Posted by: Cindy in TX ®
09/27/2005, 10:31:11
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Dear scotteemm,
Botox really is an experimental thing. It may start of working right off the bat for some, while other people have to go back accouple of times before the ENT gets the dose right.
The "Breathy Voice" can be just as you said, one to two weeks, but,sometimes longer some have said.
But, I know that once your ENT gets the dose right, you will love what Botox, can do for you. If it works for you.
The great thing about the Breathy voice is it is usually a strong indicator that it will work for you. Unfortunately you might have to deal with the breathy voice for a little while. But if it works, you may have a great voice anywhere from 3 - 5 months. I just got back today from my second Botox, and am hoping that it will work this time. The first time I really didn't notice a change. Today my ENT upped the dose, which may, or may not work. I hope that your breathy voice will subside soon, and that you find your voice is great. If my voice gets breathy this time, it will be a great indicator to me that it is going to work.
Best of luck to you. You will be in my thoughts, as I'm hoping to go through the same thing here in the next week or so. Stay strong. Never give up hope. Someday there will be a cure! Cindy in TX
Modified by Cindy in TX at Tue, Sep 27, 2005, 10:31:21
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Posted by: Renee ®
09/27/2005, 10:48:11
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As Cindy stated in her post, the breathy voice means that the botox is working. It will vary from shot to shot how long that the breathy voice lasts. Thank your stars that the botox took!!!Renee ADSD/ Austin, TEXAS
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Posted by: Nan ®
09/27/2005, 12:17:04
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It has been my experience that the longer the breathy voice lasts, the longer the injection lasts before I have to go back and get another one. I've had injections that had almost no effect, got no breathy voice, and had to go right back for another injection. The longest period that an injection ever lasted for me was 6 months, and that time it took over a month for the breathy voice to go away! It goes away gradually, so it is a process.The amount of Botox injected is usually the same (my doctor has made adjustments from time to time) but it seems that Botox can vary in strength. Usually the breathy voice gradually goes away in about 2-3 weeks and the shot last 3-4 months. It is not an exact science, but I still thank God for Botox, and I am happy to deal with each shot as necessary. The breathy voice can be as frustrating as the SD, but I always look at it as "the shot is working" and know that I will have a period of time ahead where I will have a "good" voice and life is just about normal again.
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Posted by: Carole ®
09/27/2005, 16:07:48
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I had my first shot a week ago and am still in the whispering mode. I'm not a patient person and I keep thinking it won't be worth it, but I'm sure I'll change my mind when I get a good voice back. It's been so long, I'm not sure I'll recognize it when I do hear it. Does anyone know if you actually get your real voice back, or is just a better sounding voice?
Carole
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Posted by: Paula B. ®
09/27/2005, 18:51:06
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Hi Carole,I have been told that I sound like I did in high school. :) You will get your same voice back, without spasms. For me, breathing is 100% easier, and people who I know, who never heard my good voice have told me that I sound GREAT! My first breathy period lasted 2 weeks, with only a month and a half of relief. My second breathy period lasted about a month and a half, and it's been about 3 months now, so it's way worth it. Good luck, Paula (Chicago, IL)
ADSD since Feb 2005
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Posted by: Cindy in TX ®
09/28/2005, 06:17:41
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I have a questions about the breathy voice. Is it really soft? Is it so soft that I wouldn't be able to talk on the phone? I have to get back to work, and I have to talk on the phone. Did you find that it was worse than your SD voice, or better only softer? I want to keep working, but am afraid that if I can't talk on the phone, I won't be able to work.My SD voice would get so bad anyway that people couldn't hear me sometimes as it was. Is the breathy voice any worse really? Or is the quality of the voice better, only very soft? I know there are alot of questions here, but I really would like to know what to expect. I'm sure it is different for everyone, but an idea will help. Thank you. Cindy in TX
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Posted by: mary salisbury ®
09/28/2005, 20:40:12
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Cindy, I think everyone's experience is a little different, but I'll tell you my experience. My breathy voice was very quiet but very fluid and easy for people to understand and easy for me to produce. On the phone people could hear me just fine--because remember, the phone amplifies your voice. If you had to speak in a group without a mike, then you might have some trouble being heard.After about 2+ weeks, my breathy voice just slowly gained more volume and fullness til it was just about natural. Other people thought it sounded totally natural, but I thought it still felt a little bit constricted-- but OH SO MUCH BETTER than before!! I know some people say that with a breathy voice, they also get a high pitched voice. That didn't happen to me. I think I could have continued in a job that required phone use. Another thing you might want to look into is a phone with a volume control on the speaker amplifier (rather than on the listening part of the earpiece. (I'm not sure if they make such a thing, but someone on the bb (bulletin board) might know. If you or your office can't pay for it, the ADA might help you out. (Look in the archives section on the top bar of the bb current page. When the archives come up, type in ADA, and you'll find some recent postings from people who have been helped by that organization in getting assistive devices.) Good luck. Mary Salisbury
