ENT and Speech Therapy Related to Thyroid????

[blksapphire]

My endo dr wanted me to see an ENT because I still have hoarseness from the RAI treatment.  I had the RAI treatment in December 07.  It is now August and I am having trouble swallowing food, water and and just plain swallowing.  Now the ENT tells me that he thinks its scar tissue from the RAI treatment and wants me to see a speech therapist.

Has anyone had to go this route to figure out "why" food is getting stuck in the throat and not being able to talk the way you did before treatment.

BTW... does anyone have problems with their ears feeling clogged or full of fluid?

Thanks for your input and take care
Terri

[bevheathrn]

I understand your concern and frustration, as I have had severe hoarseness accompanied by some difficulty swallowing for 6 years. Also have constant "fullness" in ears for a long time, but never associated it with my voice problem. I have seen and been scoped by 4 different ENTs and nothing was found. Of course, my voice was never at its worst on the day of my appointments :(.  My latest ENT believes my hoarseness is due to silent reflux (regurgitation of stomach acid into esophagus, causing chronic irritation and inflammation, and started be on Prilosec.  I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism about 7 years ago and put on Synthyroid. My s/s increased despite increased doses of this drug. So I set out to learn all I could about this disease by reading clinical journals and research test results (being an RN and nursing professor came in handy). Six months ago I insisted that my MD perform other thyroid tests besides the very inaccurate TSH and when thyroid hormone results came back very abnormal, despite taking Synthyroid, I asked her to switch me to Armour thyroid, which provides T4 and T3 hormones (Synthyroid provides only T3). If you are not familiar with this drug I urge you to google it. Within 4 days my voice improved by 80%, yea! I believe that my hoarseness has multiple causes (including low thyroid and acid reflux). I encourage you to peruse these issues with your physicians. I apologize for being so long winded, and wish you the best of luck.

[blksapphire]

Thanks all for responding.

The problems I have with the hoarseness is that I talk on the phone for a living.  The more I talk the worst it gets and after a couple of hours I feel as if someone has poured sand down my throat.  Then I really can't swallow or talk.

The ENT doesn't understand why I am still so hoarse for so long.  According to him, he hasn't seen it last this long. The ENT did see scar tissue but doesnt want to act on it until I see the speech therapist.

Thanks again for the input.

Terri

[stella5349]

After RAI I had the same problems as you - and they hung around for over 2 yrs. I am not sure if maybe I now an used to the change - or if things are better now. I still feel at times a struggle to swollow - but most of my hoarseness is gone.

Took almost 5 yrs.

[Jalder]

I have difficulty swallowing post RAI in December 07 too - my ENT says this is "globus" and is not unusual following thyroid surgery and/or RAI.  The trick he told me about is "cold stim" which is drinking ice cold water with meals which automatically triggers a swallowing response.  Although this is not 100% effective I am at least now able to get through a most of a meal without choking.  I also have permanent hoarseness due to a paralysed vocal cord - no cure for this unfortunately.  Hang tough.
Jennifer

[AR-10]

That's something I was never told about before my RAI ablation. I had mine in January, and I have not had any problems other than adjusting my Synthroid.

It doesn't surprise me, though. They have this gland wither up in your body and then act like it's not there or something.

"out of sight, out of mind"

When I kept asking for surgery I was told RAI was better. What about the dead gland? "No problem."

I'm bitter. :-)

I hope the speach therapist can limber things up for you.