Hey so I had a vocal cord hemmorhage it happened 16 days ago

After it happened I got seen the next day at the laryngologist and they said

“You gotta rest totally for fourteen days then you’ll be fine”

They didn’t tell me how severe or mild it was just rest for fourteen days…

So I rested for fourteen days in silence

Then the next day I had an hour conversation on the phone (I never whispered and was gentle with my voice, careful to never put power behind projection, just speaking softly)

Then I read that a vocalogist on this forum said that you’re supposed rest for “3-14 days and maybe even more than that depending on severity, in complete silence.

Followed by a gradual and slow return to voice usage.

Followed by actual voice therapy

Well I waited fourteen days, and had a long conversation afterwards, and even though I was gentle when speaking I still spent an hour speaking….

My doctor never told me I had to ease back in

Now I’m worried that I’ve messed up the healing process and that I may end up with scar tissue

I wish he was actually a lot more thorough

I trusted him

Now I have to email his office and inquire about voice therapy as well

Have any of you ever gone through the same thing?

I had a t tube removal surgery on the 21st of July and airway reconstruction in Germany where the doctor removed the stenosis and then on the 24th I was diagnosed with bilateral vocal fold paralysis, right now it’s the 8th of September and my voice is still very breathy, at times I can say 3 to 5 words before running out of breath and at times just 2 words and I run out of breath. The doctor told me wait for 6 months till we decide what to do and till then we will wait for natural recovery to happen and now alhamdillah on the 5th of September I had an appointment with the ENT doctor and I finally for the first time saw my vocal cords moving. The doctor said the limited movement we are seeing is from both the vibrations and from nerve activity and that the nerve controlling the vocal cords is not dead but it’s not really mobile either Right now it’s the 8th of September and I am not experiencing any changes in my voice, it is still the same. I am 27 years old and my height is 173 I mentioned my height because I’ve been told that my recovery also depends on my height for some reason lol Anyways this is my story and I am looking for some inspiration as the doctor told me to wait and actually I’ve had the t tube for 3 years right now and I want to hear what people with similar experiences have to say. What to expect and all? I must mention I’ve had a glottic enlargement to improve my breathing but the vocal cords are not really that far from the camera its actually pretty close and I can breathe fine What shall I expect?

Hey everyone. Had a large saccular cyst removed from My left vocal fold May 2nd of this year. The surgery was a micro laryngoscopy w co2 laser. I’m a singer, so my process of diagnosis motivated by the vocal issues I was having (dysphonia in the mid range, fatigue, mild pain). Surgery went really well, but I did develop a raised lesion on the incision site that lasted about 3.5 months. Currently 4 months post op and I am just now getting back to using my voice fully. My post op treatment included voice therapy, two rounds of prednisone (to reduce the lesion), reflux meds, 10 days voice rest. Recovery felt really long, and since I had the lesion post op I did not immediately experience improvement. If anything it was worse for a couple months since I had no improvement in symptoms and more pain than pre op. However now that I am fully recovered I am able to sing without dysphonia, however I will have to spend a couple months building my voice back. Hope this helps anyone dealing with a similar issue. I started my search for diagnosis in 2018. My insurance at the time was not great and the cyst was not recognized by my provider at the time. I also was positioned in the doctor’s office to where I could not see the video monitor, so I left that appointment just kinda wondering if they knew what they were doing. I assumed at the time It was a case of vocal nodules. Any ways that first attempt at diagnosis and treatment was a wash. Much later on I was able to upgrade my insurance and meet with a reputable specialist to resolve the issue. Now that it’s all over, I would say it was well worth it. Recovery was tough, but I have peace of mind now. The pictures are pre op, 1 week post op, 3 months post op, and then 4 months post op.

Hello, everyone. I have right vocal fold paralysis and have had it for around 20 years. Over the last 1–2 years, it has gotten much worse. Currently I can’t speak more than a couple of words without experiencing neck pain, as if I’m “squeezing” my neck to talk.

I’ve had two type I thyroplasties, the first didn’t improve my voice, so I got a larger implant in the second… which also didn’t help. Now I’ve reached the point where I can’t even produce enough sound to properly do voice exercises. I simply cannot naturally engage my vocal folds to do the "humming" exercise, for example.

