Hi. I had a total thyroidectomy and neck dissection, but did not have half my thyroid removed previously, so a little different. 

I think it's mostly about ensuring it hasn't spread elsewhere in the thyroid or that there aren't cancer cells left in the thyroid and that it hasn't spread to lymph nodes. 

Recovery-wise, people differ. I was pretty OK within a few days of the operation and even before that, it was really just the anaesthetic that left me feeling off form for a couple of days.

I was off work for a month because I'm a teacher and really needed to be able to turn my head quickly, raise my voice (not shout, but be heard in a busy classroom or yard) and be able to carry things in both arms. Even when I first went back to work, I was carrying my briefcase in my right-hand (it was the lymph nodes at the left-hand side that were removed) because carrying too much in my left-hand pulled on the scar and I wasn't able to call across the yard - had students running around saying, "Miss says you're to come away from that."

But if it gives any indication, I walked about 20 minutes from the station to the hospital to get my stitches out 11 days after my operation, then went into town and did some shopping. My mum, who I asked to come with me, both in case I felt weak or anything after it and in case there was any information given that I would like a second person to hear for confirmation, asked if I wanted to get a taxi, but I felt fine.

Best of luck with your operation.