I have asthma, aspergillosis and mild bronchiectasis and have periods of being relatively ok. I am under a local and regional consultant who thought I maybe had VCD and my appointment was cancelled due to covid. I have been ill for the last 8 weeks with shortness of breath which also started with pharyngitis and have had 5 courses of antibiotics. Took a long time to be able to see a doctor. Steroids didn't work and have been taking iron tablets for low iron. I have been to A&E twice, said there was an infection in both lungs so then on my fifth course. I am now 4 weeks later and had to go A&E last night as breathlessness getting worse and breathing rapidly. Had another x ray and infection had cleared. Blood tests now fine, ecg, sats 98, peak flow 330, blood gases fine. They couldn't understand why I was so breathless but thought it could well be VCD. I never cough or have sputum. Just like to know if there is someone out there who has VCD and give me some advice. Clinics are closed and it could be weeks or months before I get appointment and I can't carry on like this.
Vocal Chord Dysfunction - Help please - Asthma Community ...
Vocal Chord Dysfunction - Help please
There are exercises you can do to help VCD. azsneeze.com/vocal-cord-dys... (scroll time bottom) or img.medscape.com/pi/emed/ck...
Unfortunately I couldn’t find a link to an NHS exercise version, but these will hopefully help whilst you’re waiting (if you go onto YouTube i imagine there’ll be lots of video demonstrations too)🤞🏻
Hope this helps and that you feel better soon!
Hi I have a form called spasmodic dysphonia were my vocal chords just slam shut and I sound like a darlec. Doctor said it shouldn't affect my breathing but it seems to. Consultant said it is linked to the fact I have gastro oesophagus reflux disease. I didn't know I had it. I have to avoid all spicy foods, anything acidic. And I sleep with a raised pillow. I also avoid lactose. I don't know if any if this would help you hope so
Thanks for replying. I have gastric reflux and belch a lot and take lansoprazole. I think it is all tied up. Thanks for your advice, much appreciated!
My husband was diagnosed with eosinophilic asthma at age 47 last year. He was told he has vcd, he often can only talk in a whisper. Ent referred him to a speech therapist and they said he has paralysis or the vocal chords. He was seeing the speech therapist for a while but he was unable to do the exercises due to shortness of breath. He found out he also has silent reflux which is affecting his throat a lot. He now sees a respiratory physio, well did until lockdown but physio is calling him every couple of weeks. As well as the eosinophilic asthma and vocal chord paralysis he has had no taste or smell for 15 months, and chronic sinusitis. He does daily voice and throat exercises. He gets upset as he was healthy and exercised daily, including running 5 and 10 km park runs and events.
I hope you get sorted, in our experience it takes a while but every step is a step forward.
Thanks for replying. I feel for your husband. A speech therapist rang me from the Freeman, told her what has been happening, listened to my breathing over phone and gave me some exercises. She said I have all the symptoms of VCD. She is going to ring back in 2 weeks but no sign of department opening yet when I can have a camera down my throat. She said VCD and related breathing problems have not been well recognised. I mentioned it to my consultant who had never suggested it but said it could probably the case. Best wishes to you and your husband x.
He has had a few cameras down his throat and it is quite fascinating to watch. His vocal chords only move slightly on one side, the other side stays still so his throat is constantly open. He has to drink very slowly so he doesn't choke, or rather he should drink slowly. He finds eating tiring, that is also to do with disliking eating because he cant taste.
All the best x
I had something similar a few years ago. I lost my voice for almost 3 months. I also had breathing problems at the start of it. I saw a ENT specialist and he put a camera up my nose to look at my vocal chords which showed to be bright red and inflamed. He didn't know what was causing it so put me on antibiotics, omeprazole (in case it was acid reflux) and nystatin. He thought the increased use of my steroid inhaler (which my GP had told me to do) might be causing oral thrush that can affect the vocal chords. My gut feeling is that it was oral thrush as the nystatin seemed to work best. One thing I remember is that I was extremely sensited to anything that upset my breathing at the time, just sitting next to someone who had been smoking caused me big breathing problems. My respiratory specialist also changed my steroid inhaler from seretide to fostair, though not sure if that helped. He thought my asthma had moved to the top of my chest which is why it affected both my breathing and voice. If I hadn't improved, my ENT doc said they'd need to take a small biopsy of the vocal chord.
Just going to add, I now rinse my mouth with water thoroughly after using my steroid inhaler. The hospital pharmacy writes it on the packaging, my doctors don't.
Thanks for replying. Desperately need the test. Gastric reflux doesn't help. My test was cancelled day before.
Thanks for pointing out re inhaler, Will have to take more care rinsing my mouth.
I had the same many years ago,they found that pharengial nerve was paralised,my voice eventually came back,but i now have a very deep voice and get mistaken for a man on the phone lol
Hello, I am sorry about your condition. I do have coughs and sputum depending on the season. I am no doctor so I can only tell you that for your vocal chord dysfunction maybe drinking hot milk could work, especially before going to bed. Some drink it with some honey but I have read somewhere that is no good for asthmatics so I don't eat honey. Regards.
Thanks for replying. Unfortunately milk makes my gastric reflux worse but appreciate your suggestion.
Not saying what follows is the solution, but often it can be part of the ‘fix’.
I had persistent VCD for several months, and almost completely fixed mine by being more diligent in respect of two things:
1. Always use a Spacer attachment with every inhaler you use. (Think they’re free on NHS prescription, or about £12 from most pharmacists and Amazon). Youtube has videos on how to use a Spacer, if required.
2. Brief Gargle before and after using inhaler with a Spacer. (Now things have improved, I can usually skip gargling before inhaler use, and just do it briefly afterwards). Note, Gargling ‘before’ may sound illogical, but it’s to clear the mouth and throat of any microbes that may interact with the inhalers being used.
Spacer I use is about 5 to 6 inches long and about one and a quarter inches diameter. Important to do it with every inhaler that can attach to a Spacer. You can always modify later to see if the VCD gets worse (or doesn’t change) if you don’t use a Spacer for one of the non-steroid inhalers.
Ref Gargling, could try quarter teaspoonful of salt in a glass of water. I’m currently using a mouthwash purchased from the supermarket, but that’s partly due to a covid-19 protection regime I’ve concocted for myself.
Thank you. Will do!
Might be prudent to check with your medical adviser about the gargle idea, just in case there is anything he / she knows about your specific case notes, that ‘gargling’ might make worse. Understand that, sometimes, it can dry out throat tissue a bit.
Help Needed. Please
PETRIFIED poss newby awaiting diagnosis HELP
Floundering and unsure. Need help and advice please. 
