Patients who have had hemithyroidectomy or isthmusectomy will almost all go home the next day.  There is no need for post-operative blood tests at all.
 
Patients who have had total thyroidectomy or completion thyroidectomy will mostly go home the next day.  Occasionally they may stay 2 days, mostly depending on the PTH and post-operative calcium results.
 
Most people will be back to work in 2-3 weeks post thyroid surgery.  This mostly depends on tiredness levels.  Recovery from any surgery depends mostly on the length of surgery and time under general anaesthetic.  The longer this period, the longer it takes for higher cognitive functions to return to normal.  For 3-4hr operation, sometimes this takes a week or longer.
 
Tiredness is also a major factor.  In the beginning, it is best to take a nap 1-2 times per day.  Your body will let you know what it needs, so just listen to it.  If you fight it or try to push through it, your recovery may take longer.  For the first 1-2 weeks at work, my recommendation is to go ½ time or similar, whatever is possible with your employer.  You will get tired easily and also you never come back to full time job.  You often need to catch up with things that you missed during your time away on medical leave.  These are my recommendation only, based mostly on my personal experience following an operation and based also on discussing my patients’ experience.  You are more then welcome to change these depending on how your recovery is progressing.
 
Exercise in general is very important following and prior to surgery.  Prior to thyroid and parathyroid surgery and especially afterwards it is important to do neck exercises.  They will minimize muscle ache due to positioning during the surgery as well as limitation of neck movements following surgery.
 
Exercise in general following surgery is also recommended.  People should start with walking and progress as tolerated.  Yoga is excellent as firm of exercise.  Weight lifting and straining should be avoided for at least 2 weeks following thyroid and parathyroid surgery.