topic Re: Vocal Cord Dysfunction in Wellness

Vocal Cord Dysfunction

PilatesLover — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 19:32:16 GMT

I was just diagnosed with this at the allergist's office. I've been having trouble with my asthma, or so I thought, but the breathing tests showed my asthma is doing very well. He told me it's vocal cord dysfunction.

We went down a long checklist land he determined mine is from stress. He gave me breathing exercises to do.

Is anyone here dealng with this? TIA

Re: Vocal Cord Dysfunction

dex — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 20:55:38 GMT

I don't know anything but I do know that stress is hard on your body.I think those breathing exercises might also be helpful during an asthma attack along with your meds of course.

Re: Vocal Cord Dysfunction

fortune — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 22:46:56 GMT

@PilatesLoverwrote:
I was just diagnosed with this at the allergist's office. I've been having trouble with my asthma, or so I thought, but the breathing tests showed my asthma is doing very well. He told me it's vocal cord dysfunction.

We went down a long checklist land he determined mine is from stress. He gave me breathing exercises to do.

Is anyone here dealng with this? TIA

@PilatesLover

Did he do a thorough exam of your vocal cords? What are your symptoms? How long have you had these problems?

Re: Vocal Cord Dysfunction

NickNack — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 22:56:35 GMT

I would suggest seeing an Ear, Nose & Throat specialist to make sure that's a correct diagnosis. I was very hoarse for a long time. It came on suddenly. My doctor sent me to an ENT and he stuck something down either my nose or my throat. I don't remember which. He examined me thoroughly to make sure there wasn't a tumor or anything suspicious. There wasn't.

He told me it would probably just get better over time, and it did. I didn't feel sick at all. It was very strange.

I know you're not hoarse, but I still think a visit to an ENT would be a good idea.

Re: Vocal Cord Dysfunction

jubilant — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 23:16:55 GMT

I'm not sure what the doctor meant by "dysfunction". I did have nodules on my vocal chords years ago that a test showed up. I ended up having them scraped off in an outpatient surgery and was fine after that. In my case, I was hoarse.

Re: Vocal Cord Dysfunction

wagirl — Thu, 01 Mar 2018 15:09:58 GMT

pilateslover---yes,my DD has that condition, but the dr ruled out asthma or other allergies. It bothers her from time to time and epecially when her gerd flares up--she takes an acid reducer everyday and if she misses a dose than thats when it gets worse. And I agree about the stress part ---do you have acid reflux---that may be a trigger too. DD says it's like trying to breathe thru a straw.

Re: Vocal Cord Dysfunction

LilacTree — Thu, 01 Mar 2018 16:15:51 GMT

@PilatesLoverwrote:
I was just diagnosed with this at the allergist's office. I've been having trouble with my asthma, or so I thought, but the breathing tests showed my asthma is doing very well. He told me it's vocal cord dysfunction.

We went down a long checklist land he determined mine is from stress. He gave me breathing exercises to do.

Is anyone here dealng with this? TIA

@PilatesLover

There is a joint in the throat called the cricoarytenoid joint. It is often affected by rheumatoid arthritis. Mine is, and I get hoarse frequently. Sometimes I lose my voice for several hours.

I am always suspicious when a doctor diagnoses "stress." Have you been checked for RA?

Re: Vocal Cord Dysfunction

PilatesLover — Thu, 01 Mar 2018 19:19:25 GMT

Wow, thank you @LilacTree. I do have RA, have had it over 25 years. I will ask my rheumatologist about it.

Thank you everyone for responding, I appreciate it.

Re: Vocal Cord Dysfunction

PilatesLover — Thu, 01 Mar 2018 19:23:52 GMT

@wagirl yes it feels like breathing through a straw, or like someone's hands are around my neck. I thought it was thyroid nodules. I recently got diagnosed with silent LPR, a form of reflux in the throat, and it hasn't been silent lately.

one thing after another!

Re: Vocal Cord Dysfunction

LilacTree — Thu, 01 Mar 2018 20:23:16 GMT

@PilatesLoverwrote:
Wow, thank you @LilacTree. I do have RA, have had it over 25 years. I will ask my rheumatologist about it.

Thank you everyone for responding, I appreciate it.

@PilatesLover

You're lucky that you are just now getting this symptom from RA that you've had for 25 years. I've had it for 14-15 years, and this symptom showed up fairly early. It also causes choking, especially when I drink water. I don't know if you have experienced that (and hope you don't).

Your rheumatologist will certainly be aware of this symptom of RA. I don't take any of the biologics which, if you take any of them, may mitigate this problem. I can't take them because of my proclivity to get infections very easily.

