
Yes. You might have a mild sore throat, so soft foods like yogurt, ice cream, or soup might feel better for the first day or two, but there are no dietary restrictions.
This varies by patient. Some only need them for a week; others with “hungry bones” need them for months. Your doctor will wean you off them based on blood tests.
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. Take a dose right away if you experience tingling in your lips or fingers.
It is very rare. The cure rate is over 95%. However, since you have other parathyroid glands, there is a small chance one of them could develop a tumor years later, but such an incident is uncommon.
Leave your phone number and our medical team will call you back to discuss your healthcare needs and answer all your questions.
Your Comparison List (you must select at least 2 packages)
