Voice affectations after thyroidectomy

Guest · Guest

since my total thyroidectomy and I can't hit any high notes and I even scream deep. My voice is also weaker. I don't know if this is permanent or temporary, I will just have to wait and see. But on a plus side I have had no pain and am back at work.

Guest · Guest

I had a total thyroidectomy six weeks ago and still do not have any vocal range. I love, make that loved, singing and find the inability to sing extremely disturbing and sad. I feel a deep loss. I speak in a low monotone and have no inflection in my voice. I was an actor and model, and did voice over work, and with the inability to use my voice and the large scar across my neck, those things are no longer possible. My voice gets lost if I'm speaking to someone at a party, and of course, I can't raise my voice, even to call my dog - so now I use a sound to get her attention. It is also disconcerting that I can't even TRY to hit notes or higher pitches - there is a physical tightness and inability to do it. It is a very frustrating and scary feeling and I get stressed out whenever I think about it. I wasn't ever told that my voice would be affected, so I was in total shock. I also feel like there is a lump in my throat all of the time. So, my thyroidectomy was elective, no cancer, normal functioning, but mutl-nodular. Looking back, if I had it to do all over again, would I have the surgery done knowing what I know now? I'm not sure.

Guest · Guest

Hi,
I had partial thyroid surgery Nov. 2004, and my voice hasn't been the same since. My surgeon told me he didn't think he damaged the nerve, even though he pounded on it a bunch, and there is no vocal chord paralysis. After the surgery my voice was non existant, but it gradually came back to a whispery voice. It would suddenly cut out entirely sometimes, I could feel it coming on and knew I wouldn't be able to speak at all for a couple hours (hard to describe the feeling). I was a teacher but was finally forced to retire April 2007. I was initially off work for 5 months following the surgery. My voice was strained and whispery with no volume, which was difficult due to the fact I was a teacher. I taught one entire school year after this with this voice, then in Oct. 2006 my whispery voice became hoarse and finally went away. The doctor said my vocal chords were red and inflamed and said it was laryngitis, so put me on steroids for a week, which did no good. My whispery voice never came back, but I could talk if i reached for high noted in a falseto voice. However, it was quivery and I had trouble forming words and my voice would shake and shutter (I have never had a problem with stuttering). I could whisper just fine. I also lost the ability to sing and this still bothers me daily. I try, and try to no avail. All I get are tiny bits and pieces of sound that manage to come out. I was sent to numerous doctors and they all said nothing is wrong with my voice. I even had a speech therapist tell me it was all due to stress, and one of them yelled at me that I wasn't trying when I tried to sustain a note (which I cannot do). I left in tears. I do not believe this is psychogenic in nature, and I want nothing more than to get my voice back and be able to sing. I loved teaching and miss it. Besides, isn't psychogenic something that comes on suddenly, not over time?
I am so frustrated because I have no idea why I can't talk, or why, over the space of 2 years my voice progressively became worse. It's always in the back of my mind that I caused this and I can talk if I want to, but no matter how much I try, it doesn't work. Does anyone have any ideas? No vocal chord paralysis, no nerve damage (by what the doctor said) so why can I not talk? Crying or Very sad

Guest · Guest

I had a noudle removed from the right thyroid on 12/2007 and went back in surgery 01/2008. My voice was very weak after the first surgery. Then, after the second surgery my voice was normal until about two weeks later it started to weaken again and get very raspy. I am a singer t at my church and never realized how much I really loved to sing until now. I know that my voice is used to minister to the lost and encourage the weak. I am expecting for my voice to return stronger than before.

Guest · Guest

Hello,

I just had the thyroid removed about 4 weeks ago. My doctor is suppose to be one of the best ENT doctors in the country. However, after surgery I could barely talk and now 4 weeks later I am still very hoarse and can not sing. I spoke with the doctor who indicated everyone is different and give it a month longer for it to completely heal. Of course having been a professional singer for years and needing my voice on a daily basis for work this has me a bit concerned. But, I will continue to keep the faith that all will recover to normal or better in the timeframe the doctor indicated.

karmer · Newbie Joined: 25 May 2008 Posts: 2

I am writing here in the hope that some of you fellow sufferers check back occassionally. I am very interested to know how your voice has progressed since your surgery. I am going on five weeks since total thyroidectomy with no improvement in my voice.

Guest · Guest

I had a complete thyroidectomy on March 6th. I am wondering if speech therapy will help. I have no pitch, voice is husky. If I raise it --sounds like I am yelling when I am not. Voice wains in and out. Is gone if I try to sing especially high notes. It is hard to describe but when I speak at times I am "breathless" I feel like I have to talk fast to get my words all out. I realize I am only 5 months post op but the notes above do not give me much hope

Guest · Guest

I am 3 years post total thyroidectomy.. I did speak in husky monotone prior to the surgery.. I still have the monotone but the huskiness has cleared up a bit...I cannot sing at all without voice cracking.

Guest · Guest

Hello. I had a complete thyroidectomy several years ago. Months afterward I could not sing and I was mortified. But with vocal exercises and not giving up. I am now singing better than ever. Drink lots of water, get lots of rest and do lots of breathing and vocal exercises, etc. Good luck!

Voice affectations after thyroidectomy

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