Vocal Cord dysfunction?

Just a thought: Could these be esophageal spasms and not vocal chord spasms? My husband use to have esophageal spasms and it would feel like he couldn't breathe and would he would remind himself to breathe through his nose. They went away on their own, but, it was scary. Praying for you relief. Blessings....

What is the status of your paralyzed vocal cord? Until they position mine, first temporarily by inflating it and a year later with an implant I would aspirate. They have to view the process by moving the functioning vocal fold until they position the paralyzed one to close the gap. The doctor would tell me to make a variety of vowel sounds until the two matched up. I realize the cancer is very serious, but I don't understand how you can eat properly until it is resolved.

Hi,

About 30 years ago our son started having breathing/chocking episodes and was diagnosed by his pediatrician with what he though was asthma. After eventually ending up on corticosteroids with no improvement the doctor suggested bringing him in during an attack since we were close to his office. When the next one occurred the doctor could see that the issue was his vocal cords closing up and not with his lungs. The condition at that time was called Paradoxical Vocal Cord Dysfunction and the most knowledgeable doctors on the subject were at the University of Colorado. I searched on that subject today and there are multiple university’s listed now so I would recommend that you review that information and then identify a doctor that is familiar with the condition. We found out that for our son the condition was set off by strong smells like when new tar was being installed on the roof of his school and when he walked in a restroom and an air freshener sprayed out. After working with a speech therapist to learn deep breathing to relax and not panic when a chocking episode occurred he was able to able to better handle each event. As I remember his doctor also prescribed tessalon perles which helped make his attacks not last as long. The good news is that his issue eventually resolved as he got older. If you are looking for an answer I am praying that is helpful to you and others on this site that are discussing this condition.
I will now continue to look for answers to my current issue.

Have a great day!
Dave

It could be one of many reasons but to me, who is presently going through 2 MRI’s, 2 cat scans of me swallowing contrast solution so they can see what’s going on. And I still have more tests coming eventually landing in a minor issue.

Sounds like you may have a semi or complete paralyzing of both vocal cords or “folds as they’re called. My right vocal cord is paralyzed. It doesn’t work at all making it useless for breathing and talking or choking hazard.

I have a good left vocal cord taking up the slack. You may have both vocal cords compromised. This would at times, choke on liquids and solid foods. Even a simple act of swallowing saliva can choke you temporarily.

As for me just having one it creates a choking sensation when food or liquid tries to go down my esophagus . It also creates a sensation once in a while of having breathing issues. If both cords are paralyzed they won’t open as much as you need air to breathe. They normally are corrected by swallowing water or drink at mealtimes. I have to have a drink every time I go to eat. I must have that drink or I can choke. While they say it’s rare to have both paralyzed it’s still scary to have just one.
Surgery is usually done to stick fat from your body and push it in the middle between the the cords.This creates a pretty good chance of healing by leaving them in the open position allowing you to breathe and not choke. You definitely meet to see an ENT for tests and exploration with a soft flexible tube scope through your nose or mouth. Mine was by my nose. It feels funny but it does work.
Last but not least, whether you have both repaired or not you will probably need speech therapy. My voice had gone soft and I had to stop mid sentence to take a breath but that’s what the speech therapist does. Good luck!

Hi Mom,
I have never responded to any of these posts, however, after reading yours, I felt I needed to reach out. What you son may have is VCD it could be Vocal Cord Dysfunction. Many times its cause by GERD, Stress, Irritation , who knows. I started 20 years ago after giving birth. My episodes are triggered by any irritant in the throat ( it can be perfumes, pepper, dry mouth etc)
They come and go very sporadically and it's very frightening. In my case my vocal cords close tight, not allowing air in, then it is difficult to breath and I get a strider sound. If people are around they think I am having an asthma attack. In actuality, with asthma you can not breath out, with VCD you can not get air in. VCD is not dangerous, but is extremely frightening and stressful. If this is what your son is going thru, he needs to talk to the Dr about it. It's not easy to diagnosis because you usually have to be having an episode so the ENT can see the vocal cords in distress. If ( and I stress the word IF because I am not a Dr ) your son has VCD there is no cure, but there are ways to handle the episodes and make things better.

FIRST when going thru a spasm, remain as calm as you can. He needs to go to a Speech Therapist who can also show him exercises to help with the spasms and relax the cords.
I always make sure I purse my lips ( like breathing thru a straw ) breath slow twice thru nose and purse the lips and try to let air out slowly. I also drink water thru a straw when I am having an episode if I can.
SECOND see an ENT and then hopefully a speech therapist
THIRD a humidifier may help, the dry air where he is stationed maybe be adding to the condition
I wished I read this earlier, but I am having more episodes lately and needed a little support!

Hang in there and please thank you son for his service!
GOD BLESS

Again, I am not sure if this is what he actually has, but if it is, VCD is not dangerous just extremely stressful. Breathing exercises will help. It's hard to stay calm when you feel like you are drowning ( actually called dry drowning ) and can't breath. If it is VCD you are getting some air in. Good Luck

I have had a tickle in my throat and chronic coughing for a few years. Asthma and allergies were ruled out. An ENT suggested that the muscles around my vocal cords were atrophying. He wanted to inject collagen into my vocal cords and if that worked for a few months suggests a more permanent solution. I was kind of freaked out by his suggestion. Has anyone tried this? If so was the procedure successful?

Some of what I read suggested that not being able to breathe is not so dangerous. If both vocal cords are paralyzed the ent doctor said that I could suffocate. That scared me but I’m working to have at least one working. Both cords paralysis is very rare. Usually it only involves one witch is bad enough.

@andytheman, my vocal cords slowly paralyzed after radiation, and then having Covid twice. At first, it was a struggle to breathe. Yet, as it progressively worsened, even bending down to pick a flower became life-threatening. If it weren't for Primatene Mist Spray (while waiting for Tracheotomy surgery) I would have suffocated. Having a Tracheotomy is the best thing that could have happened. Now I breathe freely, plus any mucus is right there to be coughed out the tube. Before the surgery, the mucus was trapped. Best wishes to you.

Good for you. I don’t think I’ll end up with a tracheotomy because my left one has picked up the slack. One cord picking up the slack is not the same as having left and right cords.
But I’m going in for surgery and I don’t know yet what he’s thinking to do but next week I’ll be seeing him for the first time since all the tests. I’m excited about it.

There are many options as you know. I considered a Cordotomy, where they cut an opening in the vocal cords somehow. But it comes with risks like aspirating liquids and losing the ability to speak for the rest of a person's life. There were other procedures not suitable for someone that has had radiation. Apparently, some of the procedures can cause radiated tissue to literally begin to necrotize. By now, I am used to having the Tracheotomy and usually do not even notice it is there. Yet, I am happy you are considering doing this, and pray for it to be successful. One last thing: My ENT told me that sometimes the vocal cords will snap out of it and begin working again. Usually though, this happens within the first year of the cords freezing up.