Vocal chord dysfunction - did your doctor take you seriously?

[sdan4]

I have had fairly well-controlled asthma for 20 years, but have only recently come across vocal chord dysfunction as a condition, and a lot of the descriptions seem to tally with my problems. When I exercise, my throat feels like it tightens, rather than my lungs, and I have difficulty/pain breathing past a certain point - but I don't feel tight in my lungs, nor do I wheeze. Sometimes I feel like I reach a 'barrier' in my throat when breathing in - like I could breathe in further/have the lung capacity to, but the air can't get through. When it happens during exercise I also feel the need to cough a lot. Having had asthma for 20 years, I know what an asthma attack is and this just doesn't feel like one.

I am thinking of seeing my GP but worried they will dismiss me. I haven't had great experiences with them and I know doctors hate it when you 'self-diagnose'. Has anybody else approached their GP about this and what was the response?

[freefaller]

Go to your GP and explain your problem rather than tell them and then say that you have heard that it could be vocal chord dysfunction and maybe say you would like to be referred back to your consultant or whatever. I hope that as long as you are polite and discuss rather than tell your Doc then he/she will be fine about it. Fingers crossed for you. You need to tell your Doc about any changes you experience.

Good Luck

Sian

xoxoxo

[Moonbear]

Hi I have brittle asthma. A couple years ago I was eating my tea and suddenly realised that I was chocking on something! If was on my ow n I would have died. But my hubby had to do the hymenick(? Can't spell it). From that I kept chocking on food! It was investigated, and they discover that the muscles at the top and bottom of my osophogus, were very sluggish! They weren't working like they should! Anyway I since keep losing my voice which also was investigated, and they discovered as well as the muscles not working like they should, but I have damage to my vocal cords due to being ventilated so many times, but my inhaler isn't helping things! But I look at it this way, I'm still alive, loving I'm life, because brittle asthma is so unpredictable, I could die and actually been brought back thanks to the amazing doctors. I'm not aloud to eat chewy type food on my own! I have to eat items that I can swallow easily.

So can understand how your feeling! But get it investigated by an entire doctor! If I had not,kept on about it, I am not sure I would still be here!

[starveycat]

I was diagnosed with vocal chords dysplasia last week. I felt sometimes that my throat was closing other times as though there was a lump there and it was sore, but I croaked a lot. The doctor treated me for thrush on my vocal chords, I went back after a week and was still croaking, so was sent to see an E N T consultant. He put a camera up my nose to look at the vacal chords surprisingly it did not hurt. I agree with Freefaller advice. Good luck, sorry I did not reply earlier but been away ♥

[Moonbear]

Yes I have and got a positive reply! Firstly she told me I get what they call an upper stridal weeze! Which is because of steriod and ICU treatment, meaning I've been ventilated to many times!. But my GP sent me to see an ENT doctor who confirmed what she said! I was also told that my voice being horse is down to having to use a steriod based inhaler! And having to take steriods all the time! But you should just go and see your GP and tell her your worries there's no point in thinking, your GP will be negative! It will continue to worry you! Which will not help your asthma in the long term!

Good luck!

[sdan4]

Thanks! I went to my GP and he is trying tweaking my asthma medication first in case it is asthma-related but he was open to that it could be something else especially when I mentioned my voice croaks. So we'll see what happens.