Vocal cord paralysis post total Thyroidectomy

This sounds so uncomfortable!
I was just reading a post about people who got relief from Myofascial release therapy ( PT where they manipulate the muscles to stretch them and break up scar tissue). Maybe this can help your situation?
You might want to ask your doctor to refer you to a Speech and Language Pathologist ( SLP) for a swallow evaluation and therapy. The swallow evaluation will show what is going on when you swallow and the therapy can assess how you are breathing when you speak to make sure you have sufficient air to support your voice.
Good luck.

Yea I go back on the 2nd and I’m going to ask about therapy. I coughed quite a bit last night and the throat spray didn’t take it away line it usually does so I hope that isn’t going to be a new thing. Thanks for your help

Another issue to consider is GERD ( GI). I was told that after partial thyroidectomy the acid from GERD can cause coughing….. I think it’s because my big nodule might have been preventing the acid from moving freely so once it was gone the acid might have started causing me to cough…. Ny endocrinologist said it was common.
Good luck

Hi Steph, did you get any answers or suggestions from your team at your recent appointment?

You may also be interested in this related discussion:
- Vocal cord paralysis https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/vocal-cord-paralysis-26b28b/

Has your voice improved?

Yes with the injection it improved a ton. But if I talk a lot then it will just cut out and it’s gone for the day. I had covid last week and had to cancel my appointment but I went yesterday. We are going to try the nimodipine and got a referral for speech therapy. She also said that the feeling of always having something in my throat could be helped from taking omeprazole twice a day. So I’m going to try that for a few weeks and hopefully it will go away I can’t stand feeling like there is a chunk of crap in my throat that won’t move. So hopefully it will be improving more soon.

I too have had total thyroidectomy from papillary thyroid cancer. I am almost 4 months post-op and I have vocal cord paralysis on one vocal cord. know how you feel, it affects our quality of life BIG TIME! It’s hard to talk. I become lightheaded and feel faint, breathless from trying to speak. I have to jump out of vehicle at drive thru to place order lol 😂 funny not funny! It’s depressing. Nighttime it’s worse voice is very very hoarse. People can’t hear me… but just wanted to give you a virtual hug 🫂. Hang in there! My ENT surgeon/oncologist suggested this injection into vocal cord like what you’re talking about. It’s only a temporary fix. I said I’ll wait until next post-op visit in June to see if my miracle happens 🙏🏼 didn’t like the sound of it plus it’s only temporary. I want my voice back!!! I too am feeling depressed 😔 I can’t believe this has happened, as I had an expert surgeon. Hang in there is all I can say and your not alone 🤜🏼🤛🏼 ❤️‍🩹

Hi, The injection your doctor recommended sounds like it might be a Botox injection. The vocal folds are two rubberband-like structures, which open and close when you speak. When one vocal fold is not moving, it is sometimes helpful to plump it up with botox so the two folds will meet.
You might also want to ask your oncologist to refer you to a Speech and Language Pathologist (SLP) that is associated with a cancer hospital for an evaluation. The SLP can assess your voice and give you exercises that can help strengthen the musculature associated with speaking and might help reduce vocal fatigue.
Your case is specific to cancer surgery so it is best to get a referral for an SLP who specializes with cancer related voice disorders, by going through the oncologist….the field is very broad so it’s probably best to go through the hospital’s oncology department for a referral.
Definitely, look into this right now and don’t wait until June. The SLP exercises can really help and since they are noninvasive it would be worth trying. It should be noted that many voice disorders are treatable!
Good Luck!!
Good Luck

@staystrong77, did you decide to try the injection? Was it botox as @koh thought it might? Has your team suggested working with a speech pathologist?

Hi. I am impressed that you all have solutions.
My radiation oncologist knows I lost my voice weeks ago. No response from her or her nurses on this topic.
How do I find out what is going on with my voice?
What help do I ask for and who do I ask?
I have a medical oncology chemo team who are terrific. But they've not commented on my loss of voice.
My radiation team doesn't communicate with me. Ignores messages. But they will call and leave a MESSAGE FOR ME TO CALL BACK - KNOWING I CANNOT SPEAK.

thanks all. You are all in my prayers. Feeling cranky today

I don't blame you for feeling cranky! Your situation is beyond frustrating. I think getting a referral to a SLP, as others have suggested, is a good idea. Could maybe an ENT also weigh in on this?