Vocal Fold Polyp Surgery - Anyone else have it done?

SnowflakeVT
Wed, 30 May 2012 18:44:02 +0000

Stage 1 is complete. Surgery went well; throat is sore as expected but they gave me percoset (sp?) or some wonderful pain killer that sounds like that and it’s very bearable. I’ll learn more about what was done when I see my doctor next week, but ‘polyp’ was the word I knew going into surgery but he also mentioned he found a cyst, which they also expect to be benign. I’ll have to read up on that. Either way, the surgery is supposed to heal nicely and the docs claimed success.

It turns out I did know the anesthesiologist. About a month or so ago I hit his car in the parking lot of a lighting store as I was leaving. I had to go back into the store and ask the store manager to help me find the owner of a rather nice small car. We were both very cordial (fortunately!) and he took very good care of me during the surgery. Memo to self: always be nice to people … you never know when you will need them.

The pain, as people explained, is from the gadgets they put into my nose/throat/mouth while I was out like a light, my vocal cords don’t seem to hurt on their own. I did accidentally talk at the hospital, so I know my voice works, but now I have to totally avoid talking so this surgery mends smoothly.

It is very difficult not being able to talk, but it is interesting that when I was getting wheeled through the hospital by H and pointing out my needs (bathroom, that way; prescription pickup, this way), I seemed to get lots of stares and sad glances from folks old and young. Little did they know I was high as a kite.

Hunger is not a problem, unfortunately, but I’m drinking water like a whackaloon.