AB/AD SD Minnesota
Modified by mary salisbury at Wed, Sep 28, 2005, 20:43:00
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Posted by: kim ®
09/28/2005, 20:42:10
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Hi everbody,My voice was already whispery, I guess because I have ABSD. I had one botox injection and my voice was still whispery. I have to talk on the phone a LOT at work. My voice also breaks in and out too. People say they can't hear me or understand me either. I'm on my own now at the doctor's office where I work, because my super supportive front desk manager is going to have a baby tomorrow. She really understands my condition, I showed her everything on this BB, messages I posted and responses, she always picked up the phones so fast to help me. I was so lucky and thankful for her, and always told her how much I appreciated her helping me. She will be out for a month, and I'm worried if I can handle my job, I've been worrying for 9 months now though. I hope everything goes well with her and her delivery, she is so nice. Well, I guess now I'll find out what happens next. I know I lingered off the subject here. I do want to try another botox injection, sorry I didn't have any info on this subject. Thanks, Kim/Houston
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Posted by: Nan ®
09/29/2005, 13:54:06
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I also have to talk on the phone a lot at work (can't seem to get away from it!). My voice gets very soft and slightly higher pitched after a shot. But to me, the breathy voice is so much better than the spastic voice. At least with the breathy voice, I don't sound stressed, strained and like something is wrong - which can be so difficult for the person on the other end of the line. I think the key when your voice is very soft and breathy is to not try to speak loudly. That is when I really run into problems. You can still manage the phone alright, but not rooms with a lot of noise, like a party or restaura.nt
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Posted by: Liz A ®
09/30/2005, 00:20:18
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I too am waiting for this breathy phase to pass. It has been 3.5 weeks since my last Botox injection - and I have never had such a breathy side effect! I have AB/SD...and it's frustrating to feel like my voice is worse, but I keep reading that this is a normal and expected side effect. I've been concerned because although I've had some great results and some not-so-great results in the past, I've never experienced such breathiness with any previous injection. In the past, the most side effects I've had were difficulty swallowing dry foods like bread (for about 2 weeks) and some wheezing with increased physical activity like excercise. I didn't have either of those side effects this time around...just the breathiness!It's great to have this bulletin board to learn from...and to vent to! :) Liz in SoCal
AB/SD since 2002
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Posted by: scotteemm ®
09/30/2005, 12:17:21
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Cindy,My voice before Botox was very strained. Sometimes I couldnt get the words out. Since my botox shot my voice is breathy. I get the words out but sometime they are hard to hear. 1 week so far. THe voice is very quiet. If you are in a noisy environment, people will not be able to hear you. But you will find ways to get through it. From what everyone says it is only temporary. I am looking ahead for that good voice to come back! Scotteemm
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Posted by: Cindy in TX ®
10/01/2005, 18:12:42
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Hey everyone,
Thank you for your reply to my post. Well, my botox shots were Tuesday. I have noticed that my voice is alittle better than it was, but I haven't experienced the breathy voice yet. I have noticed that my laugh is alittle different. Weird! I know that right after the shoots your voice may seem the same, and then the breathy voice can suddenly appear. I am hoping that this happens. I know that really sounds crazy, but then at least I know that it's going to take this time. Thank you all for your replies. You all had some different experiences, and I'm sure it will be the same here. One thing about having SD is you sure have to be patient. Something I really haven't been praying for, but maybe still need to learn? I know that I have learned to slow down, but, I'm not sure if I can crawl. ha-ha. Well, thanks again, and stay strong! Someday I know there will be a cure. Cindy in TX
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Posted by: mdubovick ®
10/02/2005, 23:07:56
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Reality is, the length of breathiness varies from person to person. And within each person, it can vary by dosage and whether they get bilateral(2 sides) or unilateral(1 side) injections. Only your personal experience will tell for certain what is best for you.
