Voice

[Calboy]

Hi all my mum had the Ivor Lewis in May and now has a really crocky voice is this normal ??

[kiddy]

Yes i did have at first especially when talking alot. Still get it now and then have to clear my throat.

Best wishes

Debbie

[Calboy in reply to kiddy]

Thanks for letting me know ... hope your well

[kiddy in reply to Calboy]

Hi currently in Greece 2yrs 6mths post op. Ups and downs but living life.

Best of luck

Debbie

[Calboy in reply to kiddy]

That's great good for u

[Alan_M]

Sometimes it is because the mouth is dry because of lack of saliva, or perhaps a bit of extra reflux. Hopefully not from vocal cords being twanged with anaesthetic tube during surgery.

Sometimes breathing helps the voice because you can tend to take shallow breaths first of all, protecting your chest from expansion. This can then strain the vocal cords. So breathing more deeply, with stomach going out when you breathe in (and vice versa) can help, so that you use all your chest / abdomen capacity. This is a bit like actors / singers being taught to breathe well to protect their voices.

[slobjohnb]

I have had this but it has mostly gone now, it helps when I cough and clear the throat. I still have problems with chest mucus after the right lung was deflated but it is nothing serious. Time is a great healer.

[fortunatus]

Yes, indeed I still have occasional weakness and indistinctness in my voice even 6 years + after surgery. And of course episodes of reflux can affect things temporarily

[catlover50]

My voice was very weak and as you say croaky after my op. My throat was extremely sore too. In fact immediately post op that was my worst discomfort. However it recovered fairly quickly. Hope your mum is as fortunate.

[jeffw663]

Seems like we all have or had this problem, mine comes and goes, I will try what Alan M says.

all the best Jeff

[Richlunn]

I had my Ivor Lewis in April and have had voice problems ever since. My understanding is that this is quite common due to the breathing tubes used during the op but that it normally improves in time.

If it doesn't improve, please speak to your mum's specialist nurse who can arrange a referral to an ENT specialist.

I saw the ENT specialist last week and one of my vocal cords is paralysed due to a soft tissue mass. I also have secondary tumours in my bones so I have been unlucky.

Chances are that your mum will be fine, especially if she has no other symptoms (I was breaking random bones as well!!) but if you are at all worried, get it checked out.

[SMRM in reply to Richlunn]

Hi Richlunn - Let us know how things go for you - sounds as if you have a more complicated situation indeed...with broken bones et al. Keep in touch.

[Calboy]

Thanks all for the replys