Feb 4, 2009
Today’s appointment with ENT (ears, nose, and throat) specialist in Indianapolis was very helpful. She specializes in the “T” so she has a lot of experience with vocal cord injuries. She took plenty of time understanding my history and looking through photographs of my vocal cords taken as far back as 2005. I was so thankful that she seemed willing to get a full understanding of my situation before offering her opinion as to the cause and prognosis for my particular situation.
Her two immediate reactions after talking through my history and photos were: 1. She does not think my hemorrhage is healing as quickly as it “should”. 2. She wonders why I have had the same area of thickening (pre-nodule) on both cords since college. (This area was one that I figured I was destined to keep forever because it had been there for so long!)
She then stuck a camera up my nose, down the back of my throat and took a look at my vocal cords. Yeah, it’s about as fun as it sounds! The good news is that the hemorrhage has healed significantly since the last set of pictures were taken a week ago.
Her conclusion is that I have been afflicted for a long time with what is called Laryngopharyngeal reflux or “silent reflux”. The basic deal with LPR that makes it different than normal GERD is that it happens more frequently per day (50-75 times per day is in normal range) and the symptoms are usually vocal in nature, such as horse speaking voice, vocal fatigue after speaking or singing, throat clearing, and feeling like there is a lump in your throat. She suspects that my LPR has been made even more severe because I have been an avid diet coke fan! The unfortunate part is that these symptoms are often confused by strenuous voice users (like myself) as ‘normal’. There are no typical GERD symptoms so even many doctors are not likely to know LPR is the root of the fatigue and injury presentations.
Really, this is good news. It explains why even after 10 days of total voice rest, my cords were not healing as quickly as a person unaffected by LPR. It explains why my pre-nodules have stubbornly sat on my vocal cords for almost 10 years. It explains why I have always seemed more susceptible to vocal fatigue and injury than other singers. I have often wondered “what’s wrong with me” and “what am I doing that is different than they are doing?”. So, now I have a pretty convincing answer and a way to treat the root of all these frustrations.
First, I start a heavy dose of reflux medication twice a day. Because LPR happens several times an hour, the medication has to be taken twice per day rather than once. After four months, we should be able to see drastic improvement in my overall vocal health and stamina. If we don’t, then we go back to the drawing board, but the Dr. is very confident this is the right way to go.
Also, I have some traumatic dietary restrictions…no carbonation, caffeine, fried food, or chocolate! It’s really just my diet coke and m&ms I will miss most of all! For any of you who like to mother me, she did say that “occasional” consumption of these foods was ok!
I am allowed to start talking and singing as long as I am not experiencing any raspy or fatigue symptoms. Just like a runner who is getting back on the track, I need to take it slow and listen to my body. When I get fatigued I need to rest my vocal cords for a couple of hours.
I think I am most excited about the possibility of experiencing vocal health like I have literally NEVER had before. I am so grateful for answers to years of questions and for the long term healing that is taking place from this day forward.
Thank you again for praying for my patience and for my kids. Thanks for your nice text messages, cards, emails, and other non-verbal communications. I really appreciate the amazing support and friendships I have in this life.
This is probably the last of the updating I need to do. I plan to lead worship again starting Feb 22nd, so I have 2 more weeks to work my way back into a singing routine.
