Hello again to all... I have been quite remiss in keeping up with my VFS experience.
I originally had my VFS with Dr. Haben on 27.May.2015 and reported on that in my initial installment, posting only one update. I apologize for not keeping up with it as I had planned. I thought it may be helpful to add to the data being compiled by others to perhaps help add another viewpoint in hopes of being of some use to others interested in VFS. Not keeping up has been counter to my original intent and again I apologize for my laxness.
My procedure was about as close to a non event as I have had for any surgery. Little pain and at day 9 my voice clip, to my ears, sounded not too bad. I am a cyclist to a rather fanatical degree and spend about 4 to 5 days a week spinning out the miles in my little slice of paradise.
I was cleared to beginning spinning rather gently at first on my bike on a Kentic cycling trainer on the Lanai here at home. On the 8th of June I did my first road ride with the blessing of Dr Haben. I was pretty low level for the ride and went about 17mi that day. The recording i made was done, I believe, was the next day.
In the following days and weeks I continued to ride about 5-6 days a week for the same 17 to 23 mile ride which is simply looping around my local area. Each additional loop adds about 5mi and add 1.7 out and back to the loop is the total. Not that that means much to most of you, but I thought I would try and paint a picture of my activities for your review.
Everything was going quite well. No real soreness in the throat. My pitch was definitely raised. I used PRAAT to the best I could find using the Rainbow Passage as a reference baseline as it was used in Dr Habens office of the pre-op consult was now about 200-210 hertz with out any effort to raise pitch, I did have to use more effort getting the words out though. I did note quite by accident early on, after the 8th day when I laughed a quiet little laugh it now came out as a rather nicely pitched giggle. It made me giggle all the more. My wife must have thought I was a bit daft but I really enjoyed that.
Breathiness seemed to limit my volume though I never experimented with elevated or extreme volume levels but could indeed go higher if I wanted but it involved more effort and I didn't want to strain anything. Throughout the day I would just be talking with my wife and some small interactions in normal life. BTW, my pre-op 160-ish htz as referenced in my pre-op visit, my "normal" voice, was not too terribly feminine sounding to my hearing anyway seemed to get me sir'ed about 1/2 the time on the phone, much to my frustration...
My diet specifically avoided spicy foods and ascitic drinks. I am not susceptible to gastric reflux on any sort of remotely regular basis and do not drink alcohol or soda (aside from perrier once in a while), smoke or do recreational drugs. I did smoke back decades ago for about 3-4 years maybe a pack a day max...
In addition to the 1 month of Prilosec RX I too the generic for another month and had no issues with GIRD nor any repercussions from the Prilosec in terms of stomach upset or nausea, etc...
Onward through weeks 2, 3, 4, and 5 post-op there were no real notable issues and my voice was stabilizing with just some trace of phlegm accumulating on my vocal cords from time to time. No real pattern, just sometimes more than others. Pretty much same-same.
My rides were about back to 2/3 speed and intensity now and sometimes I added to my distance to a total of 25-28mi in pretty warm weather. While riding I have great endurance but it is when I stop that I am wiped out tired and it takes at least 20 minutes for me to be able to really carry on a conversation at all. As a side note I did notice that I was getting slightly less air in per breath but this was of no notable consequence beyond observing it.
2 days after the 5 week mark, I felt an unusual tickle in my throat from what I assumed was my vocal cord area and in an effort to clear it, I exhaled making an H sound (like a huffing sound) if that makes sense and a small bit of greenish phlegm came up about the size of a small pea. Ordinarily I would have expelled it in a tissue and not thought anymore about it, but I noted a somewhat spikey texture to it so I put it on my fingernail and examined it. It was the stitch from the VFS surgery.
I was told things were healed at the 10 or so day mark provided one didn't do something stupid like shout or yell, but I was freaking out. I did feel an immediate bit of pain (about a 2.5 -3 out of 10) but no blood. I was really bummed out to find that the giggle was gone and some hoarseness returned almost immediately. Not horrible just noticeable.
I composed a letter to Dr Haben that day and he promptly responded that it was likely nothing but the stitch coming out early but he was reassuring that things would settle. Remember this is week 5 +2 days at this point.
When I send my 3 month post-op recording, he was still positive and stated that my pitch (arguably I did record on one of my better days) "was at B3, or around 240 hertz, dead center in the average female range!" To my ear it sounded less, but I realize I am my own worst critic. I am not sure what he uses for the reference of 240htz whether it is the recording average analyzed on his sensitive equipment or peak htz of my EEEEEEEE he requested in addition to the requisite rainbow passage. I did try for the ultimate highest I can go as I do not want to damage anything but I know I can go somewhat higher but that would definitely be reaching.
Going forward to mid September 2015, my voice was still definitely sounding off. I compared the 9 day post-op clip I posted to my voice and it wasn't just me, my wife noted the change. I was not back where I started but I did lose an easily recognizable amount. I tried the PRAAT program (I use an approximation of average NOT the highest or peak htz reading for all my references.)
And on to now...
I am scheduled to return to Dr Haben in mid December 2015 for an exam and second surgery, as another member so aptly used, ver 2.0.
I mentioned to Dr Haben previously that I am a self described "super healer" in that I tend to heal and recover much more rapidly than the norm. However that said, I am going to be extremely conservative in my convalescence and will be giving my voice and exercise program an extended rest period all in an effort to produce the best possible results. This time around, I am going to self impose a 1 month voice curfew (regardless which procedure may be employed) which Dr Haben concurs would be good idea and may well end up with a CTA depending on the results of the pre-op consult.
I initially and still prefer no scar on my neck but I do understand that in addition to a revision Larengioplasty/Glottoplasty, a CTA in conjunction with the Thyroid Chrondoplasty procedure(s) may quite possibly needed and have accepted it as reality in my mind already. I would plan on staying in the area until it is time to remove any stitches, if indeed the CTA is employed, in an effort to achieve maximal results. My thyroid bone is not all that prominent but if a CTA is deemed necessary then that a thyroid chondroplasty may as well be done too while he is already in there. Bottom line: Having my voice improved to me is so very much more important than another small scar that in a short time will be imperceptable.
I am extremely grateful for Dr Haben taking the time to squeeze me in before the Holidays as mine was apparently the last appointment available this year. While no one really enjoys the prospect of surgery, it will be a pleasure visiting him again as both my wife, Glenda, and I found him to be most knowledgable as well as very articulate, personable and willing to answer any questions we may have.
I was quite pleased with my last visit and strongly believe on giving credit where it is due. Conversely, I can only conclude that I must have done something wrong, as my initial voice recording was a marked improvement over the voice I previously had. Getting this done and behind me will be a great deal of stress offloading for me and a major improvement in my quality of life.
Thanks for reading and my best wishes to all, now and into the coming holiday season.
Be safe
Elaine
