update 19.02.2026 –
The cortisone therapy proved futile and brought no improvement. The focus now shifts initially to 10 speech therapy sessions. The first took place this morning and was both pleasant and instructive in terms of both the setting and therapeutic approach. I gained and experienced insights into the interplay between breathing and musculature, along with its effects, which had been largely unknown to me until now.
The examination of the damaged vocal cord showed minimally stronger vibration and fluttering during activation (through the attempt to pronounce an “e”) than last week – considering the overall situation, a tremendous (!) success!
A doctor gave me a small ray of hope when she shared her own experience with the same problem in a clear, bright, and cheerful voice: during spinal surgery, her nerve had been stretched and damaged just like mine, and in her case it had recovered after very, very (!) fast six weeks.
Furthermore, analysis of the removed thyroid lobe revealed no malignancy of the autonomously functioning freaked out hot nodule.
And what about the other, still remaining, larger lobe with its conglomerate of many cold nodules, which can only be removed and analyzed once the damaged vocal cord has recovered sufficiently to make another procedure justifiable? Let us remember: Even if (…) I can eventually speak somewhat normally again, this matter is far from over.
but we’re nowhere near there yet…
update 18.02.2026 –
I was quite pleasantly surprised when I heard the hint of an inflection in a brief conversation with myself last evening. That gives me hope. Today, however, it’s gone again.
Here’s the medical background to my situation.
update 17.02.2026 –
even the referring thyroid specialist has never seen such an impact on the voice in his practice before.
I thank everyone for their sympathy, good wishes and recommendations, however I have had enough of expert, luminary and specialist recommendations for now – please forgive me.
update 16.02.2026 –
A first preliminary appointment with the speech therapist was sobering — there is no indication of any swift recovery for the time being. Perhaps in six to eight weeks I will be able to speak in a somewhat functional way again, but only if I am very mindful and careful about the factors that influence my voice — no phone calls, for instance.
I have by now come to terms with the likelihood that my former voice will not return.
update 15.02.2026 –
cortisone therapy doesn’t help it seems, voice is not much more then a whisper. the right vocal chord is paralysed. speech therapy starting these days.
there are a few slight indications that the purpose of the thyroid gland removal was fulfilled, some painpoints are just gone or heavily reduced which is good but for the cost of a lost voice?
09.02.2026 –
removal of thyroid gland was only halfway successful today, the vocal cord nerve on the right side didn’t send any signals any more when it has been stretched a lot and the surgery had to be stopped because of danger of shortness of breath. other half removal in a couple of weeks…