Vocal Cord Nodules? Worrying...

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-02-2004
Vocal Cord Nodules? Worrying...
6
Wed, 10-18-2006 - 3:18pm

Hi Gals. I have been doing pretty well lately with anxiety. I got on a B Complex 100 vitamin and feel it is working well. But, those of you that know me know that health concerns get my anxiety churning.

I started having some hoarseness back in May/June but it was hit or miss and I play ice hockey and have allergies/sinuses so I figured it was that. Well then it got a little worse. The more I talk the more hoarse I get. No pain at all, not even a sore throat. Some of the time it felt like a lump in my throat and felt like there was gunk in there that needed to come out so I'd clear my throat a lot. That would help for a second. Then I'd have weeks where it would be ok, nearly normal. Then it would get worse. I saw the family doc a month or so ago and she put me on a reflux med to rule that out as the problem (reflux in the larynx rather than esophagus bec people that have it in the larynx may not have the burning which I do not have). After 2 week of taking that like she had me do, there was no change. Then it seemed to get worse again. Then I was switched from my Advair inhaler to Flovent (asthma prevention med) and no change.

So I go to an ear/nose/throat specialist last Friday. He did a scope to see the vocal cords and heard my story and said I have vocal cord nodules which are like calluses. The cause he said could have been when I had a cold or drainage and overused my voice (I do not have to talk a lot in my job but do yell some in hockey but not a ton) and it could be larynx reflux. Ok, so then he says the nodules look at little irregular (my panic button is pushed) but that is probably because of the inflammation surrounding them and said they were in the normal place for nodules to occur and that he felt I just need to do voice therapy for a month or two and that would fix it. No need for follow up appt unless that did not work. I start the therapy next week. He also put me on Nexium. He seemed non concerned and said he doubted I'd need the nodules surgically removed.

Ok, so, I have this HUGE fear of cancer and I keep replaying what he said about them looking irregular in the back of my mind and it is making me feel bad at times. A friend of mine did me a favor by getting me in to see this guy (she works for him) so I do not want to be calling in there and asking for reassurance. I have read all over the Internet about these nodules and it does not appear that they are commonly cancerous. I just cannot seem to let this go. I have a bad case of the what if's. I keep thinking like why did he even say they look a little irregular to me unless he needed to say that for some reason. And then I tell myself that he would have said let's just remove them and test them now to be safe if he felt they looked suspicious at all. I mean, doc's want to make money usually right, so why not? And I tell myself he would have made a follow up appt if he thought I'd need to come back. But then I go the other way and say maybe he just does not care much and was not paying good attention that day (I was a squeeze in appt - my friend has the authority to double book and she did for me). Grrrr....I wish I could stop this and just move on.

Anyone else ever have vocal cord nodules? Or any advice period?

Kim

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-19-1998
Wed, 10-18-2006 - 3:23pm

I definitely would not worry about cancer. Have you had your thyroid checked? Problems with your thyroid can cause hoarseness - I had that some when my thyroid was acting up.

Also, having your thyroid out of whack can be a cause of anxiety/panic attacks and what some of us like to call "brain fog". It is something that is often overlooked and is quite common - especially hypothyroidism.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 11-22-2005
Wed, 10-18-2006 - 3:25pm

Hi Kim


Your story is interesting to me. I have been hoarse/losing my voice for the past two months.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-02-2004
Wed, 10-18-2006 - 3:34pm
Hi Dharma. I read that Advair can cause vocal cord issues because of that powder that you suck in getting stuck on the cords. However, I got off of it and still have the problem so I do not think that is it. If you have heartburn then yours sounds more like reflux which will cause hoarseness for sure from what my docs told me and from what I have read. I have had 2 endoscopies and can tell you that they are painless. They sedate you to the point that you will not have any idea of what is going on. I did not even have a sore throat afterwards either time. It is a great test to have done in the sense that it shows the docs exactly what they need to see. I learned that there are 2 kinds of reflux, GERD and Laryngopharyngeal Reflux (LPR). Heartburn is usually GERD where your esophagus is being affected by the acid. LPR is where the acid is hitting your vocal cord area (larynx) which is much more sensitive than the esophagus. So, you'd think that would cause pain too but they say LPR very well may cause no pain and that is me, no pain. Anyway, these nodules I have are like calluses you get on the feet and hands they said. Once they are present, voice therapy is usually the first course of action I am told. I hope it works. I have got to stop assuming the worst. I do not smoke or drink so I tell myself I should not be thinking like this.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-22-2003
Wed, 10-18-2006 - 4:46pm

I have a friend who is a singer in a blues band & she gets the vocal cord nodules alot & the hoarseness.

Sheri Ann

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Wed, 10-18-2006 - 5:46pm

(((Kim))) I would be worried, too. That's the nature of our illness. However, I am certain the dr. would have scheduled you for a biopsy if he suspected anything more than what he told you. As for not doing his best job because he was busy, overbooked or didn't care? Please don't think that. Just google *malpractice* & you will know that is NOT true! LOL


I have intermittent hoarseness & since I have GERD & asthma(using advair) I assure myself it's nothing out of the ordinary. Like Sheri Ann's friend, mine resolves after a couple of days rest. It is always bad during allergy season. Cancer wouldn't resolve. It would continue to get worse. Try to keep this in perspective. I know that is difficult to do, but you have many coping skills under your belt.


Keep in touch. We've missed you! Good luck & GBU! jan


 

 


 



iVillage Member
Registered: 11-25-2005
Wed, 10-18-2006 - 8:38pm
Kim HUGS!! I am praying for you! Try to stay focused
on now- I know it is so hard to do with a problem like you
have over your head. USUALLY doctors know what they are looking
at as far as tests etc. that is a good thing!! If it was
a danger to you I am SURE he would have done more tests!!
Try to relax and good luck with the therapy!! Judy