My RA is severe. All of my test scores are "off the charts" (R-Factor, anti-CCP, C-reactive protein, and sed rate), according to my rheumatologist. I also have Sjogren's, mild scleroderma and hypothyroidism, which started autoimmune disease during menopause, although they didn't call it that back in the day. The rest of the symptoms started much later, six months after retirement which kinda ruined my "golden years."

My best to you. I hope your RA is in better control than mine.

Re: Vocal Cord Dysfunction

PilatesLover — Fri, 02 Mar 2018 15:00:05 GMT

@LilacTree, my RA is also severe. I am just recovering from my second foot surgery on the left foot, and soon will have my right foot done. This current surgery is my eighth joint surgery. I got a lot of joint damage before the biologics came out and it's continuing at a slower pace despite my current biologic.

I was on Enbrel not long after it came out and got excellent relief from it, but it wore off after seven years. There was a period where I was hospitalized five times in three months, twice I had to call an ambulance. Who knew a flare can be so bad as to get you admitted to the hospital for a week? I take Actemra now and it's been a life saver, but my hands, feet and shoulders are trashed. My sister has it also, and like you she cannot use the biologics because she gets terrible infections. She has the Sjogren's and other complication too.

I'm sure you know first-hand all about the fatigue, depression, osteopenia from Prednisone etc.. My autoimmune problems also started with hypothyroid which is now Hashimoto's. It sounds like we are on a very similar path - my other issues go on but who wants to dwell on that. I am sorry that you have this curse too. I read all the time of RA patients "curing themselves" with vegan diets, etc. I do all the holistic things, quit the wheat, dairy, take the turmeric and fish oil, etc., and it just takes the edge off.

A friend sent me a little blurb about the Japanese art of Kintsukuroi, where they take broken pottery and rejoin the pieces with gold. I wish you the best and hope that we will be rewarded in heaven.

Re: Vocal Cord Dysfunction

qbetzforreal — Fri, 02 Mar 2018 15:58:37 GMT

Vocal Cord Dysfunction (VCD) or Paradoxical Vocal Fold Movement (PVFM) occurs when the vocal cords (voice box) do not open correctly. This disorder is also referred to as paradoxical vocal fold movement. VCD is sometimes confused with asthma because some of the symptoms are similar.

What are the symptoms of vocal cord dysfunction?

People with VCD and EILO may experience the following symptoms:

Shortness of breath.
Chest and/or throat tightness.
Feeling they are "breathing through a straw"
Stridor/wheezing.
Difficulty with inhalation and/or exhalation.
Frequent throat clearing.
Intermittent hoarseness.
Chronic cough.

@PilatesLover- if you go to wwwdotaaaaidotorg/conditions-treatments/related-conditions/vocal-cord-dysfunction you will find a wealth of information.

Re: Vocal Cord Dysfunction

LilacTree — Fri, 02 Mar 2018 18:28:32 GMT

@PilatesLover

OMG, you've been through a lot more than I have! My disease has just hit my knees, feet and toes in the last year. I have mostly fingers, hand, wrists and arm pain and disfigurement. I have the typical RA hands/fingers that sway out. I have not opted for surgery because of my age and the infection risk, so I have learned to deal with it the best I can. There are so many things I can't do anymore. The day I can't use my computer will be what I fear the most. I broke my left shoulder in a fall and recouped only about 80% range, which the ortho doc told me would be about as much as I would ever recover. I also have RA in both shoulders and the back of my neck.

Prednisone took my already osteoporic back to surgery on two vertebrae, ten in all have compression fractures. My back is sometimes the worst source of pain, and I can't stand very long. I use a walker when I go out, and sometimes a wheelchair when it's going to be a longer day away from home and my bed.

However, the symptoms I hate the most are chronic exhaustion and itching, both of which I deal with every day. I am used to pain. Dry eyes, dry mouth, sore scalp and hair loss, sore throat, many UTIs, the last infection being very scary, as it was pseudomonas aeruginosa, third down the scale from MRSA in resistance to antibiotics. I had to undergo seven straight days of IV infusions of cimefepime and thankfully, it cured it.

I also am totally messed up in my gastrointestinal system and have tried so many diets I can't even recall half of them, Fodmap, SIBO, you name it. I stay away from all meat products and dairy, but I don't find a difference in my symptoms which are upper and lower abdominal bloating, and that is chronic also, as is the throat and choking. So I have to force myself to eat small amounts very carefully. My weight is under what it was when I was 14 or so, and the gastro doc doesn't like that, not at my age, which is 80.

