Posted by: irish ®
03/22/2010, 22:55:57
|
I haven't had this done, but I read that some singers were doing this because it was thought that the botox would disperse slowly and enable singers a better opportunity to sing.I asked a doctor about this and he didn't believe that it would work and also said, "Injecting into the false cords can help but often requires larger doses and results in variable amounts of breathy voice." Let us know how it goes.
Irish
|
Posted by: Renee ®
03/23/2010, 19:30:23
|
A girl in our support group gets her false vocal chords injected with very good luck...Sometimes this works for people if the regular injecting into vocal chords does not...Renee
|
Posted by: ShirleyP ®
03/24/2010, 06:53:17
|
What is a false vocal cord?
|
Posted by: regharvey ®
03/24/2010, 19:58:37
|
You have false vocal cords next to your true vocal cords. They typically are not in use unless you are an opera singer. What happens in some SD patients is that due to the strain of speaking, the false vocal cords extend over the true vocal cords and can stop the true vocal cords (which produce sound) from working properly. I am 5 days out from this type of injection and am beginning to see marked improvement. I have a strong voice - a little broken at times - initiation a little difficult, but once I begin speaking, it's ALMOST like my voice. Scheduled for another injection in the true vocal cords to correct the remaining breaks and make initiation easier. After two years - maybe this is the answer for me.
|
Posted by: silental ®
03/25/2010, 10:38:19
|
I was diagnosed with MTD in 2007 and had Botox injections into the false vocal cords. The theory was to weaken them (the muscles surrounding the true vocal cords) so I would not be able to squeeze the true vocal cords with the false vocal cords which is what causes MTD. It was horrible for about the first month then progressed into a pretty good voice for about 6 weeks then gradually deteriorated back the a strained voice again. Speech therapy before, during and after was of little help.
|
Posted by: regharvey ®
03/25/2010, 19:07:26
|
What do you mean it as horrible? So far, I do have a voice, a scratchy throat (which I had with the other injections as well), but the voice breaks are less, but still strained at times. So, it is an improvement and hopefully a step in the right direction, but I'm curious as to what the horrible experience was. Thanks.
|
Posted by: silental ®
03/25/2010, 19:46:19
|
By "horrible", I mean that I could not swallow, cough, sneeze, clear my throat, etc. There was virtually no muscle strength in my throat at all. At least it felt that way. I could do nothing but wisper for about two weeks. The doctor who did the injections and had planned to re-do it, said he would go with a much lower dose the second time. Now that he's no longer there and I have a different diagnosis (ADSD rather than MTD) I am hopeful that the next time won't be so bad. Additionally, this doctor required a general anesthetic for a down the throat method so it was like major surgery. The doctor who has diagnosed ADSD does the injections in his office through the neck, so you're in and out.
|
Posted by: irish ®
03/25/2010, 21:17:37
|
The injections through the front of the throat are the best. You definitely need to work with the dosage amount. Everyone is different. I had two units bilaterally. I've heard of people with 1/8 to 15 units so there is a wide range. Also keep in mind that botox is very unstable and that can cause a variation as well. Botox becomes less potent the longer it is open. It can also cling to the sides of the bottle. It is also weakened if the bottle is shaken. The skill of the doctor injecting the right spot is also a factor. There are lots of variable. Good luck in finding out what is right for you
|
Posted by: regharvey ®
03/26/2010, 21:37:11
|
Update:
One week post false vocal fold injection. My teachers commented this morning that my voice sounded almost normal. This faded around mid-day after teaching a class (with a voice amplifier); however, I am able to hold conversations - even over the telephone and I ordered a coffee through the drive-thru this morning! Still having initiation problems and I'm hoping the tension will lessen with the botox injection into the true vocal cords in April. I have not had any bad side-effects - no swallowing difficulties, no breathiness, or breathing difficulties. Each day is an adventure, so we'll see what tomorrow holds!
|
Posted by: donald ®
03/27/2010, 09:38:37
|
what are false vocal cords????
