The short answer
After a total thyroidectomy you take a thyroxine (levothyroxine) tablet every day for life, with blood tests to get the dose right. Some hoarseness and low calcium are common in the first days and weeks and usually settle. Tingling around the lips or fingers, cramps, or swelling in the neck with difficulty breathing need urgent attention.
Book thyroidectomy, from ₦1,400,000Medically reviewed by Dr Debo Odulana, Founder and Chief Executive, Mezo. Last reviewed . This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Care is decided with you after an examination.
Thyroxine: the daily tablet
Without a thyroid, your body needs the hormone from a tablet. Taken properly, it lets you live a normal life, work, exercise and have children.
- Take it once a day on an empty stomach, with water, ideally 30 to 60 minutes before breakfast or tea
- Keep a gap of a few hours from iron, calcium tablets and antacids, which stop it being absorbed
- Stay on the same brand where possible, and do not run out: keep a spare pack
- A blood test, usually about six weeks after starting or changing the dose, guides the right dose
- Tell your doctor if you become pregnant: the dose often needs to go up
Your voice
Hoarseness, a weak voice or tiring when you talk are common for days to weeks after surgery, because the nerves to the voice box lie next to the thyroid and get stretched. Most people recover fully. Singers, teachers, pastors and others who rely on their voice should mention it before surgery. If hoarseness lasts more than a few weeks, the surgeon may arrange a camera check of the voice box.
Calcium after surgery
Four tiny glands called the parathyroids sit on the thyroid and control calcium. They can be stunned by the operation, so calcium can drop for a while. You may be given calcium, and sometimes vitamin D, tablets for a few weeks. In a small number of people the low calcium is long term.
Tingling around the mouth or in the fingertips, muscle cramps or twitching are signs of low calcium. Tell your surgeon the same day; do not wait for your follow-up.
The scar and getting back to normal
The scar sits in a skin crease at the front of the neck. Keep it clean and dry, and protect it from the sun for the first months. On dark skin scars can darken or thicken; tell your surgeon early if you are prone to keloids. Most people return to desk work in about two weeks and to driving once they can turn their head comfortably.
Go to an emergency department now if
- Your neck swells quickly, or you have difficulty breathing or noisy breathing, especially in the first day
- Tingling and cramps are severe or spreading
- You have a fever, or the wound is hot, red and leaking
What it costs on Mezo
One to two nights in hospital included.
Common questions
Will I gain weight after thyroid removal?
Not if your thyroxine dose is right. Weight gain usually means the dose needs checking with a blood test.
Can I get pregnant after a thyroidectomy?
Yes. Plan ahead with your doctor, as the thyroxine dose usually needs increasing early in pregnancy and checking regularly.
Can I stop thyroxine if I feel well?
No, not after a total thyroidectomy. Feeling well means the dose is working. Stopping causes an underactive thyroid over weeks.
How much does thyroidectomy cost on Mezo?
Thyroidectomy is from ₦1,400,000. A written all-in quote follows the assessment, and you pay online.
The procedures
Related health guides
More patient guides
Sources and further reading
The guidelines and patient information this page is checked against. Care in Nigeria follows the same evidence; what differs is the price and where it is done.
- Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism). NHS. Patient information.
- Treatment for thyroid cancer. NHS. Patient information.
- Thyroid disease: assessment and management. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Clinical guideline.
Links last checked 22 October 2026.
Medical disclaimer: This guide is general information and does not replace advice from your own doctor. Where your centre's instructions differ from this guide, follow theirs.