Voice Sample 9-months post SLAD/R surgery

9-months post surgery

How can 9-months have passed already?  I remember reading other blogs, and reading that they were at this point in their post-surgery recovery and just thought it was an eternity away.  Here I am.   

For the most part I really feel that my voice gains strength every week.  I can raise my voice, talk on the phone, and speak to others with no problems.  I have noticed that occasionally someone has trouble understanding me, this is mostly due to the fact that I am soft-spoken.  I was this way years ago, pre-SD, so this did not suddenly come on after surgery.   

I still use my voice amplifier when I teach and just find that after lecturing for a while my voice is not as clear, though last night I lectured for 2 hours without the amplifier and was fine.  I never use the voice amplifier at home and teach a class at church on Sunday’s, I do not use it there either.  

Several weeks ago, with all the trees in bloom, I noticed thought I might have a sinus infection.  I took some Claritin-D, which definitely cleared my head and nose but made my voice horrible!!  I thought the connection was rather weird so I tried it again the next day and had the same thing happened, my voice was horrible- it weak with no volume.  I am amazed that a drug like that could have such an effect on my voice.  I did not take the Claritin after that and my voice went back to normal.  I realized after this, that so many of the OTC drugs can change our voice; we often do not pay attention to the effects many of these things have on our voice and our body.  

I still have a noticeable scar on my neck.  I’m sure it will take several years for this to fade away. You can see in the picture below that the scar still shows but it doesn't bother me at all, some people (like me) just scar easier or they seem to take forever to heal.  I have never tried to cover this up.

I am thrilled with my progress post SLAD-R surgery and hope that if you are reading this and considering having it done that this will help you go forth with life-changing surgery!

 

 

Voice Sample 7-Months Post SLAD/R Surgery

7-Months post-SLAD/R Surgery

It’s been 7 months since my SLAD/R surgery; I’ve been a slacker with updating this blog.   

My voice is not perfect but it is so much better than it had been.  There is no doubt about it, when I am tired, my voice is horrible and when I do not sleep well, I pay for it with a raspy sounding voice the next day. 

I still use my voice amplifier when teaching, I get tired and after 2-3 hours of lecture and talking, honestly, without the voice amplifier, my voice is soft and weak.  So with the voice amplifier I am able to talk softer and my voice is projected farther into the room.  I do not use this unit at home or anywhere other than in the classroom. 

I also do not use a straw anymore because I need it, though I do use it because I prefer drinking fluids this way.  I can gulp down a glass of water just fine and choking is not a problem. 

My husband told me the other day that I have to get rid of the giant container of “Thick It” I have in the pantry.  I am not sure why I kept it.  I got about 40 individual packets from the hospital and I doubt I used anything from the extra large container I bought,  I did not mind the taste of the stuff when I “had to” drink it, as it tasted like cereal, but now the thought of using it is certainly disgusting! 

I have thought about my trek with Spasmodic Dysphonia over the years, I did not wake up one morning and decide to have the SLAD/R surgery.  In the 20+ years after diagnosis, I tried many alternative things.  I tried herbs, essential oils, vitamins, acupuncture, acupressure, vegetarian lifestyle, juicing, wheat grass, eliminating foods (food allergies), T3 (Thyroid) doses, see alternative care doctors, and I am sure there are many other things here that I am not listing.  While these things may have helped me be healthier, they did not eliminate the SD!  Through the years I used Botox and was so glad when I heard about the SLAD/R surgery, for me I felt as though it was an answer to my prayers! 

Each of us have a different road to get here.  When I read about the surgery, then started looking at the quality of my life as it was, it was just a no brainer, I was going to do what it would take to get this surgery.

 

Voice Sample 15 Weeks Post Surgery

15 weeks post surgery

It’s been 15 weeks since my SLAD/R surgery.   

I still have a weird sort a voice, to me it sounds a bit scratchy or raspy.   

I had a recheck appointment with Dr. Damrose at Stanford University yesterday, he assured me that I am doing great.  He said the Reinnervation will not occur until I am about 9-months post surgery.  When the nerves are cut what you get over the months is much like a Botox treatment, some people get really breathy, others go through the various stages of a high and low pitched voice.  Then once the Reinnervation begins to happen things will level out and the real changes will come about.  For me this will be in March.

I definitely have more volume but not a lot, I still use my voice amplifier when I teach and it seems that my voice gets tired if I try to talk loud for very long, with the amplifier I can talk softer and the sound is projected to the entire classroom.   

Even with the kind of voice I have, it is still better than what I experienced long term with Botox.   

I have been drinking water at times without a straw, it is rare that I choke anymore, though I still keep the main cup I drink out of as one with a built in straw.   

I have noticed that if I am tired or if I have a lack of sleep my voice is weak.  In a perfect world I’d have a great night of sleep every night, but I doubt it will happen every single day.  This is just an observation.

 

Voice Sample 10 Weeks SLAD/R

Time passes quickly!

It’s been 10 weeks since my SLAD/R surgery.   

