Question

create a teaching plan for a patient who has undergone a thyroidectomy which includes information about what role Synthroid will play, how to take this medication and post op concerns and wound treatment.

Answer 1

Ans) Synthroid is a prescription medicine that helps restore thyroid levels by replacing the amount of thyroxine that your body is missing. The active ingredient in Synthroid is levothyroxine sodium, a man-made hormone that works in the same way as thyroxine.

Post op concerns:

- Monitoring for bleeding and respiratory distress that indicates laryngeal edema secondary to swelling in the area of the surgery.

Recovering after surgery/teaching plan:
- Get plenty of rest.

- Care for your incision as directed.

- Avoid heavy lifting and strenuous activity for 3 to 5 weeks.

- Walk a few times daily. But don’t push yourself too hard. Slowly increase your pace and distance, as you feel able.

- Return to work when your doctor says it’s OK.

- Keep a card in your wallet that lists:

- Your name and contact information

- Your doctor’s name and contact information

- The name of your disease

- The brand name and dose of your medicine

- Taking your thyroid medicine
- Take medicine as directed.

- Use a pillbox labeled with the days of the week. This will help you remember whether you’ve taken your medicine each day.

- Take medicine with a full glass of water and preferably no other food or medicine for at least 1 hour after or 4 hours before taking the pill.

- Thepill needs to reach your stomach and not dissolve in your throat.

- Try to take your medicine with the same types and amounts of food and liquid each day. This helps control the amount of thyroid hormone in your system.

- After taking your medicine:

- Wait 4 hours before eating or drinking anything that contains soy.

- Wait 4 hours before taking certain medicine. These include:

Iron supplements

Calcium supplements

Antacids that contain either calcium or aluminum hydroxide

Medicines that lower your cholesterol

Do not stop taking your medicine even if you become pregnant. Your dose may have to be increased during pregnancy.

Never stop taking medicines on your own.

Wound care:

- You may shower 24 hours after surgery. Wash gently over the incision with soap and water, and then gently pat dry the incision.

- Do not apply ointments or powders to the incision.

- Avoid using Vitamin E cream, moisturizers, or anti-scar creams on the incision until after your first follow-up visit.