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From: Irene Bullard
Date: 19 Oct 2011
Time: 12:19:31 -0500
Remote Name: 76.214.57.74
Lauren, Anywhere you post your questions or comments is OK. I am pleased, that you, as a graduate student, read and replied to my article. You ask some great questions and I hope I can answer them to your satisfaction. Yes, I have found the botox shots to be most helpful otherwise I would not go through the miserable injections and the frustrating loss of voice that is likely to follow. I believe that many of my current dysfluencies when th botox wears off are really due to the SD as I can feel the difference much of the time, that is if I focus on it. The effect of the botox usually lasts 3 to 4 months, usually the latter. Currently, I am at the 4 month mark and still doing well. I have been diagnosed with adductor SD but it may be mixed. When being diagnosed, the PhD,SLP at the clinic felt it was abductor SD because of the breathiness, I agreed with him, but the ENT who worked with us felt it was adductor SD. So we went with one vocal cord only to treat adductor SD to see what would happen. After signs of it helping, both vocal cords were injected. This showed definite success I think that if the abductor muscles were paralized with botox it could result in closure of the vocal cords which could be a life threatening situation as one must breath to live. Paralization of the vocal cords in the closed position would not be good for my health. I like all of your questions and comments and I want you to feel free to reply if you want more clarificaltion or have more questions. Irene