Did you recover from a Paralyzed Vocal Chord after lobectomy?

Posted by onethinkitty @onethinkitty, Mar 7 8:37pm

My lobectomy was on February 23, 2026. It was a left upper lobe lobectomy. The day after I found out that my left vocal chord was paralyzed. The temporary solution currently in place is an injected gel to plump it up so when the right vocal chord moves, it will touch the left side. This gives me a somewhat serviceable voice and the ability to swallow, though I still choke if my head isn't in the right position or if I take in too much liquid at one sip. This only lasts 3 months so I have to go back.

I have a few questions. Has anyone else had this happen? What was your recovery timeline? Did it end up permanent?

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elyser | @elyser | Mar 8 8:27am

Hi. I had one of my vocal chords paralyzed because of the spreading of cancer in my lymph nodes. Like you, I had the injection gel to tighten that side of my cord so I could swallow more easily and also speak more easily. I was not able to have the injection put in during my doctor's office and had to have this done as a surgery. It took about two weeks for the surgery to feel better. My doctor says it will last about six months. It won't be permanent. It's possible, but not likely, that the lymph nodes won't be pressing as hard against the cord but I have the sense I will either have to have the injection gel again or a larger surgery that would be permanent.

jolloyd51 | @jolloyd51 | Mar 9 10:33am

In reply to @elyser "Hi. I had one of my vocal chords paralyzed because of the spreading of cancer in..." + (show)

@elyser
I also experienced loss of voice because of a paralyzed vocal cord. I had the
gel injection well over a year ago and that seems to have done the trick! I think the tumor that caused the paralysis has shrunken in size and enabled my vocal cords to work again. So grateful.

elyser | @elyser | Mar 10 8:14am

In reply to @jolloyd51 "@elyser I also experienced loss of voice because of a paralyzed vocal cord. I had the..." + (show)

@jolloyd51 thanks. That's great! For me, it's possible my tumor will shrink but it seems unlikely and that as long as the tumor doesn't get bigger, that's considered a win.

onethinkitty | @onethinkitty | Mar 12 10:20am

I was feeling a little alone in this because I haven't seen too much about it so I am glad that I have others to lean on. I am hoping mine is more temporary because as far as I know, so far, it hasn't spread further than the the 1 spot I had confirmed. I am still waiting on all the pathalogy reports to come back in. For me, I am still struggling with swallowing. Do you guys have any tips or tricks to help with that? I am really sick of coughing so much because I swallowed wrong and my spit/drink tried to go down the windpipe instead.

Lisa, Volunteer Mentor | @lls8000 | Mar 16 4:34pm

In reply to @onethinkitty "I was feeling a little alone in this because I haven't seen too much about it..." + (show)

Hi Celeste, @onethinkitty, This sounds rough. I didn't have this exact thing, but when I was first diagnosed, my lymph nodes were pressing against everything that they shouldn't have been. I would have to pause and think about relaxing before speaking or drinking. I had a job where I was required to run meetings with large groups of people, and I had to stop doing that for a while. Eventually, once I started treatment, the lymph nodes went down, and the condition subsided. Even now, I still get a little bit of a flutter feeling in that area sometimes.
You are three weeks out from surgery, is the vocal chord improving? What is your team saying is the cause? Damage, swelling, other?

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