Need advice about which VFS doctor

[Roni]

Thanks for all the kind wishes everyone (Cadence, Dena, Elaine, runaway)!

Well I coughed right after waking up and here I am thinking the worst and worrying I have already done some sort of damage. It was a short, quick, fairly loud cough.   

I've lost the ability to taste and feel on one side of my tongue and it's been well over 12 hours now. Not quite sure what this means exactly or if it's a weird long-lasting effect from the anesthesia.

[iKate]

The tongue stuff is due to pressure being placed on it from instruments. It will come back eventually, like a few hours to a few days. The numbness will totally go away in a few weeks.

Btw congrats!

[runaway]

Don't worry about the cough! Unless you experienced bleeding and substantial pain, it's probably 100% fine. Almost everyone who's undergone a glottoplasty has coughed during voice rest, yours truly included.

The numbness and taste issues subsided for me in a few days, so don't worry. During the first week post-op, I became oversensitive to mint, so my spiro pills tasted like breath mints!

Remember to drink lots of water, and ask for popsicles if you're still in the hospital.

Last but not least, congratulations!!!

[Roni]

The tongue stuff is due to pressure being placed on it from instruments. It will come back eventually, like a few hours to a few days. The numbness will totally go away in a few weeks.

Btw congrats!

All righty that's good to know, thank you! After battling a gnarly phlegm buildup for thirty minutes I ended up coughing a second time. My anxieties are getting the best of me at this point.. I have my checkup with Dr Haben in about an hour and will find out if any sort of damage has occurred..

[Roni]

Don't worry about the cough! Unless you experienced bleeding and substantial pain, it's probably 100% fine. Almost everyone who's undergone a glottoplasty has coughed during voice rest, yours truly included.

The numbness and taste issues subsided for me in a few days, so don't worry. During the first week post-op, I became oversensitive to mint, so my spiro pills tasted like breath mints!

Remember to drink lots of water, and ask for popsicles if you're still in the hospital.

Last but not least, congratulations!!!

Problem is I do have a sharp-ish pain in my throat similar to a mild sore throat but am not sure if that is the result of coughing or just a result from the procedure in general.

[runaway]

Problem is I do have a sharp-ish pain in my throat similar to a mild sore throat but am not sure if that is the result of coughing or just a result from the procedure in general.

That's completely normal! You did have your vocal folds lasered and sutured after all.

Even now, my throat still feels slightly sore when I overuse my voice or cough/clear my throat too much. I think surgeons are generally over-cautious when setting out aftercare guidelines, to safeguard against unintended accidents and patients who bend the rules.

Dr. Haben told me not worry about what I can't control, when I asked him about coughing and all that. Take it easy, be as careful as possible, but don't worry.

If you can, look for Strepsils Extra (Black Cherry). Those are antiseptic and have a mild analgesic effect, which will soothe the discomfort and prevent infection on your flight back home. Buy the Black Cherry ONLY; the other flavours don't have the antiseptic and analgesic effects.

If you can, pick up travel-sized mouthwash, which also helps soothe and disinfect your mouth and throat.

Werther's Original caramel candy also helped lubricate and soothe my throat when the taste of Listerine and Strepsils got to be too much.

Have a warm or ice-cold beverage on hand, which helps relieve the urge to cough or clear your throat.

I hope this helps! I wish you a speedy and uneventful recovery.

[Roni]

Runaway, that was very helpful for me. Thank you so much! Showed my mom your post and she just so happened to have some antiseptic candy that helps suppresses colds and coughs! 

[iKate]

Don't worry about the cough! Unless you experienced bleeding and substantial pain, it's probably 100% fine. Almost everyone who's undergone a glottoplasty has coughed during voice rest, yours truly included.

The numbness and taste issues subsided for me in a few days, so don't worry. During the first week post-op, I became oversensitive to mint, so my spiro pills tasted like breath mints!

Remember to drink lots of water, and ask for popsicles if you're still in the hospital.

Last but not least, congratulations!!!

I don't remember coughing (I went to dr Kim) and I did my darnedest not to cough in the first month. I coughed like 5 times total during that month two of which were in the first 7 days.

I would say be careful with coughing because I suspect it could affect the healing and scar quality.

Why risk it? Don't cough. I took the cough suppressant religiously. I did my best not to cough. And I believe that has paid dividends as my result is very good.

[Roni]

I don't remember coughing (I went to dr Kim) and I did my darnedest not to cough in the first month. I coughed like 5 times total during that month two of which were in the first 7 days.

I would say be careful with coughing because I suspect it could affect the healing and scar quality.

Why risk it? Don't cough. I took the cough suppressant religiously. I did my best not to cough. And I believe that has paid dividends as my result is very good.

