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Diagnosed With Vocal Cord Polyp. On Steroids. Underwent Surgery, Advised Speech Therapy. Post Surgical Hoarseness Normal?
Hi,
I was diagnosed with vocal cord polyp 3 months back. I was put on steroids and voice rest for a week and it did not dissolve. So I was advised to undergo a microlaryngeal surgery which I took 20 days back. I was on medication and voice rest for 10 days and then I started talking. I was also advised speech therapy and I started that last week. Now post speech therapy exercises, my voice has again become hoarse (almost as bad as pre surgery). I have been advised further voice rest and I am taking Defcort 6mg for 6 days and Enzoheal, in addition to a tablet for acid reflux. Is post surgical hoarseness normal? I in general talk a lot and in the last week, I did talk quite a bit.
Also I have been asked to put voice therapy on hold for sometime.
I was diagnosed with vocal cord polyp 3 months back. I was put on steroids and voice rest for a week and it did not dissolve. So I was advised to undergo a microlaryngeal surgery which I took 20 days back. I was on medication and voice rest for 10 days and then I started talking. I was also advised speech therapy and I started that last week. Now post speech therapy exercises, my voice has again become hoarse (almost as bad as pre surgery). I have been advised further voice rest and I am taking Defcort 6mg for 6 days and Enzoheal, in addition to a tablet for acid reflux. Is post surgical hoarseness normal? I in general talk a lot and in the last week, I did talk quite a bit.
Also I have been asked to put voice therapy on hold for sometime.
Fri, 27 Sep 2013
Hello and welcome to HCM,
I understand and share your concern about the hoarseness of voice.
At the offset let me tell you after having performed more than five hundred vocal cord surgeries, I have almost always found my patients to be hoarse for up to three months after surgery after which their voice becomes normal.
So basically what I am assuring you is that what you are feeling is perfectly normal as the vocal cords have to heal.
We give voice rest, anti relux medication and speech therapy for the vocal cords to heal which I mentioned before may take anywhere between one to three months so do not worry
Meanwhile continue anti reflux medications, vocal hygiene and speech therapy
Do not take anything spicy, oily or cold
Do not scream or whisper and do not strain your voice for long periods
Wait for two more months religiously following the above instructions and if you still feel hoarse then get an endoscopic examination and get back to me with reports
get well soon
Regards
Dr Sriram Nathan
I understand and share your concern about the hoarseness of voice.
At the offset let me tell you after having performed more than five hundred vocal cord surgeries, I have almost always found my patients to be hoarse for up to three months after surgery after which their voice becomes normal.
So basically what I am assuring you is that what you are feeling is perfectly normal as the vocal cords have to heal.
We give voice rest, anti relux medication and speech therapy for the vocal cords to heal which I mentioned before may take anywhere between one to three months so do not worry
Meanwhile continue anti reflux medications, vocal hygiene and speech therapy
Do not take anything spicy, oily or cold
Do not scream or whisper and do not strain your voice for long periods
Wait for two more months religiously following the above instructions and if you still feel hoarse then get an endoscopic examination and get back to me with reports
get well soon
Regards
Dr Sriram Nathan
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