Vocal cord paralysis and successful surgery

Donna70
Donna70 Member Posts: 852 Member
in Esophageal Cancer #1
Hi,
I had mentioned in a post or two that I was going to get vocal cord repair done soon and had it this past Wednesday. It was rough since I was awake for a good part of the surgery but so worth it. So if anyone out there has vocal cord paralysis and has a lot of issues talking and breathing while talking don't be afraid. I was not a candidate for the injections which all are temporary and I had been hesitant to be operated on again but all my fears have been allayed by the results. My dr is a Hopkins dr and he did an excellent job and everyone says it sounds like my old voice which has been gone since 12/09. I have been so happy to survive these two years and now this is another gift from God and all my family and friends who support me. Sad to see so many getting bad news on this board so still praying and thinking of all our friends here. For one of the old timers who came on board here in 8/09, it is very sad to see all of the newbies and many at later stages. We all have to get the message out about heartburn and reflux and any indigestion problems can lead to EC. take care,
Donna70

Comments

  • chemosmoker
    chemosmoker Member Posts: 501
    #2
    GREAT NEWS!
    Donna,
    THAT is such great news! I am so happy for you and what a gift to have your own voice back and breathing relief too.

    I think we need all the good news we can share with all the bad news of late.

    Enjoy your 'new' voice and have a blessed weekend, too.

    God bless,
    Eric
  • BMGky
    BMGky Member Posts: 621
    #3
    Wnderful news! Glad you
    Wnderful news! Glad you took the surgery challenge. Know it was hard. Glad the results are worth it. BMGky
  • TerryV
    TerryV Member Posts: 887
    #4
    Wonderful to hear good news!
    Donna,

    Thank you for getting us closer to the week's end on a good note. I'm so pleased for you that you have YOUR voice back :) That has got to feel good!

    I can't imagine how difficult it was for you to return to surgery. I'm so very happy for you that you had a great result!

    Terry
  • paul61
    paul61 Member Posts: 1,392 Member
    #5
    Great to hear the surgery went well
    Donna,

    It is super to hear the surgery went well. I am sure you are happy to have your old voice back again and have the surgery behind you. I think after my experience with surgery the last time I would be reluctant to have surgery again as well. I am SURE they would have to put me completely to sleep.

    I am so glad things worked out well. I was just thinking the other day that it has been almost two years for both of us since surgery. I was surprised that when I saw my oncologist last week for my six month checkup, he told me I will be on an annual scan cycle from now on. I am not sure if I am happy about that or not. But, as always, every day is a gift.


    Best Regards,

    Paul Adams
    McCormick, South Carolina

    DX 10/22/2009 T2N1M0 Stage IIB
    12/03/2009 Ivor Lewis
    2/8 through 6/14/2010 Adjuvant Chemo Cisplatin, Epirubicin, 5 FU
    3/14/2011 CT Scan NED

    Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance!
  • Donna70
    Donna70 Member Posts: 852 Member
    #6
    paul61 said:

    Great to hear the surgery went well
    Donna,

    It is super to hear the surgery went well. I am sure you are happy to have your old voice back again and have the surgery behind you. I think after my experience with surgery the last time I would be reluctant to have surgery again as well. I am SURE they would have to put me completely to sleep.

    I am so glad things worked out well. I was just thinking the other day that it has been almost two years for both of us since surgery. I was surprised that when I saw my oncologist last week for my six month checkup, he told me I will be on an annual scan cycle from now on. I am not sure if I am happy about that or not. But, as always, every day is a gift.


    Best Regards,

    Paul Adams
    McCormick, South Carolina

    DX 10/22/2009 T2N1M0 Stage IIB
    12/03/2009 Ivor Lewis
    2/8 through 6/14/2010 Adjuvant Chemo Cisplatin, Epirubicin, 5 FU
    3/14/2011 CT Scan NED

    Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance!

    we are so lucky
    Hi Paul,
    To Paul and all of you who are happy with me, thanks so much. It means a lot to me especially that I can sing in my church again, not in a choir, just at Mass. I missed that so much but I am coughing less and not struggling to get words out. Paul, we are only days apart for our 2 yr anniversaries. I was 12/08/09 and you were before me on 12/03. How lucky are we and you sound just like I do, so grateful. I go in February for my next scan and oncology visits, bloodwork so I will let you know what they are planning for time intervals. I am not sure what the scan schedule is for 2 yr survivors. I know my mentor was getting annual scans till she was 8 yrs out. Every day is a gift to me too, I take my little doggie out and say thank you God first thing in the morning. I pray everyday that everyone on this board gets some quality of life and as I mentioned in my post, it is so very sobering to see how many are coming on this board and going down that bumpy road of EC. For the ones starting out on chemo and radiation and then surgery, it is worth it no matter what you go thru and many of us had a lot of complications but from 2 yrs down, every moment is precious. My prayers for everyone, patients and all the wonderful family supporting them.
    Donna70
  • cher76
    cher76 Member Posts: 292
    #7
    Donna, what wonderful news!
    I remember that you had commented on someone else's post about having voice problems. That was something I had never heard anyone else mention before when talking about surgery. I am sure your results will encourage others suffering with like problems to seek help. Again, congratulations, and sing your heart out!
    Cheryl
    Wife of Rickie, dx stage IV EC, Oct. 2010
  • sandy1943
    sandy1943 Member Posts: 824
    #8
    Donna70 said:

