Vocal chord issues

[ronyank]

Just wondering if anyone after esophagectomy surgery had vocal chord damage due to breathing tube. I have also had 9 dilations due to leakage at surgery which caused scar tissue in the past year. If so what was the remedy? Thank you.

[Molly14]

Hi, I had a paralysed vocal chord for nearly 3 months after Oesophagectomy due to breathing tube - I couldn’t talk very well and had to tilt my head every time I had anything to drink or I would choke - it was very unpleasant - my nurse arranged for me to see ENT department where they put a camera down my nose and had a look - they suggested injections to help unlock it - I didn’t need them though as when I went back for my post op chemo I ended up in hospital for 10 days as I couldn’t stop being sick - the vocal chord unlocked itself due to the wrenching - I remember the joy of being able to drink a cup of tea properly - I would speak to your specialist nurse about it - good luck

[catlover50]

I recall after my oesophagectomy the surgeon voicing some concerns about my vocal chords and suggesting I be referred to the speech therapist. I think they planned to do a camera investigation as Molly14 mentioned. My voice did sound different....more gravelly . I didn't have particular trouble swallowing and it seemed to rectify itself . I wasn't too keen on having tubes up my nose so I was pleased they decided to adopt a wait and see how I felt policy. All o.k. now. Hope your situation is soon resolved.

[ronyank in reply to catlover50]

going next month to ENT and speech therapist. I also get shortness of breath and they tell me it may be related. Still go for dilations so hopefully it doesn’t do anything else to my vocal chords.

[SurreyGuy]

Hi there. I had vocal chord problems for about 9 months. Mine was due to the actual surgery. For the first two weeks after surgery I could not speak at all...only whisper. The consultant was worried he had damaged nerve as the oesophageal join was really high up in my neck. I wasn't worried as I was just grateful to be ok. Anyway, as all the swelling sorted itself out so did the vocal chords and I returned to normal.

[ronyank in reply to SurreyGuy]

Yes going next month to ENT and speech therapist. I also get shortness of breath and they tell me it may be related. Still go for dilations so hopefully it doesn’t do anything else to my vocal chords.

[Molly14]

Hi - just to add on to my post above - when I talked I had shortness of breath

[ronyank in reply to Molly14]

Thank you Molly. It may be all related with my vocal cords for all my other tests for heart and lungs came up good.

[Mauser1905]

I lost my voice while waking up from exhumation in ICU after ECMO. But fortunately that was temporary.

2 years post surgery still have sometimes slurred words in between and some times badly pronounced words which have difficult pronunciation, as well overall sound much quieter.

[ronyank]

In the past year I had a esophagectomy and triple bypass. Then every month since August I have a dilation due to scar tissue from leak so I have tubes inserted every month also. They think voice change and shortness of breathe might be part of vocal cord issues. Will know next month.

[Mauser1905 in reply to ronyank]

Also remember shortness of breathe is part of dumping syndrome, as you have been through the oesophagectomy.

Vocal cord if not acid damage, could potentially be due to intrusion every month, but that's a non medical non validated view.