Mike – Grateful Patient of Dr. Dave Garnett

Vocal Cord Paralysis

Over the course of three days my voice began to quickly weaken. I assumed it was due to a cold or sinus infection. However, over the next several days it continued to worsen until my voice basically disappeared. I was frantic as my voice is absolutely essential for not only my career, but also in raising two young sons. I quickly made appointments and met with two local ENTs before I eventually found my way to Dr. David Garnett. Dr. Garnett came highly recommended by not only other physicians, but also by two former patients who were also attorneys. It quickly became clear that Dr. Garnett was "the guy" to see about my wrecked voice.

Dr. Garnett and his staff quickly diagnosed me as suffering from vocal cord paralysis as a result of damage to my right laryngeal nerve. The damage to my nerve was caused by an unknown virus that prevented the signals from my brain from reaching my right vocal cord. I was told that this condition may be permanent or it could resolve on its own within six months. To say the least, I was very troubled.

Over the course of the next six months, I had several appointments with Dr. Garnett and his staff. I eventually underwent a vocal cord injection surgery to help temporarily bridge the gap between my paralyzed vocal cord and the one that was functioning properly. This procedure was a success and provided some relief to my voice impairment. Unfortunately, it is only designed to provide temporary relief and the positive results began to taper off after three months.

Throughout this entire, very scary time, Dr. Garnett's bedside manner and confidence made all the difference. His professionalism combined with his compassion was an essential ingredient in my recovery. In fact, Dr. Garnett even took the time to answer my e-mailed questions following the vocal cord injection surgery. This speaks volumes about his dedication to helping his patients. His understanding and knowledge were second to none.

My voice eventually returned. However, I knew that if it didn't, I was under the care of the right physician to treat the problem.