Vocal chords paralysis .

[sunflower25]

I have been having trouble with post covid, talking, breathing, asthma, pneumonia s and pleurisy. I as a camera to look at my vocal chords and they are of closing properly. This has been the cause of the choking on food and tablets as well as above problems. I am having speech therapy aswell. Can anyone associate with what I'm saying.

[Jaydee1507 Administrator]

Perhaps try a long covid group? We can help you with your thyroid levels so what were your latest thyroid blood results with ranges? Also key vitamins - ferritin, folate, B12 & D3?

[sunflower25 in reply to Jaydee1507]

Normal th range. Also take vit d. Ferrous sulphate.

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to sunflower25]

Just being in the normal range for TSH means nothing. Can you get a printed copy of your latest results from GP and post them here? Its possible a dose increase might help some of your symptoms. Also ask them to test the vitamins I mentioned above. Hypo people dont absorb vitamins well from their food.

[snow22]

I know people post covid nearly all have or had pneumonia. Some for 3-4 months even after antibiotics. One started coughing blood, but recovering post antibiotics. Taken high vit d and c and zinc to help.

[Singwell]

Hi, I'm so sorry to hear this, as swallowing difficulties are very distressing! Sadly, it is all too common post COVID. I work with singers and have an interest in clinical voice work. Speech therapists are really good at swallowing difficulties so do your exercises religiously. Show them pills you need to take and explain which must be taken at which times and away from food. A tip might be - practise the swallowing exercise a couple of times BEFORE taking the pill. This reminds your brain to send the messages to nerves and muscles to activate them swallowing mechanism. You mention paralysis in the title here - do you mean that? That means the vocal cord is not moving at all. Usually it is only one of them if that's the case. If your vocal cords aren't closing properly then it's more likely they are moving a bit, but not completing the closing up of the larynx which stops food going into your windpipe. Ask your speech therapist.

Fingers crossed for you that this improves soon. I'm sure it will.

[debjs]

Hi, I have bilateral laryngeal nerve palsy following thyroidectomy 12 years ago. I had no voice at all for about 6 months following the surgery & had difficulty swallowing & with choking. Speech therapy was immensely helpful. I still have problems as my damage is permanent but my daughter had some vocal chord problems post covid which have now resolved. It took several months though. As has been said you really do need to be consistent with the speech therapy exercises. I also find steaming very helpful. I just breathe in the steam from a hot drink.

Good luck. Hope things improve for you soon.

[limonene7]

You might find this link helpful.

jamiekoufman.com/the-vagus-...

[ZeilaJee]

I’m a singer and was very distressed to have a lump in my throat and ‘stiff’ voice unable to reach notes etc. I am a hashi hypo and as my medication has got more appropriate (ie. Taking enough) the symptoms improved. Though it’s not quite like it was before it’s all workable now and I live with the slightly reduced lump. I agree with above: post your results and ranges so that the helpful people here can comment.

[Batty1]

I have read that some people develop thyroiditis after covid.

medicalnewstoday.com/articl...

[Litatamon]

Hope you find your answers. Just wanted to add that I had normal thyroid numbers but had a goitre that caused everything you are experiencing. Two of the modules, due to placement and size, made swallowing & breathing properly very difficult. And I had voice changes.

I had a thyroidectomy due to these issues getting worse over time and my thyroid was indeed diseased despite 'normal' labs.

Hope you get it all figured out soon.

[CernCrystal]

Hi your voice symptoms sound similar to mine. Had covid in Sept and am told I have long covid currently but had thyroid medication cut by a third at same time so unsure if long covid, hypothyroidism or both. This is what has helped me so far.

With my voice and throat not closing properly (it now does and I can speak - gaining better voice each day) sucking sweets was a revelation - hurt at first but I'm sure it exercised muscles. It was recommended to help with the coughing and the drip into the lungs. I didn't mess with no sugar went straight for Werthers Original! Also my speech therapist said I was really stiff and tense which affected my voice (this is from the other symptoms I have which I find unnerving - sensory perception out of whack, extreme muscle tiredness, pins and needles, unsteading on feet and confusion). I am practising relaxing - especially when I talk - and it is helping with voice, also talking slower has helped. When I can, I walk up a hill which helps manage asthma, though that may be difficult for you currently. I couldn't do it when lungs were bad but they really improved lately. Hope things improve for you.