Vocal problems: How about talking with your anesthesiologist?

[Guest guest]

I just had an idea for our friends who are pre-op and are concerned

about vocal changes.

Has anybody talked with an anesthesiologist about all this? They're

the ones, I'm thinking, who are in charge of the actual intubation.

They might be able to give some idea of what the risks are. If it

happens frequently, how frequently?

I have heard of minor changes ( Fiddlesticks swears her voice

is lower, but I can't hear it), but not this matter of disappearing

voices and such. Of course it makes sense that if you change the size

and shape of those reverberating chambers, things could change.

One of my colleagues just had surgery on some cervical vertebrae, to

remove bone spurs that were causing him great pain. Somehow his voice

was affected, and he is unable to speak normally just now. I don't

know whether intubation caused it, or whether it's expected to get

better, but I'll ask, next chance I get.

Meantime, speak with your surgeon about the experiences he's had, and

with the anesthesiologist. Many times one doesn't meet the

anesthesiologist beforehand, but I asked specifically to speak to

mine, who had done some other procedures for me, and he gave me a

call.

Cammie

---

[Guest guest]

I just had an idea for our friends who are pre-op and are concerned

about vocal changes.

Has anybody talked with an anesthesiologist about all this? They're

the ones, I'm thinking, who are in charge of the actual intubation.

They might be able to give some idea of what the risks are. If it

happens frequently, how frequently?

I have heard of minor changes ( Fiddlesticks swears her voice

is lower, but I can't hear it), but not this matter of disappearing

voices and such. Of course it makes sense that if you change the size

and shape of those reverberating chambers, things could change.

One of my colleagues just had surgery on some cervical vertebrae, to

remove bone spurs that were causing him great pain. Somehow his voice

was affected, and he is unable to speak normally just now. I don't

know whether intubation caused it, or whether it's expected to get

better, but I'll ask, next chance I get.

Meantime, speak with your surgeon about the experiences he's had, and

with the anesthesiologist. Many times one doesn't meet the

anesthesiologist beforehand, but I asked specifically to speak to

mine, who had done some other procedures for me, and he gave me a

call.

Cammie

---