good news and not so good news

I just got back from two days at the VA hospital.
Good news is, I don't have throat cancer. Less than good news is they couldn't find a cause for my problem. About 15 years ago I started having difficulty swallowing food. And, in recent years my voice has weakened and I can't talk for extended periods of time or it just fades away. To most folks that's real good news. But, I used to be a reader at church and can't do that anymore. Same with my writers group. They used to ask me to read their new works but I have to give that up. Can't swallow, throat hurts, can't talk well at all anymore. Four doctors and batteries of tests show, "nothing wrong, no problem". Got news for the docs, there is a problem and something is wrong. Oh,well.

Frank, I hope you feel better soon! I know your a vet and the VA is probably the best option for you, but maybe a second opinion from another hospital or specialist? Just a thought. Best wishes!

Jeff Bower said:

Frank, I hope you feel better soon! I know your a vet and the VA is probably the best option for you, but maybe a second opinion from another hospital or specialist? Just a thought. Best wishes!

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Mornin' Jeff. The first three doctors were private practice and two of them specialists. Go figger. I'm not sure what to do next.

Bad news indeed Frank - sorry to hear this. Our pastor was suffering from the exact symptoms you describe. He's having his thyroid removed next Tuesday. Turns out it had a malignant growth that was obstructing and effecting his voice box. Seems that if this is what is bothering you that it would have been discovered already as the doctor told our pastor that it was a relatively simple test to find out.

Please keep us posted. Thought and prayers coming your way.

That's really scary Frank!!! I have been scared a few times and am a little concerned right now so I know what you are going through. I don't know what your options for medical care are but you better get to see someone else one way or another. Something is wrong.

thyroid caused the same symtoms in my better half,, now its a never ending sounding board she cant read so i am safe actually it came went and it would happen very quickly.. the acid reflux is also a culprit but i anit no doc so get a better opinion have scope go down and take look.. see what you have swalled and wont go down... try bob jones or the mayo clinic

Quite unfortunate indeed, Frank. We'll keep praying that they find the cause.

sorry to hear that frank. makes my arm small potatos. at least i know mine was caused by a fat guy falling and will get better. i know some va's are better than others but don't give up. a little humor now, maybe you could get on the tv show "house". he seems to solve everything.
dale

Sorry to hear about your health issues. I pray they can find out what is going on.

Wes

Frank, try to get a second opinion from another specialist to solve this problem. Wish you good luck, and hope you're feeling yourself soon better.

Frank, I hate to tell you this, but you need to let that dog collar out a buckle or two

Certainly is a strange thing, and a very unfortunate problem, man I'd be stuck if I could not talk! Yeah, Yeah, I know, the world would be a bit quieter, but just the same, that really sucks.

I sure do hope they get you squared away, and at the very least, count your blessings it is NOT throat cancer

Get better soon!

Dale Johnson said:

a little humor now, maybe you could get on the tv show "house". he seems to solve everything.
dale

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House is my favorite show, but wouldn't he be an obnoxious person to work with and/or around. Just feed him some oxycodone and he will be your friend for life.

Frank I have to agree with the people above. I would seek out help in addition to that provided by the VA. IF you can manage it, let the people at M.D. Anderson examine you. From what I am told, they are one of the BEST.

I sure hope you can find out what is going on Frank. That sure doesn't sound like something to ignore. Keep us posted on what you find out.

DT

frank, it's risky for us to give advice for a potential serious problem...but i will say this from experience. you know your body better than anyone. if you think something's wrong, don't stop trying to get to the bottom of it until you're satisfied. if it's something minor, you've spent some time chasing nothing, but if it's not minor you need to treat it asap. i'm pulling for you.

Frank, I was having trouble swallowing, particularly with liquids – it felt like the liquid was physically forcing my throat to open. I never had a bad problem with acid reflex or indigestion. My doctor prescribed ACIPHEX, a small yellow tablet taken once a day. That was 2 years ago and I haven’t had a problem swallowing since then. I’m sure your Docs know all about it, just thought I would throw it out there.

Frank
My prayers and wishes for the best

Thanks all. I spoke with a quality assurance nurse from the VA hospital today. She will help arrange a follow-up with specialist doctor in swallowing problems. Will keep y'all informed.

Really glad to hear that there is no cancer. Hope they can solve the swallowing/voice problems soon.

Hope you find out what is going on, and get to feeling better soon.

Hi Frank, Like others I'm sorry to hear what yoiu are going through. I like so many others have had similar experiences as you are having with my throat and Doctors. I had a time when i couldn't eat any red meat and it would only go so far then come back up, it hurt to talk too. It happened for a couple of years then went away on it's own. No one could tell me why and we attributed it to stress as I was going through a very difficult time of my life then. Stress is funny how it works on you. As for the doctors they had no clue. I have also been going through a similar experience with the docs in regards to what they call Asthma. I was diagnosed with it when i lived up in northern BC , near Alaska. No history of it in our family yet still they say I have it. I have done all the tests and they all say that I don't have it, yet I have been hospitalized a couple of times over it. Only recently I have been playing detective and have ( through 10 yrs of trial and error ) come to the realisation that it is the dust that I work in everyday that is causing my problem. Doctors don't know everything and we put them too often up on pedistals as the all knowing. You know your body better than they do as you live with it each and every day. It could be something so simple that you are overlooking it. Keep on them until you get the answer to your problem and a solution that you can accept. I hope that it is nothing but something simple Frank.

Drew