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Parathyroid gland removal - Recovery

Alternative Names

Removal of parathyroid gland; Parathyroidectomy

After the Procedure:

Often, people can go home the same day they have surgery. You can start your everyday activities in a few days. It will take about 1 to 3 weeks for you to fully heal.

There are usually no sutures to be removed. However, the surgery area must be kept clean and dry. You may need to drink liquids and eat soft foods for a day.

Numbness or tingling around your mouth in the 24 to 48 hours after surgery is caused by low calcium. You can take calcium supplements every 4 hours until the symptoms go away.

After this procedure, you should have routine blood tests to check your calcium level.

Outlook (Prognosis):

People usually recover very quickly after this surgery. Recovery is fastest when less invasive techniques are used.

Sometimes, another surgery is needed to remove more of the parathyroid glands.

  • Reviewed last on: 11/5/2010
  • Shabir Bhimji MD, PhD, Specializing in General Surgery, Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Midland, TX. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Sosa JA, Udelsman R. The parathyroid glands. In: Townsend CM, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, eds. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2008:chap 37.

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