Hi Everyone :-)
Well I'm safe and sound back home in Vancouver and I'm already missing Seoul. I had my checkup on Wednesday and Dr. Kim said it looks great so that was a huge relief! I did have a vocal tremor so he injected botox and prescribed clonazepam for me (3 months botox effect, 4 months clonazepam) which should give my vocal cords enough time to settle down and heal without a tremor.
I did pretty good at keeping silent the whole time I was there, apart from the few times I lightly coughed or started a whisper before catching myself. One thing I found difficult was not moving any air out while trying to "mouth" words to my friend and people I was interacting with. It's probably safer to just use a notepad or type on your phone for everything, but I found myself still mouthing words to people and I always had to make sure I wasn't in fact whispering anything.
They say the botox injection will make my voice hoarse and strained for 4-5 weeks but I'm only supposed to be speaking a couple words a day during that time anyway. They also mentioned that I might have trouble swallowing for a few days after the injection (instructions were to use a straw when drinking or tilt your head forward when swallowing) but I didn't actually have any trouble. Also, for the first 2 months, I'm only supposed to speak in a falsetto, which is supposed to train my brain to use a higher pitch, so it is easier to drop back down into my chest voice at the 2 month mark, when I can start talking normally and will begin the vocal exercises.
I have to avoid salty and spicy food for 2 months, as well as alcohol, and all caffeinated drinks such as coffee, tea, soda, etc.
I tried to say one word today and when I first tried, nothing came out. It was just like a silent whisper. I tried again in falsetto and it kind of cracked and made a squeak. I guess it takes a little more time. I'm going to keep resting it for another few days before trying again.
Oh, one more thing that was really neat about Yeson was the package they give you when you leave. It has all your test results, vocal analysis, instructions, and even has the video of your vocal cords vibrating on a usb key. Jessie is so fantastic. If anyone goes after me, please say hi to her for me. :-)
My throat was pretty sore the day of the surgery, and felt more like I had a bad cold the next day. It got better the day after, and then got worse again for a few days but I think that might have more to do with the cold, dry air and pollution (yellow dust from China) in Seoul because I was going out a lot. I would recommend buying a face mask at a corner store if you're going out. Lots of people in Seoul were wearing them. Things I managed to see and do while there: The COEX aquarium (the mall is closed for renovations), shopping in Myeongdong (makeup!), Apgugeong, Namdaemun market (fake designer handbags), Itaewon, Insadong (souvenirs), and Gangnam, Mount Namsan and the N. Korea Tower and love locks, the palace, the National Folk Museum, a cat cafe in Gangnam (highlight of the trip!), and ate at lots of cool and unique restaurants including the Gourmet 494 in the basement of the Galleria shopping center in Apgugeong which is this high-end food court where I had Kalbi Tacos from a Mexican restaurant, and the best burger I've ever had (I was shocked too). I also hung out with Barbie for the afternoon before my surgery and she kindly showed me around and took me to an e-Mart to buy a hair straightener. Overall, Seoul is fantastic and I loved it there. If anyone has any questions, please feel free to PM me.
Wearing a traditional Korean Hanbok:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/119641944@N07/12986122673/At the palace in Seoul:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/119641944@N07/12986400254/(I don't know how to embed photos in a post)
