Anyone have a hoarse, weak voice after thyroid lobectomy?
Anyone have voice issues after surgery? I had surgery 3 weeks ago (lobectomy for PTC) . Surgeon says the laryngeal nerve is irritated and it not better by 6 months he will send me to ENT. I’m discouraged, can’t return to work until voice comes back.
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Hello - I am sorry that is happening to you. The same thing happened to me as well. I wasn’t expecting how bad it was going to get and was afraid that it was never going to come back. On follow up the doctor did look at the vocal cords and there were no problems at all just inflammation. The most I can do is whisper at that time. But I will say that after a few weeks, everything came back to normal. Please hang in there. It’ll get better soon.
I had a hemithyroidectomy for a multinodular massive goiter that was displacing my trachea a month and a half ago (Memorial Day weekend), and while my speaking voice is almost what it was, I still cannot shout, yell or sing. I have cried my heart out over this because I love to sing. I used to be a soprano soloist, and now I can't even sing tenor. My voice is relatively monotone, and singing makes me sound like a teenage boy whose voice is changing, it cracks so much. My surgeon said everything was very visible, there was no nerve damage and they test the voice before sending you to recovery. I still have swelling along the scar. He used non-dissolving sutures (3-0 silk) on the interior because I'm allergic to dissolving sutures, and non-dissolving sutures can encapsulate, causing a permanent bump there. That's my fear. That it's encapsulating, and that will interfere with my larynx.
To go away.
Yes and I had my thyroid out on 4/26/23. I still have hoarseness. They said it would take time for it to
Yes, just had mine done 5/30
I had total thyroidectomy April 20th & my voice is still hoarse & throat hurts. I have a bump at base of neck in front that is hard & stays sore. My PT works on it weekly to get it to go down. With ice packs it helps. But I haven't been to an ENT yet, which I think I need to see one due to the voice issue. Good luck to you.
I had thyroid surgery and yes, it takes a while to lose the hoarseness and cough so hang in there. I also had GERD so that prolonged it.
I had me surgery 7 weeks ago, my nerve was also irritated/damaged, my thyroid was stuck to it. At my second post op visit they stuck a scope down my nose to look at my vocal cords. My right one was paralyzed. I went back to work after 2 weeks but it was very hard and the more I talked the less of s voice I had. Last week I had it injected with Prolaryn gel and it is much better but still not normal. I was also talking to a ENT the other day and he said he gives all of his patients with nerve damage a medication that triples the chance of healing. Just search nimodipine and vocal cord injury to read more. I’m going to my Dr today for my injections follow up and I’m going to ask for it. He said that it’s taken 3 times a day for like 3 months. Why do you need a referral for an ENT? My surgery was done by an ENT, if one is required just ask your primary Dr for one. I wouldn’t wait, it’s so hard and frustrating when nobody can hear you. I’m also going to ask for a speech therapy referral today. I found one exercise online that works well to help me cough better but there are things that I need to change how I do and train myself to talk different. Good luck, I know how you feel and it sucks!
My post should be a comment and not a reply. Sorry
I also have Grave Disease with a in conclusive nodule. Had surgery to remove half my thyroid also 30 years ago. I was hoarse afterwards, but within 3 months I was back to normal. The key is to rest your vocal cords and drink plenty of fluids. Don’t talk unless you have to. I pinned a note to my shirt saying “I can’t talk above a whisper because of surgery “.
I walked around with a pad and pencil and wrote down what I wanted to say. I did whisper alot though. Good Luck.