After a laryngectomy

You usually go back to the ward after your laryngectomy. You may be looked after in an intensive-care or high-dependency unit for 1 or 2 days. 

The doctors and nurses can make sure your breathing is safe and give you pain relief. 

After your operation, you are encouraged to start moving around as soon as possible. This is an important part of your recovery. 

It is important to do regular leg movements and deep-breathing exercises. This helps prevent a blood clot forming. A physiotherapist may explain the exercises to you.

You will not be able to talk at first. But you can communicate by mouthing words, writing or using a communication chart. If you have a mobile phone or tablet, you could use an app that reads what you type aloud.

Not having a voice can be frustrating and difficult to cope with. It is important to remember that most people who have a laryngectomy are able to speak again. But you may speak differently to how you did before surgery.

Your speech and language therapist (SLT) will support you with your communication, and you will get support and information from your healthcare team. 

We have more information about different ways to talk after a laryngectomy.

Your doctor or nurse will talk to you about managing or preventing pain after your surgery.

You may have your painkillers as an injection, or through a syringe connected to an electronic pump. The pump gives a continuous dose of pain relief over a set time. Pain relief may be called analgesia. 

You may also have a hand control with a button to press if you feel sore. This is called patient-controlled analgesia (PCA). It is designed so you cannot have too much pain relief. This means you can press it whenever you are uncomfortable.

Always tell the nurses if you are in pain. They may be able to increase the dose or change the pain relief.

Before your operation, your surgeons and specialist nurse can talk to you about possible changes in your appearance. It is important to have a good idea of what to expect.

Operations to the larynx often cause swelling. Your face and neck may look swollen after the operation. This slowly gets better over time.

Scars are usually red or dark to begin with, but slowly fade over time.

It can take time to adjust to changes in how you look. It is important to know that support is available. We have more information about coping with changes in your appearance.