[hyperm]

#1070075

HI Joanna,

I am so sorry to hear about everything that has happened to you – thats has been an awful experience which sadly is still ongoing.
I am sorry I don’t have any experience or advice for you but didn’t just want to read your post and not reply with a welcome aboard and am sure you will get some great advice on here.

Lots of love

M xxx

[Ski]

#1070076

I am SO sorry to hear your story! I’m sending you a link in a private message that may help with the insurance issues.

I have heard of vocal cord paralysis following thyroidectomy, but I would have expected your doctors to be much more forthcoming and offering far more detail than you’ve received. My understanding is that in some people, it resolves, and in others it doesn’t. Not sure if there’s a good way to tell which is which. There’s also a chance that your vocal cords were nicked during the procedure, and (knowing what I’ve seen about some U.S. doctors) you may not find out by asking the doctor who may have done it, or even their affiliate hospital/clinic. If they admit it, they face liability for having done it. In the meantime, they can’t offer ideas for treating it, since they aren’t admitting it happened. It’s a pretty sick system. For that reason, I’d look for a doctor completely separate from those who have treated you already ~ separate in ALL ways, not in their "care group," hospital affiliation, nothing.

I can completely empathize ~ I’m a real talker too, when I get laryngitis I think my family cheers, but I hate it.

I wish I could give you better answers, but if the doctor who examined you doesn’t know what to say, not much hope we’ll be able to figure it out, certainly, but we’ll be here for you. It’s ALL so frustrating, I’m sorry you’ve had one extra piece of "oh no" added to your plate.

Sorry to hear of your employer’s lack of assistance as well ~ I understand when there’s simply nothing else they can give you to do, but to say you abandoned the position? Pretty cold.

PLEASE let us know how it’s working out for you, I’d love to hear the resolution!

[ibelievenfairys09]

#1019205

My name is Joanna and im 23 years old last year I was diagnosed with graves disease, I had went in for a cold and found out I had a huge thyroid gland. I couldnt believe I hadent known sooner my Mom was my age when she had 6 tumors removed from her thyroid. I had all the classic symptoms shaking, racing heart, fatique,etc. I tried to control my thyroid with the meds for six months I was taking about 20 pills a day only to find it didnt slow my overactive thyroid. I choose to have my thyroid removed because for 9 months I had been sick over 15 times and couldnt handle it anymore and didnt like the risk with radioactive iodine. I was recommended to a top surgeon who went to yale, I had no doubts there would be any complications. My surgery was in oct. 08 the surgery went as well as I thought when I woke up I was suprised to see how low she went on my chest to remove my thryoid. I had trouble talking which I assumed was normal, I was suppossed to go back to work in 2 weeks where I worked at a call center taking 10 hours of calls a day. My voice was still quiet and hoarse I went to the DR. who said it was normal and could trke up to 3 months for my voice to come back and it looked like my vocal cord was a lilttle paralyzed from the anastesia My work gave me odd jobs around th office but after a month they said they had to put me on a loa and they couldnt pay for me not to be on the phones, I again went to my Dr. she said it takes time. I ended up very sick and found I needed my tonsils out which the same Dr. removed. I have visited her at leat 7 times about my voice she seems to have no answers the one time she kept saying maybe its antacid which doesnt make since I dont have heartburn, she gave me meds for it anyways, she has a hard time examining me since I have really bad gag reflexas so she cant give me an answer, she just keeps saying will see you in a month, while im out of work wanting answers. She sent me to a speech theraphist who said I would never sound the same again. My job fired me (well said it was job abandonment since I cant perform it) I lost my insurance and havent gone back to my Dr. since Its been almost 9 months since my surgery and I still sound very quiet and hoarse, I try to talk very little which is hard Ive been a talker my intire live and this has changed everything, ive had trouble finding a job since most my experience is in phones. If I talk to much it hurts. I also keep gaining weight which was expected except when my thyroid was 5 times as much as a normal i was still over 150, im also experiecing constant eye pain. I want some answers or advice I cant afford to see a doctor with out ins. Im very depressed and miss my voice. Does anyone know what I should do from here???

[Hopeful23]

#1070077

I really have no story to share like yours. I am so sorry you have all this to deal with. I myself had the rai because i have heard stories like yours. I just never thought i would talk to someone that went through it. I can only hope your voice comes back. You find a job that offers insurance so you can find some real answers by REAL DOCTORS. Try to stay strong and proactive. I have you in my prayers. <<<<Hugs>>>>

[QZsue]

#1070078

Hi Joanna-
Boy can I sympathize with you. I posted on here originally because my 20-year old daughter decided to have RAI. She did this five days ago and we are watching and waiting and hoping and praying for a good outcome.

Six days ago, my 72-year old healthy dad had surgery for a thyroid nodule. They removed the entire left side, which was huge, and had been interfering with his eating. Thankfully, the nodule was benign. After the 45 minute surgery, he was in recovery 5 hours. He had a strider–trouble breathing–and his heart rate went a little off. They sent him back to his room for 12 hours and then home which was a two hour drive.

He talked all the way home, ate (doc said eat whatever), and sat in his easy chair to nap. Four hours later mom heard a change in his breathing and he went into respiratory arrest. He has been in ICU in our local hospital since then. He was on a ventilator, then off, then back on. Local ENT scoped him and said his right vocal cord is paralyzed in the midline position and area was very inflamed. Today–four days later–they took him off the ventilator and inflammation was much better. He has to breathe through the opening created by the left vocal cord. He complained all afternoon that he felt like he couldn’t breathe even though his oxygen is perfect.

Everything is working great, except the vocal cord area. He hasn’t had solid food for a week, and hasn’t been on his feet for five days. He told the nurse today he just wanted to die. Tomorrow they might do a tracheostomy to give him some relief.

So, I can sure understand the horror you have been through and I pray your life improves.

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