Anna – Grateful Patient of Drs. Gaines, Garnett, & Tsue

Head & Neck Surgery - Voice Disorders

My healthcare journey began in April of 1970 when I noticed a small knot on the left side of my neck. My doctor removed my left thyroid. The incision was clamped rather than stitched and the scar did not heal flat. I was sent to the hospital for radiation treatment and after several months I went back for an outpatient procedure to remove the scar. This time stitches were used and the scar remained flat.

In 1980 my voice started to come and go and at times I could only talk in a whisper but by the time I could get a doctors appointment my voice would be strong again. I was told that my vocal cord was paralyzed and someday the voice would not come back but at that point in time I could have a small piece of Teflon inserted in the vocal cord to help my voice.

In 1988 it finally happened and I lost my voice to a whisper for good. So at this time I did have a small piece of Teflon inserted into my left vocal cord. I could once again talk normally until 2003 when I once again had troubled with my voice. Now I had to have the Teflon removed because my vocal cord had become inflamed. The next procedure was to attach a piece of fat from my neck to the left vocal cord and place a small piece of metal wax on my voice box. This did allow me to talk but not with clarity. I was told I could have another operation but with no guarantees so I declined. My voice was distorted but I could talk.

In 2008 I had a sonogram on my neck and was told I had nodules on both thyroid glands. After telling my doctor I only had a right thyroid he referred me to an ENT and I was eventually referred to Dr. Terance Tsue at the University Of Kansas Department Of Otolaryngology. Due to the location of the growth and the possibility of cancer Dr. Tsue wanted to remove it as soon as possible. In July 2008 the growth and right thyroid were removed and Dr Tsue did a wonderful job. So this referral was one of the best things that could have happened to me.  I had a speedy recovery and one would need a magnifying glass to see the scar.

At this point I was happy with my surgical outcome and I had talked myself out of ever doing anything about my voice but Dr. Tsue said he thought Dr. David Garnett could make a big difference with the way I talked. So I decided to work with Dr. Garnett. After a few visits and tests Dr. Garnett determined my vocal cords could withstand the surgery. I was extremely nervous about the surgery because I would be under local anesthesia and not completely asleep. This was an important part of the process because Dr. Garnett would need to check my responses verbally as the surgery proceeded.
 
My surgery was scheduled for March 12, 2009, and I was able to meet with the entire surgery team before the operation which really put my mind at ease. As the surgery progressed I was asked to say "E, EEE". . . and count to 10. I knew that the operation was a success by the positive comments I heard in the operating room from both of my surgeons Drs. Garnett and Gaines. When I went to the recovery room I was awake and I could talk with the best tone I had heard in five years.

My friends and family cannot believe the new sound and tone of my voice! Thank you to Dr. Tsue, Dr. Garnett and Dr. Gaines for making the rest of my life normal and much easier!