Vocal cord paralysis post total Thyroidectomy

Posted by steph45 @steph45, May 27, 2023

Hello, I had a total thyroidectomy with central neck dissection on April 13. My thyroid was stuck to everything so I ended up with nerve damage and right vocal cord paralysis. Has anyone else had this problem? How long did it take to heal? I did have it injected with prolaryn gel a couple of days ago but I am still having difficulty breathing and feel like there is something in my throat all of the time. My voice is louder and I think my swallowing is better but I can’t stand the need to constantly try and swallow something in my throat and the difficulty breathing especially with talking, with all the complications I have had I am just about at my wits end and I feel myself getting depressed again, thanks for your help

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koh | @koh | May 28, 2023

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.

steph45 | @steph45 | May 28, 2023

In reply to @koh "This sounds so uncomfortable! I was just reading a post about people who got relief from..." + (show)

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

koh | @koh | May 28, 2023

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

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Jun 7, 2023

In reply to @steph45 "Yea I go back on the 2nd and I’m going to ask about therapy. I coughed..." + (show)

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?

steph45 | @steph45 | Jun 7, 2023

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.

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