I’m still dealing with this weird puberty type of voice.  It seems that it is high and it cracks at times.  Other times my voice is just tired and it sounds weak. 

I have also found that I’ve had some trouble drinking water, even though I use a straw it seems that I still choke.  I try to keep my chin down slightly and this helps, I am drinking much less water than I used to just because I worry about choking when I am at work and in public. 

I cannot raise my voice, though I can sing and that feels good!  I use my voice amplifier while I am at work and will be buying another to use at home this week, as the quality of the sound is so much better when I talk soft.   

My scar is healing up okay, it certainly doesn’t bother me to see it but I can still see the red line. 

 

 

Voice Sample 9 Weeks SLAD/R

The Puberty Stage

It’s been 9 weeks since my SLAD/R surgery.   

I’ve been hesitant to record anything or even write about my progress because I am going through the changing voice stage, a “puberty” type of change.  One hour my voice is high, the next hour it is deep, then it goes soft,  and then it is froggy sounding at some point.   

After having a good voice for so many weeks I’ve noticed that I have gotten very casual with my voice.  I forget that I do not have the capability at this point to produce much volume so I try and it just sounds awful (to me).  It is not a voice where there are spasms like I had pre-SLAD/R surgery, it is just a raspy or froggy sounding voice.  I haven’t liked this phase!  I find it strange how we get used to something so quickly, like my new voice, or adapting to having SD and dealing with it, and now I expect my voice to be perfect every single day.  It is not perfect. 

My best sound is still with my voice amplifier (microphone) that I use with teaching.  By using this I can talk really quiet and the sound is amplified and my voice is very smooth.  I do not use it at home though and when I leave campus I leave the amplifier.  

When I leave work, I will call out to people in the parking lot to say good-bye and they cannot hear me, my voice just cannot get any volume yet. 

On a good note, it is really nice to be able to sing in church.  I have only mouthed the words for years and now I really sing the songs.  I cannot sing any high notes and sound more like an alto, that’s okay though, it is so nice to sing!! 

I often take sips of water without a straw, I am fine doing this but it is still easy to choke so I use a straw for most of what I drink. 

 

Voice Sample 5-1/2 Weeks SLAD/R

5-1/2 Weeks under my belt!

It’s been 5-1/2 weeks since my SLAD/R surgery.  I thought I would address a few issues that had been discussed in an email from someone considering surgery.   

Over a year ago I had neck surgery, a discsectomy/fusion (ACDF), the incision in my neck was from one ear to the midpoint on my neck in the front, it took a full year for the incision to fade into the wrinkle of my neck.  In addition, because the neck has been cut, there was numbness around the incision area.  Just when I had the SLAD/R surgery the numbness was nearly gone, this was a full year later.  Lastly, the incision area always felt rather taut or had a full feeling as it was healing.  I almost felt as though I had a band around my neck or a turtleneck on all the time. 

These same sensations exist with the SLAD/R surgery.  It just takes time to heal.  Nerves do not heal over night, and if you have second thoughts about this surgery then it is probably not for you.  No matter what, this is major surgery, sure, you get your voice back, but it involves surgery and recovery that comes with issues and it is just not perfect.  The reinnervation, according to Dr. Damrose, takes a full year for the nerve function to work at a potential that is considered optimal.

The numbness, taut feeling on the neck, and pain I may have are so minor compared to what I gained to have the voice I have now that  I would not change a thing and I have no regrets.  I was in this 100% before surgery and am thrilled with the progress.  I am fully aware that this is the beginning and I will sound better as time goes on. 

I had 20+ years of Botox and never had injections that provided the quality of voice that I have now.  Some of you can get by with Botox and that is certainly an easier way to go versus surgery.     

Teaching has been very easy for me, I still use my voice amplifier and this works great for the volume in the room.  I still sound rather high pitched in the morning, my husband says I sound like a teenager, and my voice seems deeper in the evening.  I have no idea why this happens.  I want to add as a last note that I've had a few people call on the phone and ask to speak to me, they are quite surprised when they realize it IS me, one person the other night said I sounded like my younger daughter (age 25).  It is a good feeling to think the old me is returning!!

 

Voice Sample 4-1/2 Weeks SLAD/R

Teaching is going great!

It’s been 4-1/2 weeks since my SLAD/R surgery.  Each day gets better and better.  Last Tuesday, I taught two classes back-to-back and it went great!  I used my trusty voice amplifier and I felt good for both classes.

Last Thursday, I had three classes to teach, the last one was a night class, so it was a long day and I was worried about my voice going for that long.  YIPPEE, it was great!!  I have to admit though I was tired when the Thursday night class was over.  My voice was weak on Friday but back to normal on Saturday.   

I had some students in my classes who came up to me afterwards; they were ones I’ve had in classes before.  They told me I sounded great and sounded so different. 

My husband and I went to see my Mother-In-Law this weekend, so I was busy and away from home, my voice was pretty good and it feels good to be able to communicate again.  For years, I have avoided talking to people because it is so hard to be understood.   

