Breathing Problems following ACF

[LLKin]

I had my first cervical fusion surgery c5/c6 in 2004 and it went well despite the continuing pain. Then in 2009 I had a second fusion surgery at c6/c7 but the surgeon inadvertently drilled the screws into my disc space as opposed to anchoring the plate to the bone. Therefore, one month later in 5/2009, I had to undergo a third "revision " surgery to rectify the problem. It was during this revision surgery that I suffered damage to my right vocal cord, which is permanently paralyzed and I was informed that they had a great deal of trouble with the intubation for my surgery. When I woke up after surgery, I knew something was wrong as not only could I not speak but I could not swallow either. The loss of my voice q a month and through swallow therapy, I was able to swallow a little better without choking quite as much. Unfortunately, things went downhill from there. I started having shortness of breath which now requires supplemental oxygen at night and increasingly more during the day too. I also have severe laryngo spasms, where I stop breathing completely. I have been to a cardiologist to rule out my heart as thr reason for shortness of breath. I have been to a Pulmonologist and found out my pulmonary function is declining. I have had numerous scans and tests including a bronchial scope. The pulmonologist felt all of my problems stemmed from my last anterior cervical fusion surgery but I was not given a diagnosis? My primary care doctor just diagnosed it as COPD and prescribed one of the new combination inhalers and a rescue inhaler. Besides the shortness of breath, I have no other symptoms of COPD, such as coughing, etc... I do NOT believe it is COPD and I am at my wits end trying to figure out what is causing the shortness of breath and if anything can be done to fix it. I am now 7 years post op.
There has to be something I can do? Are there any other documented cases of this happening after cervical fusion surgery?

[Dee1956]

Hi there, I tried to look this problem up and found a link that might help you.  Have you been to an ear nose and throat doctor?  I see
where this paralysis of you your vocal cord can cause breathing problems. I hope this helps.   I hope you can find some help

https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001643.htm