It has been 4 months since my total thyroidectomy and I still have no range in singing above an A above middle C. I am so frustrated becaus I love to sing. I seem to have no expression in my voice and cannot yell. My lower range is loud, but not the upper range. Being a school teacher, I cannot raise my voice in a gymnasium or large room. I thought it would be better by now, but it is not and I am MAD!. I hope someone can give me some hope!!
I'm now at 6 months with no improvement. Still no singing voice to speak of. Returned to my surgeon a few weeks ago to see if I could find out what's going on. He stuck a mirror down my throat and said everything seemed to be vibrating as it should and seemed to have no idea why my voice hadn't returned to normal.
He said to give it 6 more months and if still no improvement I would need to see a ENT. I don't think I'm gonna wait and trying to schedule something sooner to see if I can find out something.
I still have no range and very hoarse. Some mornings I wake up with no voice except for a whisper like sound. Still have a tightness/fullness feeling in my throat that the surgeon couldn't explain. Starting to get really depressed about all of this. Also found out that the cancer had spread to 2 other lymph nodes but the RIA treatment I went thru at the end of last year should have taken care of it. I go back for another round this spring. But the cancer part shouldn't have any impact on the vocal cords.
Still trying to stay hopeful.....altho it's waning a little at this point.
He said to give it 6 more months and if still no improvement I would need to see a ENT. I don't think I'm gonna wait and trying to schedule something sooner to see if I can find out something.
I still have no range and very hoarse. Some mornings I wake up with no voice except for a whisper like sound. Still have a tightness/fullness feeling in my throat that the surgeon couldn't explain. Starting to get really depressed about all of this. Also found out that the cancer had spread to 2 other lymph nodes but the RIA treatment I went thru at the end of last year should have taken care of it. I go back for another round this spring. But the cancer part shouldn't have any impact on the vocal cords.
Still trying to stay hopeful.....altho it's waning a little at this point.
I had my left lobe removed on March 24, 2009, because of a fast growing tumor which thank goodness turned out to be benign, but ever since my surgery (3 days in hospital) I have had extreme hoarseness and at times cannot speak louder than a whisper. I have also had a choking sensation where my incision is. At my post op check (last week) my ENT surgeon looked down my throat with a scope and said that one of my vocal cords was not working but he thought it was probably only ticked off and was only temporarily paralyzed. I am a very vocal person and I lead two weight watchers meetings a week and it is extremely difficult to speak loud enough for a room full of people to hear me at this point. Does anyone have any suggestions on what I can do to get my voice back? Also, the choking sensation really has me freaked out! At times I feel I can hardly breath. I called my ENT today and he wants to see me on Monday, but said the feeling like I could not breath issue is probably only anxiety and he prescribed Xanax. Anyone else going through the same thing? Help! I thought a thyroidectomy was supposed to be a piece of cake compared to other surgeries!
Hi
As I mentioned in the post before yours, I'm 6 months along and still not much of a voice, and I sing for a living. I'm not sure there's much you can do except to let time take it's course. I'm going to an ENT in a couple of weeks, to see if I can find out anything new about my situation.
I'm not exactly sure about the "choking sensation" you're referring to, but I have a fullness/tightness in the area of my incision and up thru the middle of my neck. It may be something similar to what you're describing. I have no clue what's causing it unless it's swelling of some sort. I had 12 lymph nodes removed from the middle part of my throat plus a total thyroidectomy because of a couple areas of cancer on it.
I did attempt to do some vocal warmups that I used to do before singing, thinking maybe it would help, but couldn't even hit the low notes, so I gave up because I was afraid of maybe doing damage to my vocal cords if there was indeed something wrong there.
My surgeon said it could take up to a year or more for it to come back, so hang in there. Your surgery is only a few weeks old, so you'll definitely need more time than that to recover. Since your surgery was only a partial thyroid removal, your recovery may not take as long as mine is seeming to.
As I mentioned in the post before yours, I'm 6 months along and still not much of a voice, and I sing for a living. I'm not sure there's much you can do except to let time take it's course. I'm going to an ENT in a couple of weeks, to see if I can find out anything new about my situation.
I'm not exactly sure about the "choking sensation" you're referring to, but I have a fullness/tightness in the area of my incision and up thru the middle of my neck. It may be something similar to what you're describing. I have no clue what's causing it unless it's swelling of some sort. I had 12 lymph nodes removed from the middle part of my throat plus a total thyroidectomy because of a couple areas of cancer on it.
I did attempt to do some vocal warmups that I used to do before singing, thinking maybe it would help, but couldn't even hit the low notes, so I gave up because I was afraid of maybe doing damage to my vocal cords if there was indeed something wrong there.
My surgeon said it could take up to a year or more for it to come back, so hang in there. Your surgery is only a few weeks old, so you'll definitely need more time than that to recover. Since your surgery was only a partial thyroid removal, your recovery may not take as long as mine is seeming to.
I am a Voice Teacher with several students. One of my students had a thyroid removal about a year ago. She took a break for about 6 months and returned to singing to find that she could indeed sing again but her voice did seem different then before. She is still able to use all registers with good connection. We did need to change her objectives in warm ups. Some teachers recommend short and detached drills. Hope this encourages other singers.