My life has changed!  I find myself forgetting that I have a voice though.  I still have a bit of hesitation when I talk to people or I grab the phone to answer it. 

It has been ages since I’ve been able to sing at church, I mouth the words but a sound does not come out of my mouth.  This past Sunday we sang several patriotic songs, I decided to try it and sang the first verse of each song.  Wow, I could actually sing!  I still had a fear that if I sang (or talked) too much that I would not have much of a voice for the rest of the day.  This was not the case with singing this time, I was not able to get a range of notes, but I am sure I sounded as good as any other average person there. 

I still drink everything with a straw and now keep stainless steel straws in my purse, it is just better to be prepared, I am afraid to drink out of a glass and tilt my head back at this point.  It is easy to choke/cough if I’m not careful or I just take a big sip out of the straw.

 

 



I took a little "selfie" to try to get a picture of the scar.  I don't do anything to hide it and it seems to be fading, but it can still be seen a little bit.

 

 

Voice Sample 3-1/2 Weeks SLAD/R Surgery

3-1/2 Weeks Since Surgery!

It’s been 24-days (3-1/2 weeks) since my surgery.  It is hard to believe that this much time has passed by so quickly, and that I feel so good. 

Today was my first day back to work, though I only had office hours today and tomorrow I will teach two back-to-back classes.  I am nervous about it.

Healing seems to be going great, the incision area looks nice and I know it will get better with time.  The quality of my voice has really improved, each day I notice I have no hesitation to talk but still forget that I actually have a voice. 

 

For the most part the from week 2 through week 3 my voice was very smooth, just a few days ago I noticed that my voice would get these random higher pitches now and then.  I think this is most likely part of healing process. 

I am able to swallow all pills and drinking water is never an issue, though I always drink with a straw and carry straws in my purse.   

I’m still really excited about my voice and how things are going!  I was lucky to have 3-1/2 weeks off between quarters at the college, but in reality, it does not take this long to recover.  It just takes time to recover from any surgery, from being tired and undergoing anesthesia.

 

2-Weeks post SLAD/R Surgery

My post-op doctor visit two days ago was great.  The Resident Doctor did the initial voice recording and sprayed that nasty stuff in my nose so she could put a scope/microphone down to my vocal cords.  She seemed very pleased. 

When the doctor came in he was also pleased with my progress.  I mentioned that the right side of my head, on my skull area, over my ear, is still hurting (though not much), he said it would get better with time, the pain is a type of “phantom nerve pain” much like someone who has phantom limb pain would experience.  Because of the nerve splicing they had to do the nerve to my earlobe was permanently cut, I will never have feeling in my right ear lobe.  This is rather strange, the Resident Doctor said putting earrings on might be tricky.  I doubt I’ll be wearing any, Honestly I would not know if it was on, off, poking me, or if I accidently poked it in a new hole.  No biggie less is better! 

It took 3-hours to get to Stanford and about that to get home, traffic was good and so it was a long day.  I did a lot of talking on Thursday and on Friday I was whispery. 

I am doing great with drinking water and actually took a sippy-type of cup with a straw, on the trip Thursday and I did not choke on it once.  I did have more phlegm than I have had on Thursday morning, and since I really think there is some connection to foods I eat, this time I cannot connect the dots.  Maybe it was just a case of the nerves with going to this doctor appointment, so I was glad I brought a box of tissue with me in the car. 

The doctor said that there are no restrictions on what I can eat, drink, or talking at this point.  He said to use my own judgment on what works for me.   

Thursday when I stopped at the store on the way home, a very young girl checking me out asked if I had been cut on my neck, she said it looked like I got slashed.  I told her I had surgery, she then said that it looked awful and she was watching me and worried that someone cut my neck.  You can imagine that I flipped the visor down to get to the mirror and looked at my neck when I got in the car.  Ha, I thought the scar was looking pretty good at this point! 

 

Voice Sample 2-Weeks SLAD/R

Drinking Water!

Water, water, water~  Yum, I am able to drink several of these containers a day now.  What a difference it makes to drink water.  My head has to stay totally level, then I use this sippy type of reusable cup, it is perfect!  I tend to choke when I a regular glass and a straw with water.  I think with the addition of drinking so much more water that my overall health and healing will definitely improve.

I am finished with my antibiotics, though I am taking a few vitamins/supplements and some thyroid medication, so I still use the applesauce, a new unsweetened one now.  I do not need to cut any pills.

It seems that these changes came about overnight!  Talking is so easy now, when I answer the phone I am usually shocked at my own voice.  My husband understands me and usually tells me several times a day that he is so surprised I sound so good.

The phlegm/mucus issue is so much better.  Today I have only coughed up this stuff once using one tissue.  Quite a change from a week ago when I was going through more than a box of tissue a day, the thing is, all of these things get better with time.  I have noticed that anything with dairy causes the phlegm, so I have avoided all of it, even Greek yogurt caused extra phlegm.  While I love carrot juice, for some reason, I cough mucus after drinking it.  I mean carrots, who would think?