vocal cord nodules

[JBJBJB]

After persistent cough, my vocal cord finally told me to “shut up!!!” :roll-laugh:

Just got back from a good ENT doctor. He said I had two vocal cord nodules. He said he was not surprised because the cough I had and inflammation for so long. He referred me to a voice pathologist. I really doubt the pathologist could do anything.

If you have any remedy of what to do, let me know. Could this kind of nodules also related to thyroid? He asked me a lot of questions about thyroid.

Thank you,

JB

 

 

 

[Maz]

Hi JB,

Sorry I can't think of any remedies for vocal cord nodules, but they are quite common…Elton John and Julie Andrews both had them, so you're in good company. 😉 Sometimes folk will have them removed and I think both of the above did have this done, though there were fears of vocal changes and their singing careers coming to an end. Unless you have a singing career in mind, this might be something to look into? Although, while in the midst of Lyme treatments, you may want to put any surgery off, as any type of surgery can put us back in progress.

My best fellow patient guess is that most nodules are the result of the body trying to encapsulate infections. Do vocal nodules shrink with abx treatment? I don't know…but sure would be nice as you move ahead with treatment. Hope so, JB…wouldn't that be a great side-bar to Lyme treatments?

Peace, Maz 

[JBJBJB]

Hi Amazing Maz,

I sure hope this is just temporary. I started this around mid Feb and it got worse each day.

The doctor told me he did not detect any yeast infection in my sinus. I really had a big question mark about it. He also said the mouth thrush did not look like yeast problem. Hmmmmm….

I asked him why I coughed so much. He said it was due to allergy. hhhhhhhhmmmmmmmmm….

I really don't think he knows enough about yeast sinus problem.

JB

 

 

 

 

 

[Merla]

[user=266]JBJBJB[/user] wrote:

After persistent cough, my vocal cord finally told me to “shut up!!!” :roll-laugh:

Just got back from a good ENT doctor. He said I had two vocal cord nodules. He said he was not surprised because the cough I had and inflammation for so long. He referred me to a voice pathologist. I really doubt the pathologist could do anything.

If you have any remedy of what to do, let me know. Could this kind of nodules also related to thyroid? He asked me a lot of questions about thyroid.

Thank you,

JB

 

 

 

Hi JB,

I had the same thing you describe for the past year. At first I thought it was allergies, then maybe infections but nothing helped. I finally went to an ENT after about 7 months and I was told that I had problems because of acid reflux. I didn't believe that because I didn't have any symptoms of reflux. Then I went for a second opinion to another ENT/ voice disorder specialist.

After a very good exam with cameras and the whole thing, I was told the same thing. I had vocal nodules that were caused by acid reflux. The remedy; raise the head of my bed 2 – 4 inches, take omeprazole (an acid blocker) 2 X/day and go to voice therapy. This has worked very well and I don't have problems much at all right now. Oh, one very important detail. Take the omeprazole 30 minutes BEFORE you eat or it doesn't work. I took it with my meal for a month before I learned that important detail.

Cheers,

Merla

[JBJBJB]

[user=262]Merla[/user] wrote:

Hi JB,

I had the same thing you describe for the past year. At first I thought it was allergies, then maybe infections but nothing helped. I finally went to an ENT after about 7 months and I was told that I had problems because of acid reflux. I didn't believe that because I didn't have any symptoms of reflux. Then I went for a second opinion to another ENT/ voice disorder specialist.

After a very good exam with cameras and the whole thing, I was told the same thing. I had vocal nodules that were caused by acid reflux. The remedy; raise the head of my bed 2 – 4 inches, take omeprazole (an acid blocker) 2 X/day and go to voice therapy. This has worked very well and I don't have problems much at all right now. Oh, one very important detail. Take the omeprazole 30 minutes BEFORE you eat or it doesn't work. I took it with my meal for a month before I learned that important detail.

Cheers,

Merla

Merla,

Thank you for telling me you also have the same problem. I am glad you are better. It's very encouraging. Thanks for the advice. I will try some of the tips.

Today I dropped my daughter for her piano lesson and went over to buy the aspirin you recommended. I will try that method before I go to bed. In addition to acid reflux, I have very persistent cough and tons of phlegm sitting in my throat, feeling like I have to clear my through constantly. My eyes, sinus are also have inflammation. 

The strange thing was the ENT doc kept asking me if I have thyroid problem. I told him yes. He checked my thyroid and did not find any nodules…

I hope and pray this voice problem shall soon be over. JB:crying:

 

[lynnie_sydney]

JB – in case Merla doesnt see this. I'm not sure if it was a typing error, but it was not aspirin Merla talked about, rather omeprazole – here is some info on it and brand names. Lynnie

http://www.medicinenet.com/omeprazole/article.htm

Be well! Lynnie

Palindromic RA 30 yrs (Chronic Lyme?)
Mino 2003-2008 100mg MWF - can no longer tolerate any tetracyclines
rotating abx protocol now. From Sep 2018 MWF - a.m. Augmentin Duo 440mg + 150mg Biaxsig (roxithromycin). p.m. Cefaclor (375mg) + Klacid 125mg + LDN 3mg + Annual Clindy IV's
Diet: no gluten, dairy, sulphites, low salicylates
Supps: 600mg N-AC BID, 1000mg Vit C, P5P 40mg, zinc picolinate 60mg, Lithium orotate 20mg, Magnesium Oil, Bio-identical hormones (DHEA + Prog + Estrog)

[Merla]

Hi Lynnie,
Hi JB,

Thanks for making that clear Lynnie.

The medication I take is called omeprazole. One of the name brands that is common is Prilosec. I take 20mg twice a day, 30 minutes before breakfast and 30 minutes before dinner. It reduces stomach acid. It doesn't work at all if you don't time it 30 minutes before you eat. (I think you could also take it before going to bed on an empty stomach)

Taking the medication and raising the head of my bed really helped. Once in a while I still run into something else that makes my voice croaky, like air pollution (indoor and outdoor). But other than that the quality of my voice is actually better than before. The voice therapy sessions helped me learn how to use my muscles around my vocal chords better and gave me some great tips on how to use my voice. That was really helpful for me because I use my voice all day for my job.

The voice disorder specialists filmed my vocal folds in action. Wow! I saw my two vocal folds/chords and the nodules on them and saw them in action. It was really amazing. They also showed me how my tissue on my vocal folds looked a bit different from how it should look (mine was striated) and we speculated that it was probably a result of the systemic swelling I had when I was very ill/swollen and started AP. I realize now that every part of my body was affected at it makes sense that my neck and voice was too.

Cheers,
Merla

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