very weak projection

[faithnlve]

What is the name of your state? vt.. after my thyroidectomy in 3/07 my voice became hoarse and weak. A few months later the hoarseness cleared a little but now I cannot sing, or yell at all. My voice projection is very weak. Yet, I can talk loudly, and with the voice therapy exercises the hoarseness as improved. I do still have moments where it feels like there is a lump in my throat. I am concerned only because my son of 5 was getting onto the school bus, and he has to cross a side walk near our apt. A car was coming and I tried to warn him to be careful. I could not even yell out his name, my voice was not strong enough. The secretary at my voice therapists office told me that 80% of this doctors patients get referred to them. I am suppose to see the surgeon again this year, but, my last visit he was claiming it as muscle strain. I just cannot understand that, even though my voice still sounds the same at times, it seems as though this is permanent. Instead of weeks and weeks of therapy and paying out the gazoo, shouldn't the surgeon be paying for this since it was due to the surgery? Thanks

 

[ecmst12]

As far as I am aware, you are experiencing a known risk of thyroid surgery. All surgical procedures have risks, which can occur even if no negligence (malpractice) occurred. You might consider carrying a whistle to get your son's attention if needed.

 

[faithnlve]

The voice therapist mentioned using a penny whistle, which I do have now. I was told before the surgery the chances of permanent voice damage was rare and he never has had an issue with this. Plus, In my surgery notes, I was wondering if this is strange. I will word it word for word. "Interestingly, the recurrent laryngeal nerve on this side was displaced due to the position of the inferior nodule. Extreme care was taken to dissect this nerve and trace it superiorly to the cricothyroid membrane. Once the nerve was clearly skeletonized, it was dissected free from the inferior nodule and retracted medially". Shouldn't the surgeon of mentioned this issue to me? Plus 3 weeks after my surgery I had to switch to another doctor, my surgeon was ill with cancer and left the practice. I do not know what kind he had. But, if there was an issue with my nerve, and it was dissected, why would that issue not be brought up? thanks

 

[lealea1005]

Faith, It would look like your complication is not due to negligence on the surgeon's part but your anatomy. The laryngeal nerve attached itself to your thyroid nodule. It was an unexpected finding. Have you brought up the subject with the replacement Doc? Maybe he assumes your surgeon discussed the issue with you before he left the practice. Keep going to therapy. Good luck.

 

[faithnlve]

I have not brought this up to him. I will though when I see him on the 20th. So, here is my question then. If in fact I have nerve damage due to my own anatomy, and this new doctor whom has all my surgical notes has read them (one would think), then why in the world would this new doctor (same office as my old surgeon) recommend me to a voice therapist? This is costing me 90 and hour AFTER insurance. He is claiming muscle strain and I just don't by it. I do know the voice therapist and this office work together with referrals. I feel as though I am getting nowhere fast and nothing is changing.

 

[justalayman]

nerve injuries can take a long time to heal. I have had several situations where a nerve was injured and was advised that 2 years was not unusual nor should cause undue alarm.

Due to a quite recent operation where sparing a couple nerves is an important part of the surgery and desirable result but due to the fact the nerves must be detached from the gland that is being removed, it is not always successful in restoring the functions the nerves control.

It seems to be a hit or miss result with no true reasoning as to why it is one way or the other.

I'll bet your hubby doesn't miss your ability to yell though

 

[faithnlve]

only when we are luvin one another. LOL

 

[byrd42]

Always got your whistle. Might add a little twist to things! LOL

 

[lya]

faithnlve
The nerve was not dissected. It was "dissected free", which means that the surgeon slowly and carefully sliced the tumor's tissue off of the nerve--kind of like sharpening a pencil with a knife, removing the wood and leaving the lead.

The nerve was, most likely, being compressed prior to surgery due to it's being pushed aside, out of normal position, by the tumor.

Nerves recover slowly, if ever. Normal recovery time is weeks, months, up to 7 years.

Julie Andrews lost her ability to sing soprano after nerve damage from removal of vocal cord cysts and it was, I believe, found to be from medical negligence. If you, like Julie Andrews, earn your living as a singer and your nerve damage is due to medical negligence (which I sincerely doubt), then you may have reason to pursue an award for damages. If, however, you are normally employed or unemployed person, losing the ability to sing and to yell has a very low $ amount; your claim (if meritorious) will not financially support a legal action.