I'm sure you totally understand the frustration of living with chronic disease, and your dear sister also. My sister had RA and I think my mother had it, but she died of lung cancer at 49. My beloved sister died seven years ago this August from metastatic colon/lung cancer at the age of 72. Her RA was mild, just some nodules on her fingers. Both of them were long time smokers (30 years for my mom, and 60 years for my sister, and my sister self-medicated with beer, thus the cancer).

I've never heard of the med you are taking, Actemra, I will look it up. I don't take pain meds, occasionally an Aleve, and last night I took an aspirin because my left arm felt funny.

As you surely know, it's one thing after another and we can't plan anything in advance because we never know how we will feel from one day to the next. I have graduations and weddings coming up and have no idea if I will be able to go or not.

Autoimmune disease is a life changer, that is for sure. And other than dangerous meds, docs really don't know what to do for it. Oh yes, we are pretty much on the same path. My thoughts and empathy are with you and your sister. Hang in there. I will be interested in what your RA doc says about your recent throat/breathing issues. One thing I know is it is not stress . . . although our lives are certainly not without it.

Re: Vocal Cord Dysfunction

Zhills — Fri, 02 Mar 2018 17:20:42 GMT

@LilacTree @PilatesLover I am so sorry you have RA. It is not nice. I didn't know it would affect your throat. Prayers for you both.

I lost my voice with vocal cord dysfunction and went to a speech therapist. Mine did clear up after a few sessions.

Mine was from acid reflux. Imagine my surprise when I went to an ENT and came home with a script for omeprazole!

Good to hear from you Lilac Tree.

Re: Vocal Cord Dysfunction

LilacTree — Fri, 02 Mar 2018 17:22:23 GMT

@Zhillswrote:
@LilacTree @PilatesLover I am so sorry you have RA. It is not nice. I didn't know it would affect your throat. Prayers for you both.

I lost my voice with vocal cord dysfunction and went to a speech therapist. Mine did clear up after a few sessions.

Mine was from acid reflux. Imagine my surprise when I went to an ENT and came home with a script for omeprazole!

Good to hear from you Lilac Tree.

@Zhills

Nice to hear from you too, Zhills!! Thank you for your prayers.

Re: Vocal Cord Dysfunction

NickNack — Fri, 02 Mar 2018 17:28:47 GMT

People are so often criticized here about asking for experiences with symptoms/problems we are having physically. I know I was recently when I asked about something, although I said I had an appt. with a doctor. It certainly proved helpful for the OP to ask when Lilac Tree gave her so much information. She would have had no idea otherwise. I find posting here very helpful.

Re: Vocal Cord Dysfunction

LilacTree — Fri, 02 Mar 2018 18:01:26 GMT

@NickNackwrote:
People are so often criticized here about asking for experiences with symptoms/problems we are having physically. I know I was recently when I asked about something, although I said I had an appt. with a doctor. It certainly proved helpful for the OP to ask when Lilac Tree gave her so much information. She would have had no idea otherwise. I find posting here very helpful.

@NickNack

I agree 100% NickNack. I have been helped many, many times just by asking for posters' experiences. Very few OPs are asking for a diagnosis, just what folks may have knowledge about and, often, are experiencing.

Re: Vocal Cord Dysfunction

tends2dogs — Sat, 10 Mar 2018 18:57:28 GMT

@LilacTree and @NickNack I have to ignore the negative posts discouraging posters to ask about others experiences. People that have been through these things often bring a level of understanding that a nurse or doctor that hasn't could ever offer a patient. We found this when my DH was going through cancer for 10 years and then ultimately had a bone marrow transplant. While sitting along side other patients receiving treatments, a lot of info gets shared. A lot of helping hints are garnered. Forums were invaluable. The nurses are privvy to much of this and were often a wealth of information, much more than the doctors. The doctors mostly offered the info that was written on the package of the drug they were going to order and the protocol that was set up by the drug company.

So I hope people will keep asking for this valuable incite. It is probably one of the few things we can still share on this forum, and maybe the most beneficial. Ignore the negative posters.

Re: Vocal Cord Dysfunction

sfnative — Sun, 11 Mar 2018 06:03:44 GMT

@PilatesLover

I know you're going to pursue RA as a possible cause, but would also greatly encourage you to seek a consult with an ENT who can scope your throat, asking you at the same time to utter certain sounds, which allow him/her to visualize the interior of the larynx. This simply cannot be left uncheck, as a to-do item on your list.

There are many reasons why vocal folds or the larynx as a whole experience issues, the most difficult to diagnose being nerve involvement. Please do seek out the expertise of an good ENT.