My Surgery

Anyway, a male patient sent me a rather disturbing e mail that suggested that I put some facts to paper regarding my case because many male patients have not had tremendous success with the denervation/renervation surgery, and since I am a success case, the info may be helpful. I hate to hear that some guys out there are still living the nightmare after surgery. Anyway, here it goes.

I was 39 -40 years old when my voice started showing symptoms. I innocently fadded off in conversation that I dismissed as allergies. I was healthy, 6" and of average weight. The symptoms progressed for about a year until a Dr. friend I had not seen for a while asked what the deal was with my voice. I said I had no clue. He began to ask questions of family history of cancer, etc. It scared the hell out of me. He recommended a buddy of his that was a fairly prominent ENT guy in San Antonio where I lived. He scoped me and diagnosed it as AD SD. After unsuccessful attempts at speech therapy, I got the name of an ENT guy in San Antonio that was administering BOTOX. The routine was, get the injection, no voice for 3 months, and back to the SD symptoms. I tried another Dr. at the University of Texas at San Antonio. He indicated that I was hypersensative to BOTOX. In August of 1998 I moved to Florida and began getting injections here. They toyed around with light injections, varying the dosage and location of injections-no success. I guess in 1999 I read about the Surgery that Dr. Burke was doing at UCLA in the NASD newsletter. But I could find out little esle other than what was in that article. OK, enough babble. Through the BB, I was comforted to the point where I felt that the surgery was my only hope of having a normal life.

Type of SD-Adductor-Diagnosis-Severe

Date of Surgery-September 12, 2000

Physical condition at the time of surgery-having gone through an ugly divorce, I was probably a bit underweight. 6'1" at 176 lbs.

Emotional condition at time of surgery- a complete wreck. My wife had left me and I was dealing with rejection, etc. I faced the dating game with SD and then when I made the decision for the surgery, I had no idea what the future held. The only reason I put this is, not for sympathy, but maybe the distress of my situation helped will me to healing/recovering.

Length of stay in hospital-dismissed the day following surgery.

I don't know if it is significant, but I at a meal of pasta immediately after waking up from the anasthegia. I had breakfast the next morning prior to being released-I think eggs.

For 2-3 months following surgery, I had prolems choking when I drank if I wasn't careful.

I began recovering my voice in 3 months. It still seems to be recovering slightly. I isn't perect, but is certainly functional-better than functional, just not perfect. But thats OK. It is plentty good to function professionally, participate in meetings, tele-conferecnces-yes teleconferences, etc. Also, I don't feel I have to apologize to anyone anymore about my crummy voice.

Anyway, thats my story and I am stikin' to it. My heart and prayers go out to those who continue to battle the symptoms.

Refreshing to see someone share some background info rather than just babble on looking for sympathy. I know that I have gotten a lot of satisfaction in sharing my experiences with people new to the BB. I also look forward to continuing to learn from those that have been dealing with SD longer than me.

I hope that you will continue to read the BB and share your experience with newcomers. SD is a terrible disease, but the BB has really helped keep me informed which makes getting by a little easier.