I had a partial thyroidectomy early last year and suffered
the usual voice related symptoms. I am a session musician
and singer so it hit me hard. By Christmas my voice had returned
full strength but after developing cancer in the remaining
half of my thyroid I had to go through it all again.
It feels worse than last time but like last time I have noticed
week by week improvements in range and power.
I know everyone is different but my self and many others
i have spoken to recovered. It takes time, patience and
practise. I know what you are all going through and
people that don't sing don't realise exactley what it means
to us people that do. Try to be patient and understand there
is no quick fix just nature taking it's course.
Good luck fellow thyroidless people and I hope it works out.
P.S. Not being able to sing 'don't wanna miss thing' by Aerosmith
to my twins which is their favorite song breaks my heart
but I live in hope.
Ian
the usual voice related symptoms. I am a session musician
and singer so it hit me hard. By Christmas my voice had returned
full strength but after developing cancer in the remaining
half of my thyroid I had to go through it all again.
It feels worse than last time but like last time I have noticed
week by week improvements in range and power.
I know everyone is different but my self and many others
i have spoken to recovered. It takes time, patience and
practise. I know what you are all going through and
people that don't sing don't realise exactley what it means
to us people that do. Try to be patient and understand there
is no quick fix just nature taking it's course.
Good luck fellow thyroidless people and I hope it works out.
P.S. Not being able to sing 'don't wanna miss thing' by Aerosmith
to my twins which is their favorite song breaks my heart
but I live in hope.
Ian
the thyroid is around the vocal chords and sometimes, like in my case the vocal chords were damaged in the surgery to remove my thyroid. 40 years later, the vocal chords gave out, became paralyzed. I couldnt breath on my own, I can speak, but I have a treach
i had atotal thyriodoctomy 3 months ago. i had the same problems with my voice.........as i love singing i did little every day. after afew weeks my voice got stronger. now after three months my voice is strong again..... hope this helps.............
I recently moved to QLD, and was king hit in the thorat when someone tried to steal my wallet.
Floored me, but i survived
Thought my throat was just bruised so didn't report it.
I felt it would be sore for a while.
Three months later, now only a talking register, when i could sing anything from billy joel to bohemian rhapsody
I feel everyones pain
feels worse than losing a limb
any one come up with an answer?
regards
Floored me, but i survived
Thought my throat was just bruised so didn't report it.
I felt it would be sore for a while.
Three months later, now only a talking register, when i could sing anything from billy joel to bohemian rhapsody
I feel everyones pain
feels worse than losing a limb
any one come up with an answer?
regards
I am so sorry that happened to you. I had a total thyroidectomy 3 1/2 weeks ago and one of the nodules was laying on my vocal cord nerve. I have always been a singer and I was scared to death of losing my singing voice. My speaking voice was good after surgery and then each week my speaking and singing voice improve. I just keep doing vocal exercises and hope one day to be able to sing like I used to. I was a first soprano and I struggle with alto now. But I am thankful I can sing at all. My voice gets tired quickly and I can only sing for a short while before it wears out. I am very thankful for all of the prayers that went up on my behalf and know that it was only God who has made it go this well so far. I will praise Him as an alto if I have to!! Lol... but... I do know your frustration. Have you been to see a doctor? Perhaps it is something that can be easily fixed? Or maybe it will just take time to heal. Please keep my updated. God Bless.
I had a total thyroidectomy about a month ago. I used to sing with my worship team but now I can definitely join the bass section. I don't have a normal speaking voice or singing voice. The doctor told me I wouldn't be able to sing for about 9 mos to a year. My speaking voice would return a lot sooner than that.
Anyone else recently had this done and what was the outcome?
Thank you
I had a partial Thyroidectomy on April 14. I have very little voice. I feel like I have to push it from the pit of my stomach to get any words out. They have scoped my throat and said it's swollen and to give it time. How much time does it need. I drive a school bus for a living and am going back on Monday and I am so totally frustrated that I can not even begin to tell you how I dread getting on that bus on Monday. I can't go like this forever in my job. They will let me go. Any help out here?
I had my thyroidectomy just a week ago and I suffer the same extreme hoarsness of voice. I believe somehow my nerve was touched or perhaps my voice cord sweelt due to the insertion of respirator into my throat.
I am afraid my voice will become hoarse the rest of life. I am a university professsor who depends on voice to earn living. I wonder if anyone can share your experience how do you cope with this problem? and any story related to my concern.
I knew the risk of side effects of thyroidectomy therefore I searched a well=expereinced surgeon and waited for a month for my operation and what I was afraid still happened. I just hope it would be temporay. Any experince anyone can share with me ?
Thank.
Marcel
I had a complete thyroidectomy about 3 years ago and I am still struggling with my voice. I went from singing alto to 2nd tenor. There are many notes that I still cannot reach. I know that people react differently but I do wish that someone had warned me that I would face such a loss. I sing what I can and omit the notes that are too high. This condition makes it difficult for a choir director.
I lost a great deal of range, tone and flexibility. I couldn't sing anything for two years. Then, one day, "Happy Birthday" actually came from my throat, mostly on note/pitch. I felt ovewhelmed with joy. Nonetheless, now fiive years out of surgery, I have half the voice I once had and very little upper register. I become hoarse easily and never know what kind of voice I will have. I feel constrained in my ability to express myself. It has been an enormous loss. If there is an alternative to a thyroidectomy, I would investigate it and press to try it. Change 8. Very sad.