|
Posted by: regharvey ®
03/28/2010, 15:24:23
|
Falso vocal cords or folds are located to the sides of your true vocal cords (which are the ones that vibrate and make sound). It is my understanding that opera singers may use their false vocal folds, but not really 100% certain. With ADSD, often the false vocal folds will come over the true vocal cords causing the breaks and breathing difficulties. Originally, this was not seen on the video scope, but on my last visit, it appeared that this may be happening. I was injected with lidocaine into the false vocal folds and could speak pretty well - no breaks. So, we are experimenting with the Botox injection into the false cords and going back in a month for an injection into the true cords to see if we can get rid of the tremors.
|
Posted by: grannijudi ®
03/27/2010, 15:39:20
|
I've been having this done for several (4?) years now with GREAT success for the most part. I still get Botox in my real cords (one side) and then in the false cords also. Both through the front of the neck. VERY skilled doctor in TX. I feel that the injection in the false folds does the major work in preventing strain and the real cord injection helps with the breaking. Just my opinion, but I do consider myself very experienced with the false fold injections.
|
Posted by: regharvey ®
03/28/2010, 15:20:41
|
That seems to be what is happening as I am currently going through the process. I still have slight breaking or tremors, but no voice breaks where the voice does not come out. I'm glad you responded as maybe this is the hope and answer we've been praying for.
|
Posted by: regharvey ®
03/28/2010, 15:26:13
|
Do you get both injections at the same time? He did go in through the front and is a very experienced doctor - the only in Louisiana. Do you know how many units were injected into the false cords and the true cords? I know everyone is different, just curious as we are experimenting. I had 5 units into each false cord.
|
Posted by: grannijudi ®
03/30/2010, 09:45:04
|
Yes, they are both done at the same time, like a minute apart!! Just have to be calm for an extra minute!! I have had to do a lot of experimenting, but the last (at least) three injections have been 6 units in each--6 in true and 6 in false.
|
Posted by: regharvey ®
03/31/2010, 20:48:24
|
No breaks - any whispering? How long does the injection last for you?
|
Posted by: grannijudi ®
04/01/2010, 16:42:18
|
Whisper voice varies from time to time, 2-3 wks is pretty normal. (I have skipped the whisper part completely, but that's not the norm.) Then, it's back to "normal" (NO breaks or straining) for 3 or 4 months. I tried skipping the false cord injection time before last and it did NOT work at all--my voice was badly strained and never improved. It has truly been a lifesaver for me. I will go this next Friday for injections. I'm way past due, but have had lots of bad weather and other things going on to prevent my making the 1400 mile round trip to Houston. I'm still "functional," but very unpleasant to listen to and it is stressful for me to try to speak.
|
Posted by: regharvey ®
04/02/2010, 16:37:55
|
Thanks for the information and the hope! I'll see what happens after the second injection in April. My trip is only 150 miles round trip - but I know I would travel cross country to get the relief if I had to.
|
Posted by: grannijudi ®
04/03/2010, 18:47:06
|
Good luck, and we'll be anxious to hear from you!! And, wish me luck this Friday. My "real" doctor decided to be out of the office after I had already made flight arrangements, so will see his "partner." I'm always nervous, as it is such an ordeal to get there and back--and the possibility of a failure, though unlikely, is always present. THINK POSITIVE, I tell myself!!
|
Posted by: regharvey ®
04/05/2010, 09:20:21
|
Yes, I've learned the power of positive thinking can definitely help in any situation, especially ones of great stress! Good luck.
|
Posted by: regharvey ®
07/05/2010, 20:06:53
|
How did your last injection go? I'm scheduled on July 28 for injection into both false and true cords. I did notice that the injection into the false did decrease the strain - which is now (3 months out) is coming back and the injection into the true (done one month later) decreased the breaks. We injected 5 units into both - but a month apart. I lost my voice for only 2 days and it would get weak by the end of the day for about a week after the second injection. I'm hopeful that the injection into both will give me at least 3 months of relief. I never have a true voice, but a communicable voice and that's a blessing. I did begin coughing a little more after the injections. Have you experienced this at all? Thanks for any input and suggestions as I continue this experimental process.
|
Posted by: regharvey ®
04/19/2010, 18:03:44
|
Just curious - does your doctor go in through the neck? If so, does he use a laryngscope to see where to put the injections? What is the cost of this type of injection? The cost through the hospital was 6x's the normal amount because of the laryngscope!!!
|
|
