Please Help!-problems after TT

[skipandflip]

HI,
This is my second post.  Had TT on Fri.9/18.  Since then have shortness of breath.  voice is still hoarse. It takes a lot of air just to talk-making me out of breath and dizzy.  Also still choking on liquids.  Called surgeon today - sending me to "voice Center" to check for vocal cord damage.  If anyone else had experienced this please reply.

[monica148]

HI,

Hope you feel better soon.  I, too, had a hoarse voice after surgery and could only talk with a whisper the first two days.  The hoarseness came back off and on for a few weeks. I do have an occasional problem with swallowing, so be sure to chew your food well before you swallow.  
Best of health to you

[redheadaussie]

You'll probably find that your vocal chords are slightly bruised from the intubation tube they put down your throat from surgery. It can happen often. It can take up to 3 months or more in some cases to have the swelling go down.
I had two surgeries for thyroid and had no trouble at all. Just a little dryness in the vocal chords that made me cough a fair bit. Often steam can help relieve the chords.
Good luck!

[skipandflip]

Thank you so much for the replies.  I really didn't expect to have some of these issues or to feel so "wiped out" from the surgery- although I am probably hypo now-I start cytomel tomorrow.  The shortness of breath is a little better and I am going to the "voice center" tomorrow.  Thanks for your help.!

[Minicooper723]

I had a TT on 8/26 and have done really well, with that said it has taken me the full 4 weeks since my surgery for the shortness of breath to go away and on days when I've done to much I start feeling short of breath.  As for my voice, I talk normal until around 4:00pm everyday then I get hoarse and I can't yell it sounds like a squeak when I try to.  My surgeon told me to expect 6 weeks to get over the surgery and at least 6 months to one year for my voice to come back to normal.  I hope this helps and if you need to talk or want a buddie through all this just email me.  Take care and get plenty of rest.

[suep112]

Sorry to hear you are having such trouble. I had a TT also last June. My voice was scratchy for a week or two. I could not raise it above a soft whisper at times. I thought eating and drinking felt 'weird', but I don't think I choked very often. My neck felt tight every morning and swallowing 'pulled' externaly. I still have that at times, but not bad. My doctor used some sort of nerve sensors during my prodecure to prevent him from damaging my vocal cords. It worked and I am fine. I think hoarseness is too be expected, but perhaps not to your extent. I am glad he is sending you to see if he did damage anything during the surgery. It does take some time to recover. I didn't feel like myself for at least three weeks. Give it a little time, but do go get your concerns addressed. Best wishes to you.  Hope you feel better soon.