BUT
The general rule is, the lower the dosage, the shorter the breathy period. And usually a unilateral shot produces a shorter breathy periodWhen I was working and needed to absolutely minimize the breathy period, I had my dosage lowered to 0.5 units, administered unilaterally. With such a tiny dosage, I virtually eliminated the breathy period. Of course, the Botox wore off in about 3 - 4 weeks but that was acceptable at the time. I extended the duration to nearly two months by complementing it with acupuncture but that's another story. I'm surprised the topic of the breathy voice was discussed with you by your ENT.
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Posted by: mdubovick ®
10/02/2005, 23:11:11
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My experience was the difficulty in swallowing liquids usually lasts about a week or so. I learned that if you lower your head, touching your chin to to the top of your chest before swallowing, the difficulty goes away!
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Posted by: Barbara S. White ®
02/09/2006, 02:04:24
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I have adsd and I had botox for about two years with great success. I always had a whispery voice for a day or two at the most except one time. I decided that if I had a larger injection my good voice would last longer. I was right but I was wrong too. I went for one solid months with very little voice and sometimes couldn't talk at all. I couldn't swallow liquids especially water. But my good voice came and lasted for a longer period. Was it worth it. No. I told the doctor (who advised me against a stronger injection) that I would do it his way the next time. Botox always worked good for me but when it started to wear off, I struggled with my breathing. I have asthma also so don't know if that was part of the problem or not but my experience with botox was excellant except that it was so far to go for injections. That is why I finally decided on surgery, which also is working well for me though I'm still in the healing process. It's been just two months. I sound very good in the morning and than if I talk too much I get a little raspy. I was told that it takes about six months to get a normal voice but mine is very normal if I don't overdo. Actually my voice is improving by the day. I record it to see the progress and its amazing. I did the same with botox. I recorded my voice for a couple of days and than I sounded so normal I forgot about the recording. Perhaps you need a lesser dose of botox. I had 1/2 unit in each vocal cord. 1 unit in each vocal cord was terrible for me until a month and than I had a normal voice for about 4 to 5 months. My suggestion is to ask your doctor to give you less botox and see if it helps the swallowing and the breathiness. Hope it works out better for you next time.
Barbara / Modesto CA / god4me@comcast.net
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Posted by: Barbara S. White ®
02/13/2006, 01:35:38
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I believe that how long the breathy voice last has a lot to do with how much botox was injected into your VC's. I always had 1/2 unit in each cord and I believe that is the smallest amount used. Once I decided that I wanted my good voice to laslt longer so I request 1 unit in each cord. Tat was a big mistake. I couldn't swallow for a month and choked on everything and could hardly talk, however after a month I had a great voice for about 5 months comparted to the 3 months usual. I asked the doctor to go back to the 1/2 unit. I have sense heard that many people have used as much a 10 units in each cord. I can't imagine that but we are all different. If your breathy voice is lasting too long than perhaps you should request a small dose. I had no problems at all with the 1/2 unit per cord but I know that is too little for many people. Most doctos say use the smallest dose that works for you. My experience with botox has been very good but just had the SLAD sugery and that seems to have been a great success though I have not healed completely yet. It's only been two months and takes about 5 to 6 months to get a completely normal voice. I record my voice daily and am really excited about the way it is getting so much better. Please note that I am not suggesting surgery. It doesn't work for everyone. I have heard that with botox the longer the breathy voice the longer the good voice afterwards. Be encouraged you will most likely be talking quite well soon.
Blessings, Barbara / god4me@comcast.net
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