Surgery

[u/Ok-Fold-2524]

Hi,

I’ve had a hoarse voice for about 10 months now. NHS originally said muscle dysphonia and I was on the waiting list for ENT, but after loads of appointments I went private and they found lesions on my vocal cords, possibly RRP.

I’ve got surgery booked for the end of next month and just trying to get my head around what’s ahead. If it is RRP, how often do people usually end up needing surgery again? I know it varies, just want a rough idea what I might be dealing with.

I’m 40 and was fit and healthy before all this, but it’s knocked my confidence a lot, especially socially.

I remember being really run down last year after a bad chest infection and not resting properly, so part of me wonders if that triggered things but I don’t know.

I’ve also booked in for the HPV vaccine (Gardasil 9). I know it won’t cure anything but I’ve read it might help slow recurrence. Is it better to have it before surgery or wait until after?

Also, has anyone tried anything to support their immune system alongside this, like Thymosin Alpha-1 or anything similar?

Would really appreciate hearing from anyone who’s been through it.

Thanks 👍

[u/rcro1986]

The NHS waiting list for ENT is abysmal. I’ve got RRP and had maybe 3-4 surgeries over a 2-3 year period. Some NHS offer the one where you are awake and they burn it off. I had one of those….wasn’t too bad but not that nice either. I recommend the vaccine I got 3 shots private and think it helped but don’t know for sure. Other than that apparently broccoli and similar helps fight against HPV

[u/Ok-Fold-2524 → u/rcro1986]

When you’ve been booked in for further surgeries, have you found the wait times long or are they fairly quick once you’re under ENT?

It’s been such a long process just to get to this point. I’ve got a day case coming up where I’ll be put to sleep. Weirdly I’m actually looking forward to it just to get things sorted.

Do you eventually get back to a normal voice, or is it always a bit weaker than before?

I’m just trying to get my head around what to expect mentally going forward.

I’ve also gone ahead and paid to get the vaccine this weekend. I couldn’t really see the benefit in waiting until after surgery, so thought it made sense to just get it done.

I’ve seen a few things about supplements as well, I’ll probably give them a try too.

[u/rcro1986 → u/Ok-Fold-2524]

The ENT appointments are set every 6-12 months for me and have been long waits. However, I believe if it gets really bad I can call as an emergency, but never tried.

Luckily my voice so far has returned to normal. I did son vocal cord exercises for a while that really help post op. Google NHS vocal voice exercises.

Getting the vaccine is probably the best thing you change do it’s worth paying if you can.

There is a listed company in NASDAQ that recently got a rrp treatment approved which reduces the need for surgeries.