Does anyone have suggestions for what I should do now? I’m getting quite desperate about being unable to talk :(

Hi everyone, I’ve been struggling with a vocal cord polyp for 2 years. I’ve done extensive voice therapy, but unfortunately it has gotten so bad that I’m scheduled for surgery this November.

My doctor said that laser isn’t necessary in my case – they will cut it off instead. It will be a day surgery under full anesthesia.

Here’s the video of my polyp if you’d like to see it:

What made me a bit nervous is that my doctor mentioned the surgery can be “quite extensive” and has its risks, but he didn’t explain further. I forgot to ask at the time, which left me worried. • How was your recovery experience after surgery? • Did your singing/speaking voice return to normal? • Anything you wish you had known before going in?

I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who has gone through this – it would help calm my nerves a lot 🙏

Good afternoon everyone. I've been dealing with a vocal cord injury for a few years now (accidental elbow to the throat). Long story short, I was not able to get real care or see an ENT until last year or so. I'm now seeing a vocal coach biweekly to try to get my singing voice back.

We just had a vocal session and we were talking about progress and I realized that I may not have shown her this video. In it, you'll see that in the higher registers, my cords don't come together. I do not currently have a strong head voice or falsetto, and my voice becomes fairly easily fatigued. My coach saw it and noticed that the vocal musculature on the two sides is different.

Does anyone see anything of note on the video or picture and have any questions or comments that could help with knowledge or how to continue to attack the issue?

Thanks so much for your time.

Hi!

Just looking to read about people's experiences getting vocal fold steroid injections to treat benign lesions, not seeking medical advice etc.

I have a vocal fold polyp/cyst on the left vocal fold, and the right vocal fold is swollen and looks like it may have hemorrhaged a couple months back. I am a teacher and my doctor said if I could've taken a month off of teaching and stayed silent it may have resolved on it's own, but that's obviously not possible as I need to work, so we're going the injection route. And if it doesn't work then it's laser surgery in December.

Anyway, just curious what it was like for others. What was your voice like when you were allowed to start speaking afterward? My doc said no speaking for 48 hours and then I'm allowed to talk but to expect my voice to be a little hoarse.

How long until you saw improvements, if you did?

Just looking for people's general experiences. Thanks!

I've been looking for an app that I can use to type to talk. But in French Canadian/Quebec Does anyone know any that are easy to use?

I'm on a pixel 9. It sucks because I just got the phone and the RTT doesn't work on calls. But If I can at least use something to help communicate it's better than nothing.

It's been worse since a few days. I have absolutely no voice :(

I'm still waiting for the laryngologyst clinic to contact me for an appointment

Hello, I have vocal cord dysfunction, and I seriously need help with finding a remote job that doesn’t require speaking. I’ve been looking and applying for over a year but no luck yet :( Does anyone here have a remote job in the US that’s hiring? Thank you! (:

Help me out guys, should I go for surgery or try giving rest .

Am already on vocal rest from past 2 days. Scared af from surgery.

Feeling really overwhelmed after seeing that I likely have vocal nodules.

I have a vocal audition coming up, so as a more inexperienced/self-taught singer, I've been looking up everything on vocal health and proper singing form. Which is when I discovered vocal nodules, and I realised that they explain why my voice acts the way it does, e.g.:

Not coming out properly at the start of sentences Not being able to use my mixed voice with any stability Not being able to use my head voice at all really General breathiness and raspiness Strained air coming out rather than sound Sounding like example videos of nodules

And it makes sense because I:

Like to belt and sing riffs a lot Often sing higher than my confortable register Grew up in a household where we all shouted Pretty much exclusively drink soda and don't get enough water Talk a LOT until my voice goes hoarse/dry Get sick semi-regularly

Usually my voice acts in "cycles" where I can't sing well for weeks, then I can sing great for the next few weeks and so on. But now I'm scared because my voice has gone downhill for the past few weeks, but to a terrible degree. I've lost all the control of my mixed voice and head voice now :( Plus, I don't really have the time, energy, or resources to go to a voice doctor rn. With my audition in 2 weeks, I don't really know what to do. I've heard differing info on if voice therapy is enough to reverse it, or if surgery is required. But either way, I don't have the resources or time for either. I'm kinda freaking out so any help would be greatly appreciated

Hi,

I recently wrote about my diagnosis—or maybe I shouldn’t call it that yet, since we still haven’t found the cause—of complete vocal cord paralysis. Being in Quebec, I’m fortunate to have healthcare, but it also means everything moves at a glacial pace.

