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Vocal cord paralysis post total Thyroidectomy

Thyroid Cancer | Last Active: 6 hours ago | Replies (26)

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@kmlnj me too . Iv had 3 surgical procedures to correct my dead vocal cord but none have corrected it

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@joseph1952
Have you been evaluated by a Speech and Language Pathologist? They can evaluate your vocal folds and might be able to help come up with a plan that will help….this is what they do!! You should definitely get a referral to an SLP who specializes in voice disorders…..in my opinion, an SLP who works with cancer patients at the hospital might be a good place to look; or a therapist who specializes in voice therapy for people with Parkinson’s might also be a good place to go. The field of Speech Pathology is very broad, so you might want to look for a therapist who has their primary focus on voice disorders for head and neck cancer, in stead of a therapist who has the occasional voice patient.

The SLP might be able to recommend exercises and non invasive strategies to build your voice. If one of your vocal folds is paralyzed, the SLP might suggest injections to “plump up” the other vocal fold so it will meet the paralyzed one to enable you to produce a voice.

Please don’t lose hope! But, please consider going to a Speech and Language Pathologist who specializes in voice disorders for an assessment…..this is their specialty!! The surgical procedures that you had could also be causing additional swelling, which could make the voice issue temporary….the SLP could help determine if that is also a factor.
Good luck!!

@joseph1952 After my cancer surgery many many years ago I had one vocal cord that was paralyzed. My ENT said if it doesn’t come back in six months it will never come back. Well six months later my vocal cord just got better you never now don’t give up hope all of the comments people have made were absolutely excellent .each case is so so different try them you never know what is gonna work for you because we are all completely different!!! The best of luck to you going forward!!! don’t give up hope.