cough leading to loss of voice

[tumblesmum]

I have now had a cough for seven weeks.  This started 5 days after an unrelated operation.  The cough worsened and I started vomiting when coughing.  Although I am now coughing less, I have lost my voice which means I cannot work.  My chest hurts because of the strain on my muscles.  My GP has listened to my chest and says that it is clear.  I have asthma but this is not related to this as far as I am aware.  I am currently awaiting an appointment with ENT as my GP thinks I may have damaged my vocal chords but wondered if you have any advise in the meanwhile?

[National Jewish Health]

The cough may or may not be related to the "unrelated operation".  If you had tracheal intubation at the time, for administration of the anesthetic, your vocal cords or trachea could have been irritated, damaged and then inflamed.  It would be most unusual for you to "have damaged my vocal cords", even with harsh coughing.  Important to realize that this is not something that you did.

If unrelated, you could have cough variant asthma or could have an infectious cause of cough, such as pertussis, commonly called whooping cough.  In any event, examination by the ENT should be the starting point.

Good luck.

[tumblesmum]

thank you for your reply.  I had a spinal block so was not intubated.  ENT showed no problems with my vocal chords or throat, but I am still coughing, so as my voice is weak I have been referred to to speech therapy.  As I have asthma, I wonder if your idea of cough variant might be the answer.  Thanks again.