My high-contrast CT scan and MRI both came back negative for tumors or other issues, which leaves a viral cause as the most likely explanation. I don’t recall having any illness in the past year that could have caused this, so I guess we’ll see.

I’ve been referred to a larger hospital for further testing and to see a laryngologist, but that could take months—or even years. I also won’t get a referral to a specialized speech/voice therapist until they know more. I’m not sure if there’s a medical reason for that delay, but I can’t realistically wait a year, or more, before starting any work on my voice. Are there any safe, risk-free resources I could use in the meantime (assuming the delay is due to risk concerns)?

Right now, I’m scheduling my week to rest my voice as much as possible. I avoid appointments on Mondays and Fridays—Monday because I already have a meeting, and Friday because I work only half a day. I try to schedule other appointments in the mornings so I can rest over the weekend. Of course, that’s not always possible, as I work with victims of domestic violence and sometimes get called in for emergencies.

I still work full-time in a role that requires regular use of my voice. The summer was quieter, but things will soon pick up, and I’ll need to do public speaking regularly (I’m trying to limit it to once a week, max). About half of that is with victims, and the other half is in front of governmental institutions like CPC, police, healthcare providers, and others.

I’m also looking for a small over-the-ear microphone that can clearly pick up my voice—something discreet and, most importantly, that doesn’t hide my mouth. Here’s an example I found (first link I came across; I haven’t researched much yet, and I know some people here have more expertise with these systems):
https://www.point-sourceaudio.com/products/microphones/earmount/eo-8wl/

So at this point, I’m open to anything that might help.

Thanks everyone !

Ashy

Hey y'all, I need some help figuring out what could be causing this and if this is something to worry about.

I'm a professional singer and actor with MTD. I've been in remission for a few years and was back to my usual routine (also doing some national gigs in the coming months).

But I'm really frustrated/scared right now because my MTD is flaring in a way it hasn't in a while. The first one started in a rehearsal. I was singing without warming up and was already sleep deprived and dehydrated. So i ended up feeling a bunch of tension while singing, which led to a flare for about a week and a half. No changes to range, no breathiness, rasp, painful swallowing, coughing, or throat clearing. Just a VERY high larynx that felt like a brick. I could barely speak.

Massages, yawns, straws etc only gave me momentary relief--and even gentle phonation was sometimes painful. It took a few days for my muscles to really calm down, and then I was back to speaking again--even tho I still had some mild tension.

Then, exactly two weeks after the first flare, I was in another rehearsal (this time for acting) and I noticed my speaking technique was super off. I wasn't really warmed up (didn't have time) and kept retracting my tongue and getting intense. And then, boom--my tension flared again. It's been five days and I'm still super tight and tense. And the massages sometimes make my throat hurt more even tho I'm super gentle. Same with gentle phonation via straws or trills. Everything just feels tight and tired.

Ugh, this is frustrating. What should I do to get this to die down? Anything worrisome here?

At the end of June, I had a weekend in which I had a 5-hour video call with a friend on Friday night, followed by an all-day date with my girlfriend on Sunday (wasn't talking the whole time though). I started feeling the pain the following Monday, and went on full vocal rest until the 4th of July, after which I started easing my voice back in until the 14th, when I thought I could handle a call with my therapist. That reinjured me since it was an hour-long call (I only got through 50 min of it), and I then went on near-full vocal rest again until I was able to see the ENT on the 28th. He scoped me and saw nothing abnormal, and said that I should start using my voice again, which I have. I saw the SLP for the first time this Monday - she strobed me and found the same thing that the ENT did (in addition to the possibility of some reflux), and recommended the same thing while I got further appointments for voice therapy. Both of them said it was primary MTD.

