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Voice loss ... so scared

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Thyroid Disorders
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Posted 7/9/2013 6:08 AM (GMT -6)
Hi,

Can anyone give me some hope/comfort.

I had an op to remove a parathyroid adenoma on 28th June, and have lost my voice ever since.

It was a bit scratchy the day od surgery and then the following day it reduced to a whisper, it has improved and is now high pitched but very weak and quiet, I know its not even two weeks yet but I am so scared, I also suffer from anxiety so this is so hard for me.

I have an 8 week old baby and I am finding it so hard not being able to sing or talk to him, he's just learning to smile and I am croaking away at him in a pathetic little voice.

I have lost about 3kgs since the op from the anxiety over the voice, I am just so worried it won't return.

Please give me some hope, if the surgeon had done any bad damage he would have known and told me at the time right?

has anyone here been through this?  How long did it take for the voice to recover.  Was it slow or sudden?  Should I see a Dr about this?

Lubby

 

Posted 7/9/2013 6:51 AM (GMT -6)
Lubby, at this point your throat structures still have swelling from surgery; it can take up to six weeks for post-op swelling to go away after any surgery. And I'm sure anxiety isn't helping your voice.

Your baby reacts mostly to your face at this age, so your eye contact, smiles and touch are the most important thing. Remember that some children have deaf parents who can't speak at all, and they do just fine.

Try to relax, be sure you get plenty of cool (not frigid) liquids, and rest your voice for a bit.
Posted 7/9/2013 11:43 AM (GMT -6)
Thanks for your reply, it does feel a little better each day so maybe I need to be patient.

I know the anxiety won't be helping but I struggle to control it.

trying to relax and drink a lot as you say, but its hard.
Posted 7/26/2013 3:27 AM (GMT -6)
Lubby

I was wondering how your voice is doing now? My wife had the rest of her thyroid removed the end of March and the surgeon severed the nerve to her right side vocal chords. He had reattached them and said it would be 4 to 6 months before we knew how it would turn out. She is 4 months out and most of her voice is back although if she strains it it gets very weak. But it seems to be slowly coming back.
If it's still not back at 6 months she will see an ENT and discuss injections. Her father had unknown nerve damage to his vocal chords a couple years ago and his came back on it's own within a year.

Oh, the reason he severed the nerve was she had the left side removed 10 years ago and the surgeon took a wedge out of the middle of the right side. It had scarred very badly and while removing it the nerve bundle was encased in scar tissue. Wish the 1st surgeon would have done as we asked and removed both sides 10 tears ago.

Take care,
Bill
Posted 7/28/2013 9:06 AM (GMT -6)
Hi,

My voice is still very weak, its got a little bit better but not much, its been 4 weeks now, I guess that's not long enough, it seems this can take months.  Its very scary and frustrating and I truly feel for your wife.

I will let you know if/when I see an improvement.

Lubby

Posted 7/31/2013 5:18 AM (GMT -6)
Lubby

My wife found out today she can actually yell without her voice straining. Surprised her.

Take care,
Bill
Posted 8/1/2013 3:02 PM (GMT -6)
Thanks for sharing, gives me hope.

Sounds like your wife is lucky and her voice will fully or at least mostly return.

I have more hope today too as I read somewhere that inhaling steam may help.. well I tried it and out came my voice for a few seconds! Steam could not undo nerve damage so its given me hope that my voice will return in the next weeks/months... maybe one day I will yell too!
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