Posted by: Clark Stevens ®
11/17/2003, 12:33:26
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I don't know about a throat infection, but I always get a sore throat after I've had a botox injection. Trying to speak makes things a lot worse. I'm curious as to other's experiences.
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Posted by: John Mooney ®
11/17/2003, 21:04:25
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Is it better not to try to talk after a botox treatment? I'm capable of a loud whisper. Am I damaging my vocal cords trying to speak this way? Is complete rest better?
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Posted by: Clark Stevens ®
11/17/2003, 22:30:06
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I asked my doctor this once and he told me that it didn't make a difference. The effect of the botox will be the same no matter how much you use your voice after the injection. However, I would talk to your doctor and see what they say.
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Posted by: LarBec ®
11/18/2003, 09:06:04
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My doctor told me that it would make no difference whether I talked a lot. As for the sore throat, yes, I usuall feel something akin to a sore throat for a few days after a Botox injection. Good luck. Larry ADSD
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Posted by: JOHN S. BEEMAN ®
11/17/2003, 21:54:06
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This I know . . . if someone sticks your vocal cord muscles with a needle and injects a substance, it will make those muscles sore. I recently had collagen injected into my left cord and was it ever sore. It will pass. John
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Posted by: Melissa R. ®
11/18/2003, 08:00:06
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John,I also had my first botox on November 11, and I too had a sore throat for days. I also completely lost my ability to speak loudly (i.e. in noisy restaurants or outside, over the hum of city traffic). I'm happy to report that my throat is no longer sore, although I've pretty much lost all volume. Do speak to your doctor about this. I'm sure he/she will tell you that the soreness will go away in a few days. Also, apparently it is common to experience soreness at the injection site for several days post-injection. I hope you feel better soon.
Best,
Melissa
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Posted by: Kimberly ®
11/19/2003, 19:30:24
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Melissa,I experienced that same as you with no volume. It was very difficult to raise my voice. I'm happy to say that I can yell very loud. It's been almost 2 months, so yours should eventually come back. Regards, Kim
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Posted by: Melissa R. ®
11/19/2003, 21:58:42
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Kim,
Thanks for your words of encouragement. Not being able to be heard above the din of traffic, etc. is a pain; but if there's light at the end of the tunnel, then I can certainly bear it. Thanks again.Melissa
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Posted by: Kimberly ®
11/19/2003, 19:27:18
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John,What part of Florida are you from? I'm from Port St. Lucie. I just went to my doctor today and they told me that it usually takes about two weeks before you get some kind of "normal" voice. I didn't have a sore throat last time, but I had sharpness in my throat that would happend every once in a while. It would stop me in my tracks and I would have to swallow hard and then try to talk again. It's really difficult to explain what was going on. Luckily, no one noticed that was happening to me. It's almost been 2 months and that symptom stopped. My "bad" voice is starting to come back. I have to go back in 3 weeks and then we'll decide when the next injection will be. Good luck with the Botox! Kim
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Posted by: John Mooney ®
12/08/2003, 23:12:00
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Hi Kim,
I live in Hollywood (Hollywierd), about 3 miles from the beach. Since posting, my "normal" voice has started to return but at a low volume and my singing voice just isn't working yet. I have had my diagnosis and treatment through Jackson Memorial in Miami.
I had a lot of swallowing problems with liquids. I went through about a week of choking on drinks 20 times per day. It wasn't a pretty site. And the unexpected pain you describe causing you to swallow hard sounds very familar also. At this point, I dont know when or if my full voice will return or how long it will last if it does. I have read the messages regarding the frequency and size of the dosages and really, it all sounds like a very unscientific process. I was capable of speaking prior to the botox, with the occasional strangled and mangled phrases. I guess I'm going to have to weigh the the rewards of the improved voice over the duration and severity of the treatment. Thanks for responding. Be well.
John
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Posted by: Jacqui ®
11/19/2003, 21:17:36
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I received my first botox injections on November 7th. My voice got much worse the day after the injection and then it became a soft whisper. My throat has been feeling sore, but I think its due to acid reflux rather than an infection.
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Posted by: Keith ®
11/20/2003, 09:31:48
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I found all these replies very interesting; however, I can't help wondering how many of you who replied are AB's? Never having used Botox (at least yet!)and being an AB, I'm curious as to whether or not the symptons some of you describe are also pertinent to AB. Thanks and good luck.
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Posted by: Melissa R. ®
11/20/2003, 10:57:53
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Keith,
I've got the garden-variety AD type of SD. Sorry I can't shed more light on how Botox might affect AB/SD. Good luck! Melissa
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Posted by: Kimberly ®
11/20/2003, 19:00:06
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I must say, I have AD SD.Kim
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Posted by: sbayle ®
11/23/2003, 15:25:25
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I think that it is important to recognize that the MD who suggests that it makes no difference if we speak or not- has not provided a very clear picture of what may happen immediately following a Botox injection. The MD may be referring to the dispersion of the Botox and not the human implications we struggle with as patients.A few of the issues which come into play are:
1. possibility of tissue swelling which may cause soreness at injection sight.
2. the fact that we have paralyzed part of your vocal system causes us to try to speak using whatever muscles we can get to vibrate. Once we begin to speak- it is possible that we are overusing some muscles to compensate for those which are not functioning. One would have to speak to a speech therapist to get a clear picture of the long term affects of this behavior. (No MD that I have ever talked with ever acknowledges the muscular system exists!) My doctor, although competant at doing the injections- has never been a recipient of these injections. His perspective on the importance of the side effects, the implications of differing doses, and "being breathy" for a few days is drastically different than mine. I also get a sore throat after injections. I also tend to lose my voice for quite a long time after an injection- I had 1.0 units unilaterally over a week ago and am not yet able to communicate with background noice. So, these days after shots are long and difficult. I struggle every single day to accept that with the grace of God- the Botox will wear off as it is supposed to and I will have VOICE again. This is the struggle with the ups and downs or roller coaster ride of using Botox to treat SD. sbayle
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Posted by: Clark Stevens ®
11/24/2003, 16:35:59
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I read your post and you make a good point. The responses I get from my doctor are always based on so-called "studies" that have been done. For example, he'll say things like, "Well, they've done studies which have shown that the amount of speaking you do after a botox injection doesn't effect how well the injection works". Some how, I interpret that to mean, "Well, I really don't know the answer, but this is what I've read". I trust my doctor a lot and I'm not saying this as a criticism. My point is that most of our doctors can only go by what they've read/heard and what they've learn from their own experience based on treating patients. Because they've never had SD themselves they could never possibly know what we go through individually on a daily basis.
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Posted by: Myrab ®
11/25/2003, 23:21:41
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Interesting point. I've met at least one MD who has SD, but I've never heard of one who has it AND gives Botox shots for it. Has anyone else?
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Posted by: Lib Haywood ®
12/09/2003, 08:35:00
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John, over the years I had 34 injections of BoTox, most of them four months apart. I never had any pain or discomfort afterwards. My voice changed overnight. After the first couple of injections, I had to be very careful drinking water but later I had no trouble. Use a straw to sip water. I stranged a couple of times after the first injection so I know it is not fun. I was normally breathy for about a week and then my voice became stronger before it began breaking again after about three months. I never had any infections or colds after the injections. You may have already had the germ or infection prior to the injection. We are all different so you are correct - it is not an exact science. You might try lowering your doseage next time and see if that helps. Most of my injections were 2.5 units in each cord but over the years I tried different amounts. I once had 20 units in one cord and my latter injections were .675 units in each cord. Lib Haywood, Charlotte, NC AD/SD since 1987 SLAD Surgery 2001
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