Hi MichaelGlad you posted and Welcome to the SD Bulletin Board! Just a couple of comments that you might consider. I mean no disrespect toward any of your physicians regarding the diagnosis and treatment of your SD, however, you're right there in Houston and would have access to seeing one of the best world known physicians for the treatment of your SD. That would be Dr. Joseph Jankovic at Baylor University of Medicine. For his complete listing, see the National Spasmodic Dysphonia (NSDA) website http://www.dystonia-foundation.org/NSDA> or the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation website http://www.dystonia-foundation.org/ There is a support group in Houston and for the contact information and support group leaders, etc., you'll find them listed on one of the above websites as well.
Since you work in a noisy surrounding, you might think about using a voice amplifier. This alleviates your trying to 'strain' your voice to overcome surrounding noise situations and makes communication much easier. Our 'natural' instinct is to attempt to overcome noise and with SD, it's just impossible to do.
Good luck! You aren't loosing it. SD is a focal form of dystonia and dystonia is a neurological movement disorder. Our muscles spasm and we have absolutely no control over these spasms!
Anne
Officer
International Dystonia On-Line Support Group
www.dystonia-support.org
--modified by Anne Brett at Wed, Mar 06, 2002, 04:46:06
Micheal - Welcome to the SD bulletin board. Anne gave you alot of good information, I really don't have anything to add - except Hello! and keep asking questions. It seems like you are on the right track. The NSDA website that Anne mentions also has a listing of support groups, BTW.
I wish you well, Robin (AB/S. Calif.)
Michael -The first physician I saw for treatment of SD was Dr. Joseph Jankovic at Baylor. They were very good - just too far from my (then) home in Indiana to see and, eventually - I found a physician in Cincinnati Ohio to provide my botox treatment. Baylor is a good place for you to go, I think. John
--modified by john s. beeman at Tue, Mar 12, 2002, 15:48:55