Currently, I can speak for a few minutes at low volume per day before things get uncomfortable, whether that's through tightness or soreness or both. Most of the time, I feel nothing at rest, and depending on how fatigued I am, I either feel nothing upon swallowing or some tightness/soreness upon swallowing. I also notice that my throat constricts and tightens up when I've been speaking for a while and am getting close to my "limit" for the day. My stamina has been improving some over the past couple of weeks - on a good day, I can go for about 5 minutes instead of 2-3. But this is really affecting everything in my life and I'm getting exasperated, especially given that my job requires me to present and I've had to delay all presentations.

What should I do to get myself back to full functioning ASAP? How long will it take? This is the worst ailment I've had in my entire adult life and I'm scared this could destroy my life.

EDIT: I realized that it was actually my (posterior) digastric muscles that I have seemingly strained, it was not my SCMs.

Hello, I (17F) made the poor decision of belting at the top of my range along with trying to sing in a mix voice (something I just started attempting at recently, I think this might be what caused most of this) without warming up about 5 days ago and it has caused me issues since and I don’t know if I just need to give my voice more time to rest or if this is something else.

Basically right after singing, I noticed the rest of the day that my singing voice had a slight rasp in it and my throat felt a bit irritated, however, the next day it was gone. However, the evening of the next day brought more problems.

Although I hadn’t sung all day other than testing to see if that rasp was gone in the morning, that evening my digastric muscles on the sides of my neck started to get an achy feeling even though I wasn’t using my voice at all.

Me just choosing to not care I guess, I sung again the day after my muscles started doing this, not belting as high or doing anything crazy (mostly around the upper end of my comfortable range was where I stayed) but still using my voice a decent amount.

I have been on partial vocal rest (no singing, still talking however much more carefully and heavily reduced) for the past 2 days (3 if you count today) and my digastric muscles still feel the same.

———————————

TL;DR: Started working on mix belting recently so I (17F) still don’t entirely know what I’m doing, poorly decided to belt at the top of my (chest voice) range and then also try to sing in my mixed voice about 5 or so days ago, left me with a slight rasp in my singing voice the rest of the day. In the evening the next day, despite me only checking my voice to see if the rasp was gone for a second earlier that day, my digastric muscles in my neck started aching when I wasn’t even speaking or using my vocal chords at all. Decided to sing the next day after realizing this anyways. Started partial vocal rest (no singing, reduced and more careful speaking) the next day and have been doing this for 2-3 days now, no change.

Since these muscles didn’t start feeling like this about a day and a half after I did this, is it possible that this wasn’t caused by me straining? If it seems like it was caused by me straining what do I do, will vocal rest eventually help even though my muscles feel like this even when I’m not singing or speaking (I can make it worse by even just moving my jaw down).

I had surgery to remove a polyp on vocal chords on July 22. I had anesthesia and also was intubated. I was coughing up phlegm 4 times a day for 5 days. I ended up having problems with breathing so went on an inhaler on day 6. I went for my first check and Dr did see the mucus on the vocal chords. I am taking mucinex for it. I started speaking on day 5. Anyone else have had mucus issues and how long did it take them to resolve? I am going to start speech therapy soon.

How are you dealing with all the wildfire smoke?? I can’t seem to stay hydrated!

Hi everyone!

I went to the laryngologist 7 weeks after an infection because my voice still has some hoarseness and hasn’t fully returned to normal.

My scope was clear - healthy folds.

They told me the hoarseness I hear is caused by something with the way I’m speaking, in lower speaking register there’s air flow that we talk on and it’s interrupted - my Body is not allowing the body to have the air come through the same way at the level of the vocal folds.

So I’m getting some speech therapy to help with that.

However, they also told me the muscle below my cricothyroid is sore which I could feel when they touched my throat. I was advised to massage it and that I may be doing something in my high register that is making that sore.

But now I’m wondering could this be MTD and they just didn’t realize it? My voice is very subtly hoarse in addition to the fry like sound it makes at the bottom of my speaking range.

