Will I get my voice again ?

[marcel94]

I had my thyroid removed totally two weeks ago and my voice has been lost since.
I can only whisper with a hoarse voice. NET specialist said : it may take 2 to 3 months for my voice to return.
I am a teacher and I have to go back to my work in two weeks. I am so worried.
My surgeon said that all my nerves were there when he closed the incision. What did he mean ?
Would anyone who had the similar experince share your story ?
What can I do to help myself now ?
Thank. Marcel

[marcel94]

Thank for your reponse.
I am in my third week after the operation but I notice no improvement of my voice yet. A NET has looked at my voice cord by laryngoscopy and said my left side movement is weak when I said e.a... I wonder what does it mean ?
I will receive I-131 treatment and am on special diet now. My meal becomes very simple. I was told not to take any salt as iodine is added to it in process. I also notice most of food has Na,. sodium ..in it. What food is there left for me?
My armpit feels sore at times. Can the cancerous cell spread to its lymph nodes already ? 10 lymph nodes on the left side neck were removed during thyroidectomy and  4 of them have been found  papilary cancer).. I worry if cancer has spread to other part of lymph nodes in my body now.
How do you see this ?
Thank.

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

It does sometimes take 3 months for things to return.  Things should improve on a weekly basis however.  The best person to followup with is the ENT who can do laryngoscopy to evaluate the vocal cords and help predict when the voice may return to normal.