My TT was 3 1/2 mos. ago. still can't extend my voice plus it's often hoarse. Also it feels like there's a brick in my throat which becomes painful when I extend my neck for more than a minute or two and is very pronounced by the end of the day. The ENT who did the surgery insists all went well and my vocal chords are moving normally. He suggested speech therapy but I had that about 10 years ago for a chronic throat problem and it was not at all helpful, so why repeat?? I miss singing in church and find the inability to shout when needed frustrating and scary in times of possible danger. Is there any hope or is this permanent?
DO you think it could be the same case after a tonsillectomy??
Can you please ehlp me I am very worried!! I can only skeak a whisper. That's I have no vioce at al and its been 2 weeks since my thyriod surgery. Is this normal? Please I'm very worried because I sell real estate and I still cannot talk at all!!!!
I am also frustrated with my voice quality. I can't extend my voice, sing or scream and get very tired talking for any length of time. I knew there may be some problems due to a large multi nodule tumor which stretched the nerve so will have to wait to see if this is permanent.
I too am feeling a great deal of loss. Being able to communicate effectively is taken for granted for those of us who have learned. Being able to project a loud command or warning is important. Now I feel helpless in some situations. I'm going to have to get a whistle to alert my dogs to give me their attention when out in the yard.
I think this is a disability. Correct? Speaking is essential in this world. I'm glad I can be heard up close. However, from any distance, such as across a room, I can't be understood.
I too am feeling a great deal of loss. Being able to communicate effectively is taken for granted for those of us who have learned. Being able to project a loud command or warning is important. Now I feel helpless in some situations. I'm going to have to get a whistle to alert my dogs to give me their attention when out in the yard.
I think this is a disability. Correct? Speaking is essential in this world. I'm glad I can be heard up close. However, from any distance, such as across a room, I can't be understood.
Husky wrote:
Gimper here - I also had a complete thyroidectomy three weeks today. No surgical complications what so ever and I have a beautiful scar. I know that it is still early but I too have a concern about my voice. I am a Worship Leader at church and I belong to a Christian band outside of church. I have been excercising my voice with scales and such. I am afraid of never getting my singing voice back and also not being able to extend my voice. Let me encourage you. If you look at all of these posting we all pretty much have the same problem. I hope that everyone went in with the knowledge that some changes could happen no matter what the percentage. My take on this, even in my own frustration is, I can speak. Don't give up. Be encouraged but also know that whatever door God closes He will open another. I don't know if you are a believer or if you pray but I will pray for all of you. If you pray do please pray for me. Thanks, _[removed]_
Marsha wrote:
I'm going into my 8 month post operative thyroidectomy and I still can't extend my voice or sing. On a scale of 1-10, I'm really below a 0. I actually talk the word, can't hold a tune any more. It has been very distrubing because I am also a public speaker and can't speak for extendeds period of time.
I am wondering if there is any improvement in your voice past 8 months? I sing as a hobby only but I am really frustrated not to be able to that anymore. I cannot extend my voice and my pitch is still very low. There are days when I sense a slight improvement then goes back to low voice again.
Gimper here - I also had a complete thyroidectomy three weeks today. No surgical complications what so ever and I have a beautiful scar. I know that it is still early but I too have a concern about my voice. I am a Worship Leader at church and I belong to a Christian band outside of church. I have been excercising my voice with scales and such. I am afraid of never getting my singing voice back and also not being able to extend my voice. Let me encourage you. If you look at all of these posting we all pretty much have the same problem. I hope that everyone went in with the knowledge that some changes could happen no matter what the percentage. My take on this, even in my own frustration is, I can speak. Don't give up. Be encouraged but also know that whatever door God closes He will open another. I don't know if you are a believer or if you pray but I will pray for all of you. If you pray do please pray for me. Thanks, _[removed]_
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.
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.
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? :'(
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? :'(
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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!
I had a thyroidectomy done in late Sept. 08 with 12 lymph nodes removed also and still no improvement on my singing voice. I have gotten my speaking voice back somewhat, but can't speak loudly, and it gives out quickly.
I sing or did sing for a living with a band. Luckily everyone in the band sings, so they've been able to pull the slack left by me. Now I just play guitar and smile when I'm onstage. I'm heartbroken over not singing. I was hopeful at first, but as the months have passed with no improvement, I'm starting to get really depressed and sad. It was a big part of who I am and now it doesn't exist anymore.
Whenever I try to sing there's just a tightness in my throat and my range is no more. Whatever the pitch is of my speaking voice, is as high as my range is now. The only thing I can hope for is it just isn't healed yet, and it will come back...............please?
I sing or did sing for a living with a band. Luckily everyone in the band sings, so they've been able to pull the slack left by me. Now I just play guitar and smile when I'm onstage. I'm heartbroken over not singing. I was hopeful at first, but as the months have passed with no improvement, I'm starting to get really depressed and sad. It was a big part of who I am and now it doesn't exist anymore.
Whenever I try to sing there's just a tightness in my throat and my range is no more. Whatever the pitch is of my speaking voice, is as high as my range is now. The only thing I can hope for is it just isn't healed yet, and it will come back...............please?