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Posted 1/20/2011 6:15 PM (GMT 0)
As most of you know I am getting my thyroid out on the 25th of January. It is very large and pressing against my trachea and windpipe and is laying on my vocal chords. I believe it is also pressing on the main arteries that go up the neck because I have been having issues with lightheadedness, dizziness and sometimes blackness creeps into the corners of my vision. Unfortunately I cannot afford to take anymore time off before the surgery but having to talk so much (receptionist) is putting a strain on my voice. And, from what I have read/learned, if there is any damage to the vocal chords it is permanent.

Maybe I should call the doctors office and see if this is a real threat?? that would be the first step - makes sense, right?

Posted 1/20/2011 6:30 PM (GMT 0)
Hi!

I think you're a very wise woman. If what you have read says that it's a threat then you best ask your own doc about it. Sure would be best to find out BEFORE anything happens. We all would be sad if something happened to you and you hadn't checked on it.

Warm hugs,
Chutz
Posted 1/20/2011 6:34 PM (GMT 0)
According to the Mayo Clinic, the "damage" wouldn't be permanent.  It wouldn't hurt to ask your doctor, though.  Try to put  your mind at ease.

 

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/thyroidectomy/MY00709/DSECTION=results

 

Sherrine

Posted 1/20/2011 7:39 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Denita,

I think talking to your ENT about this would be helpful. I don't know how permanent the damage is or if they will know anything for sure. I just completed months in voice therapy for vocal cord paresis (they aren't vibrating correctly). The ENT couldn't find a cause when he scoped me but just knew it was happening. The voice therapist I was sent to was a bit discouraged because I wasn't progressing as well as should have been. It seemed that the jury was still out in her opinion, but some of my hoarseness was due to the tightness in my neck and tongue from Fibro. She said that over time my voice may recover and it may not. Even in people whos vocal cords are paralyzed, I don't think they know if they will recover until after voice therapy... I know some people who have come back 100% and some who have required surgery and others that never recover.

I would be interested to hear what your Dr. thinks about your chances.

Good luck with the surgery! I hope you find much relief after and that you continue to feel good.
Posted 1/20/2011 7:55 PM (GMT 0)
I did call the doctors office but have not received a return call yet, will let you know.

Sherrine,
the article you are refering to is after surgery. I have not had the surgery yet. The doctor was very concerned about the size of the thyroid and scoped me to make sure no damage was done to the vocal chords because the damage can be permanent. At the time all was well but I have since developed some symptoms that may say otherwise. He said that whatever condition the chords are in at time of surgery is most likely how they will be after, meaning that if I get some minor hoarseness now, I will always have minor hoarseness. This is why it concerns me.
Posted 1/20/2011 8:03 PM (GMT 0)
Denita, I'm an optimist.  My mom had nodules taken off her vocal cords when I was young.  She wasn't allowed to speak much for a while but she healed up nicely.  I have to think you will too since the hoarseness is from pressure.  (I think I'm understanding this correctly.)  But, once the pressure is off the vocal cords, it seems that they would improve again.  Maybe not right away but the body is so good at healing itself.

 

I realized that the article was about after the surgery but with the pressure of tubes down your throat they say that the damage isn't permanent.  That's why I posted it.

 

You only have a few more days to go so I'll be praying that everything goes as planned and that you not only have successful surgery but also you will get your normal voice back.

 

Sherrine

Posted 1/20/2011 8:22 PM (GMT 0)
Great job at taking charge of your health care! Way to go!
Congratulations, I believe your own inner wisdom and intuition will guide you. You have many hearts remembering you and sending you love while you are in your surgery and dealing with the healing afterward. Know that you are loved and safe.
All best thoughts are with you,
Nancy
Posted 1/20/2011 8:22 PM (GMT 0)
thank you for that.

I am just feeling so bad right this moment. If I could reach in and grab ahold and yank, I would.
Posted 1/20/2011 9:08 PM (GMT 0)
well, the doctor called and said that all should be well and surgery tuesday as scheduled.

