[VanIsleGal]

#1058994

I went to my new endocrinologist today and he is allowing me to choose which treatment method I take! This is my 3rd time having Graves’ and I don’t want to deal with this disease again!

He told me the complications for surgery included needing a tracheotomy, a breathing tube, for life and voice changes. I had never heard of the breathing tube complication before. Has anyone heard of this? The surgeon who will do my surgery does many thyroid surgeries every year and specializes in neck surgery. I think my endo did a good job of telling me the surgery risks, but I was surprised to hear of the breathing tube issue?

I hope everyone is having a good day! xoxo

[Bobbi]

#1171423

When we are being advised of the possible complications of a medical intervention, any possibility — even of the remote kind — is included in the discussion. I have read recently (on a reputable site) that there are a couple of nerves that run through the thyroid, working the vocal chords (cords?), and that if BOTH are cut during thyroidectomy, then a trach tube becomes necessary. That was the first I’ve heard of it. It is, most definitely, not something that happens with any frequency, especially with a well-qualified surgeon who does lots of thyroid surgeries. Nevertheless, it is, apparently, a possibility, however remote.

[VanIsleGal]

#1171424

Thank you for this Bobbi! I hadn’t found this info online yet! This scenario must be extremely rare. I have heard of the one chord being cut and the loss of voice that occurs.

xoxo

[snelsen]

#1171425

My comments are primarily to reflect what Bobbi has already said.
As in many surgeries, “parts” are identified. In this case, the recurrent laryngeal nerve is identified. There is one on the right and one on the left. If you go to a reliable anatomy site of the throat, you will see them.
It is listed among the remote complications of the surgery. In every surgery, there are arteries, vessels and nerves that need to be identified. I had a thyroidectomy with no problems. Some people have a hoarse voice for a day or two. I did not.

This is certainly true in TED procedures, especially orbital decompressions (OD), cranial nerves, optic nerves, to name a few.)
stabismus (eye muscle) surgery. Same situation.
In abdominal surgery, there is a whole bunch of stuff that must be identified.
Arteries, veins, nerves, bowel, numerous organs, etc.
In prostate surgery, there are many nerves and vessels to work around.

I am mentioning the above only to say that these complications are rare when you have an experienced surgeon. And stuff can happen, with any procedure.
A colonoscopy, a cardiac angiogram, and more.
Would I do my choice of surgery again? Yes. Might another person chose not to have surgery? Yes. There are complications with each choice, most of them very rare and very remote.
Shirley

[Author]

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