What about the coughs I can't control? Right now I'm definitely trying my hardest not to cough, but some do manage to give in without me being able to control them. I'm fighting the cough battle religiously too, taking sips of water every few minutes and currently taking antiseptic candy.

Also just got back from Dr Haben's checkup and everything seems fine! What a huge relief. 

[Dena]

Congratulations on the surgery. I didn't have a problem with coughing but I kept cold water with me all the time with a straw when possible. I would take a small sip, warm it in my mouth for a few seconds then swallow it slowly. I still have the cough medicine that Dr Haben gave me and used only one round of it for the trip home just in case. If you need the cough medicine TAKE IT. I was very careful to breath through my nose to keep the air moist around the surgical area. Dry air will make you want to cough. Eat sitting straight up and laying on your side will also help.If you feel the need to cough, lean forward and exhale fast with your cords open.  That will help clear off any accumulation you might have. There will be mistakes but try to keep them as few as possible.

[Dena]

Really long night last night battling a moderator problem and I am still not fully awake. Your sense of taste. Taste buds have about a two month growth cycle. If you damage them with hot sauce, they will take that long to regenerate but they WILL return to normal. I had funny metallic taste up until a short time ago due to Dr Haben really working over the inside of my mouth. If your sense of taste is mess up, given time it will clear up. At 3 months I still have a bit of soreness but I know I still have swelling. Most people will recover far faster than I did. Again the cough medicine is powerful stuff and will help block the pain. Time to get ready for work.

[jollyjoy]

Congrats on having the surgery! That first night I coughed about five times I think. Don't worry too much about what you can't control. What helped me tremendously with reducing coughing and phlegm at night was sleeping elevated on 2-3 pillows.

[iKate]

What about the coughs I can't control? Right now I'm definitely trying my hardest not to cough, but some do manage to give in without me being able to control them. I'm fighting the cough battle religiously too, taking sips of water every few minutes and currently taking antiseptic candy.

Also just got back from Dr Haben's checkup and everything seems fine! What a huge relief. 

Do your best not to cough at all.

If you feel like coughing open your mouth wide and let the air escape.

I can't say for sure that small coughs would cause adverse effects but it's your voice and your one shot at a good voice, so don't risk it!

It's hard but it's doable.

[Roni]

Congrats on having the surgery! That first night I coughed about five times I think. Don't worry too much about what you can't control. What helped me tremendously with reducing coughing and phlegm at night was sleeping elevated on 2-3 pillows.

Thanks Jollyjoy! How has your recover/voice been?

[Elaine S]

Do your best not to cough at all.

If you feel like coughing open your mouth wide and let the air escape.

I can't say for sure that small coughs would cause adverse effects but it's your voice and your one shot at a good voice, so don't risk it!

It's hard but it's doable.

This is good advise and it does help. My throat was deluged with mucous coating my throat and VC's after surgery and the urge to cough came and went. I accidentally discovered this technique to help decrease stress by kind of "huffing", if that makes any sense, rather than coughing to avoid the jarring vibrations from a cough.

Best wishes for a super quick recovery.
Elaine

[iKate]

This is good advise and it does help. My throat was deluged with mucous coating my throat and VC's after surgery and the urge to cough came and went. I accidentally discovered this technique to help decrease stress by kind of "huffing", if that makes any sense, rather than coughing to avoid the jarring vibrations from a cough.

Best wishes for a super quick recovery.
Elaine

Yes, this is exactly what I did.

[Roni]

Is it possible to break apart the suture without feeling any pain? I'm trying my best but seem to be coughing once every six hours or so.. As long as there's no sharp pain, the suture should still be intact, correct?

[Roni]

I think I'm just going to stop worrying lol... Literally nothing I can do. I manag to hold my coughs pretty well but the phlegm builds up over the course of a few hours and no amount of opening my mouth wide and "huffing" seems to prevent the buildup. About to hop on my flight back to San Diego. Talk to you ladies soon!

[Cadence Jean]

I would expect some pain, maybe a little blood on a kleenex, and a taste of blood in your mouth. I had that when I sneezed out some funky scar tissue stuff. I would expect the same if the stitch/web ripped.

[Dena]

The sutures are pretty rugged but a coughing fit is something to be avoided. I have to admit I talked by accident after I got home but I stopped pretty quickly. Because I wanted all the pitch I could get, I tried very hard not to put any stress on the healing wounds. Dr Haven said I would get between 60 hand 80 Hz improvement and I wanted more than 80 if possible. My sweet spot continues to rise and I may exceed Dr Haben's estimate if this keeps up.

Also when you huff, it's very important to lean forward. The combination of gravity and the air movement works much better.