    we are so lucky
    Hi Paul,
    To Paul and all of you who are happy with me, thanks so much. It means a lot to me especially that I can sing in my church again, not in a choir, just at Mass. I missed that so much but I am coughing less and not struggling to get words out. Paul, we are only days apart for our 2 yr anniversaries. I was 12/08/09 and you were before me on 12/03. How lucky are we and you sound just like I do, so grateful. I go in February for my next scan and oncology visits, bloodwork so I will let you know what they are planning for time intervals. I am not sure what the scan schedule is for 2 yr survivors. I know my mentor was getting annual scans till she was 8 yrs out. Every day is a gift to me too, I take my little doggie out and say thank you God first thing in the morning. I pray everyday that everyone on this board gets some quality of life and as I mentioned in my post, it is so very sobering to see how many are coming on this board and going down that bumpy road of EC. For the ones starting out on chemo and radiation and then surgery, it is worth it no matter what you go thru and many of us had a lot of complications but from 2 yrs down, every moment is precious. My prayers for everyone, patients and all the wonderful family supporting them.
    Donna70

    Donna, I'm so happy you have
    Donna, I'm so happy you have this surgery behind you and all is going well. I can understand the fear of another surgery, after what we have been through.So glad it turned out ok.
    I am a four yr. survivor and my oncologists still has me on a six month scan and my surgeon still does the barium swallow at six months. I, like Paul am not sure whether I'm ready for them to be spread out. When I saw my surgeon a month ago, he said I didn't have to come back for a year, but there was a message waiting when I got home that said he had miscalculated ,and he would see me in six months. That's ok with me!
    Praying for your voice to be back 100%.
    Sandra
  • bingbing2009
    bingbing2009 Member Posts: 177
    #9
    Donna70 said:

    we are so lucky
    Hi Paul,
    To Paul and all of you who are happy with me, thanks so much. It means a lot to me especially that I can sing in my church again, not in a choir, just at Mass. I missed that so much but I am coughing less and not struggling to get words out. Paul, we are only days apart for our 2 yr anniversaries. I was 12/08/09 and you were before me on 12/03. How lucky are we and you sound just like I do, so grateful. I go in February for my next scan and oncology visits, bloodwork so I will let you know what they are planning for time intervals. I am not sure what the scan schedule is for 2 yr survivors. I know my mentor was getting annual scans till she was 8 yrs out. Every day is a gift to me too, I take my little doggie out and say thank you God first thing in the morning. I pray everyday that everyone on this board gets some quality of life and as I mentioned in my post, it is so very sobering to see how many are coming on this board and going down that bumpy road of EC. For the ones starting out on chemo and radiation and then surgery, it is worth it no matter what you go thru and many of us had a lot of complications but from 2 yrs down, every moment is precious. My prayers for everyone, patients and all the wonderful family supporting them.
    Donna70

    Keep on Singing!
    Donna, I'm so glad to hear your news. Sing your heart out and enjoy every minute of it!

    I am ever so slightly behind you in the 2-year anniversary deal, having my surgery in Feb. 2010. When I went to the oncologist yesterday, he said I'd probably have another CT scan in April, which will be 6 months from the one I just had on Monday. He did, however, set my next appointment with him for 4 months from now instead of the usual 3 months. He is also no longer requiring an ultrasound and chest x-ray in between CT scans. So things are beginning to change.

    Again, I'm so very happy for you!

    God bless,
    Melinda
  • linda1120
    linda1120 Member Posts: 389
    #10
    GREAT NEWS!
    Dear Donna,

    I am so thrilled to read your successful surgery results. I think of all of you so often. Jim continues to be cancer free. He fights keeping weight on, has no appetite. I remind him about the peanut butter.

    Linda
  • Donna70
    Donna70 Member Posts: 852 Member
    #11
    linda1120 said:

    GREAT NEWS!
    Dear Donna,

    I am so thrilled to read your successful surgery results. I think of all of you so often. Jim continues to be cancer free. He fights keeping weight on, has no appetite. I remind him about the peanut butter.

    Linda

    thanks
    Dear Linda and all,
    Linda so glad to hear that Jim is remaining cancer free. The peanut butter worked really well for me but have to put a caveat on that, 293 for cholesterol!!! I am on a med for that now so be careful. I am doing too good gaining weight and wish I could give my gift for pounds to others who need it. Just wanted to thank everyone for their positive encouragement and happiness with me. My onc surgeon has a funny take on the EC. He said he wanted my voice to be good so nobody would ever know meeting me that I had had EC. Don't know if I agree, because I use it as a learning tool about heartburn and indigestion and the dangers of esophageal cancer. take care and prayers for all,
    Donna70
  • Ginny_B
    Ginny_B Member Posts: 532
    #12
    Donna70 said:

    thanks
    Dear Linda and all,
    Linda so glad to hear that Jim is remaining cancer free. The peanut butter worked really well for me but have to put a caveat on that, 293 for cholesterol!!! I am on a med for that now so be careful. I am doing too good gaining weight and wish I could give my gift for pounds to others who need it. Just wanted to thank everyone for their positive encouragement and happiness with me. My onc surgeon has a funny take on the EC. He said he wanted my voice to be good so nobody would ever know meeting me that I had had EC. Don't know if I agree, because I use it as a learning tool about heartburn and indigestion and the dangers of esophageal cancer. take care and prayers for all,
    Donna70

    Ahhhh a good and happy
    Ahhhh a good and happy message! It must be wonderful to speak!

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