Can anyone who has had MTD speak to this? Or anyone who is a voice professional do you have an opinion?

Hi everyone,

I'm new here and really hoping to get some support or advice, I’m feeling completely overwhelmed right now.

Singing has always been my passion. I usually perform for non-profit events and it’s something that brings me a lot of joy and purpose.

My sister is getting married at the end of this month. She's my only sibling, and we've talked about me singing at her wedding ever since we were kids. It was always our little dream. Now that it’s finally here, I’m heartbroken because I might not be able to do it.

A couple of weeks ago, I started noticing a slight swelling on one side of my neck, nothing painful, just strange. But then discovered two nodules (9mm each) on my right thyroid and began to lose control over my voice: lots of air escaping when I talk or laugh, and discomfort when eating or drinking. Now, I can't hit the high notes I usually reach with ease. After just 2,3 lines of singing, my throat gets tired and tight. I went to the ENT doctor and he told me that i had a glottal insufficiency and that it wasn't related to the nodules. Most probably a coincidence.

I’ve tried to see an orthophonist, but most are on vacation right now and I haven’t been able to book anyone. I don’t know what to do. I feel lost.. I don’t know what could help me recover quickly, what to eat or drink, or if there are any exercises I can try in the meantime.

This has never happened to me before, and honestly, I feel like I’m spiraling.

Any advice would mean so much. Thank you for reading..

Actually I'm in a field which requires a lot of public speaking. Even though it puts pressure on my cords i have to do it... running out of voice in the middle of the speech is too embarrassing in front of the crowd so any quick tips for tomorrow?

Lost my voice just over a month ago, I can still talk but it sounds super hoarse. I talk a lot for work (sales) and in my free time doing things like dnd, reading to my kids, going places with family, etc… I went to the ENT and found out I have right vocal cord paralysis due to me having possible a terrible cough a month and a half ago. I have a check up and an appointment with a voice coach toward the end of the month. The things I read is it can take a year for a voice to come back on its own and even surgery may not fix it.

I have been feeling really depressed these last few weeks and was wondering if/how anyone like me coped with it. I just want to hear my own voice again and this sucks.

Partner got a knee surgery with laryngeal mask and has had super hoarse voice for 3.5 days now. Has this happened to anyone before?

Hi all, I'm new and appreciate this space to vent. I'm a songwriter that was previously pursuing music for over a decade (I'm 22). I've had to give this dream up due to consistent vocal pain/fatigue starting over 4.5 years ago. It hurts to talk/sing/rap. Every conversation there's some level of discomfort, in a loud environment (bar, open mic, etc.) my voice gives out/gets hoarse within seconds to minutes. On stage it's almost instant if I've been talking at all beforehand.

I've seen ENTs, great laryngologists, vocal coaches, rested it for over a year, went the acid/silent reflux route (PPIs, diet, 24hr PH level measurement), Muscle Tension Dysphonia route, Nerve pain meds, steroid/nerve injections, steroid meds, allergies, nebulizers, therapy, talking in a higher/breathier pitch, low larynx exercises, and tried slowly pushing through it with no luck. Doctors typically say my vocal cords look healthy, maybe slightly little swollen/red at times.

It all started during a random phone call, nothing emotionally significant. There were read flags in the months prior-like my voice would get dry & I constantly needed water.

I don't expect an answer, but am open to getting pointed in any possible direction. Thank you.

I'm struggling with a physical condition that has left my left cord paralyzed, making everyday conversations incredibly challenging. Not only does it affect my ability to communicate effectively, but it also takes a significant toll on my self-esteem. Professionally, it's particularly daunting as my job demands extensive public speaking, presentations, and stage performances. Lately, the strain has become overwhelming, leading to feelings of isolation and avoidance. I'm finding it hard to muster the motivation to engage with others or even leave my comfort zone. I'm reaching out for advice on coping mechanisms, techniques to improve vocal communication despite this condition, and strategies to manage both the physical and mental hurdles that come with it. How do others navigate similar challenges, and what support systems or therapies have proven beneficial? And i hope you guys are doing well and if not then we'll get through it stronger ❤️