I think that I am just getting myself worked up over this (I hate the whole idea of surgery, especially on my throat) and the stress of it is causing the tightness and that is causing the hoarseness.

I just cannot wait till all is over.

thank you all for you thoughts, suggestions and optimistic thinking. I know with you all in my corner I will be well.
Posted 1/21/2011 3:10 AM (GMT 0)
Hello Denita,

I'm sure everything will go well for you on Tuesday.

My vocal chords are bowed from an injury to the ulnar nerve at my collar bone. They were paralyzed for a period of time, and when that wore off, they were bowed. My voice is fine, probably a little lower than it would have been otherwise. It was scary at first, but now I hardly notice the difference.

My thoughts and prayers are with you.


Free Spirit
Posted 1/21/2011 5:12 PM (GMT 0)
Sometimes I just wish I had a switch that I could throw to turn off my brain.  Worrying doesn't help.  I said before, worrying is like a treadmill.  It wears you out and get you nowhere.  Plus, with fibro, it gives you more pain.  So, rent a great movie, curl up with a terrific book...maybe a funny one, and try to forget the surgery.  It obviously needs to be done.  Also, focus on how much better you will feel when you get this taken care of!  I'll continue to keep you in my prayers. 

 

Sherrine

Posted 1/21/2011 7:37 PM (GMT 0)
thats funny Sherrine, last night I watched Srek 4? with my grandkids and laughed thru the whole thing. Whats even funnier is that I was laughing and no one else was. I thought the movie was hilarious and it definately helped bring the stress levels way down.

I used to be so good at mind over matter but it seems that I always get something wrong with me that gets way over exagerated and enough is enough and then out goes the mind over matter. (example: I had a kidney stone and had to get it removed, when they did the follow up cat scan they found 10 (yes, 10) more. The smallest was a 2.2 and the last to be removed. The first was removed in July and the last was scheduled for the first week in October. Well, 2 weeks before, I had to be rushed in to get emergency surgery to remove the once 2.2 stone that had become 10.7 in less than 3 months. After that I was terrified to go near a hospital, the smell would set me off into an anxiety attack.

That was years ago and finally I got myself pulled together. And then I get a tooth pulled, go in several days later to find that I have an infection, a hole in my jaw bone and 2 dead teeth. Now after 2 root canals and oral surgery I am terrified again.
I am taking deep breaths and giving myself pep talks and working very hard on the mind over matter. It is a common surgery and I will come out of it fine!! I know this, I really do.

Thank you so much Sherrine for coaching me in optimistic thinking, I needed it.
Posted 1/21/2011 8:16 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks, Denita!  I've been where you are now.  I've been in and out of the hospital many times.  The worst episodes happened about 6 years ago.  I kept getting partial bowel obstructions and was hospitalized 5 different times in a six week period.  I felt horrible, in a lot of pain, but broke out in cold sweats thinking about going to the hospital.  Why?  The first thing they do for partial bowel obstructions is insert an NG tube (naso-gastric tube)  This is shoved up the nose and down into your stomach and you are not given anything except a little numbing spray in your nose that helps just a little bit.  Oh, man, did I hate that.  BUT what I would do is just resign myself to the fact that I HAD to go and then I concentrated on how much better I would be feeling in the future.  I used this technique, too, when I had to have my colon removed due to Crohn's disease. 

 

So, try not to dwell on the past medical situations but look forward to the future and much better health!

 

Sherrine

Posted 1/21/2011 8:52 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Denita,

I just wanted to post and let you know that I am thinking of you. I hope that everything goes well with your surgery. It is coming up fast. Try to keep your mind busy. It will be over before you know it. I have to find a dentist and make an appointment to get some major work done and have been procrastinating. But next week I am going to do it. I have a physical coming in March and already stressing over that. These are minor compared to what you are going through, but the fears are still there. It is hard, especially when we anticipate the worst. Just know my prayers are with you.

Best wishes,

Hugs, Karen
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