The GN Saga Continues

Well, the glossopharyngeal neuralgia saga continues.

I have lived with hearing loss and partial paralysis on the left side of my throat for six and a half years. All of this I have managed pretty well. I have learned to speak acceptably and learned to compensate for compromised ability to swallow.

This past Easter Sunday (4/8) I began to experience a generalized pain in my throat, concentrated on the left side. It was not like the neuralgia pain, but a general muscle soreness when I swallowed, like a cold would feel. It started about 5 p.m. and I thought I was getting a cold. But it lasted through the night, gradually getting worse. By 5:20 a.m., following a completely sleepless night, the pain was bad enough that I decided I needed to go to the hospital. When I got up to tell Barb, I was unable to speak.

Once in the ER (they took me right in), they gave me IV morphine and steroids. At one point, my throat spasmed, similar to what I have experience periodically since the surgery, only this spasm completely closed off my airway and I was completely unable to breathe for several minutes. Scary. I will not forget the image of Barb shaking, watching me, helpless other than yelling for help.

After (finally) seeing an ENT (four hour wait), I learned that I had some kind of infection (viral or bacterial) that inflamed my left vocal chord. I also learned that my left vocal chord is completely paralyzed (rather than partially, which is what I suspected since surgery). I was admitted for the night and this morning was encouraged by the ENT surgeon to make an appointment with him. He seemed to indicate that there is a surgical procedure that would help my vocal chord situation and possibly prevent this type of issue in the future.

So I spent the night in the hospital and just got back. What an ordeal! I hope it's not an indicator of anything to come.