November 7th Appointment Update

Hi again! I had another speech therapy appointment and have some updates. Also gonna start using initials to make it easier to talk about my speech therapist and voice doctor instead of having to say "my speech therapist/my voice doctor" over and over (so for future reference M = speech therapist, DB = voice doctor).

Vocal Folds
In my last post, I mentioned how there was raised tissue on both of my vocal folds from where the nodules were removed. M scoped me on the 7th, and one of my folds (can't remember which side) is now completely flat! The other side still has a tiny bit of bump left, but still is smaller from my last scope. The flat side still has splotches of white from the healing process, and the side with the remaining bump has a large white spot where it's still healing. After my appointment, she said she'd message my doctor with next steps.

Doctor Response Update
Yesterday morning, M messaged me this:

I showed DB your exam from yesterday. We discussed having you try oral steroids to see if this help speed up your vocal cord healing. Would you be willing to try this? If so, DB or one of his nurses will reach out to get you a prescription.

We decided that you should continue to wait to start making your videos again until your vocal folds are more healed. You should continue to do cup bubbles 3-5 times per day, as well as work on resonant voice exercises from previously (m initial words, sentences, etc) and try to implement this technique (forward focus, no pushing from throat) whenever speaking.

We will plan to scope you again at your appointment on 12/13 at 2:00. Could you also bring some video/audio samples of what your videos typically sound like, so that we know what your goal voice sounds like? And then could we also add one more appointment – is 12/31 at 2:00pm ok with you? Hope you have a good weekend!

My Response
I did agree to the oral steroids because despite the fact I'm healing well and making a lot of progress, it's still slow progress due to the fact I had such huge nodules! Because of this, my recovery is a bit slower than most patients, and as far as I'm aware, the healing and inflammation is what's limiting my voice and range still. So hopefully the steroids speed things up and you guys will see me a lot sooner! (⁠ ⁠ꈍ⁠ᴗ⁠ꈍ⁠)

Funny Appointment Moment
M just found out that I do ASMR during my appointment yesterday! I've always been very vague during my appointments because I'm shy and for privacy reasons, but not too vague. For example, I would say I voice act, speak soft, etc, but I never went into explicit details about my job. But during my appointment yesterday she put two and two together with the "speaking soft" part and was like "Is it ASMR?" and I was like damn my cover's blown LMAO. Also during the speaking practice that we do at the end of all my appointments, she started asking me more questions like who does the writing, editing, etc for my stuff and I was like I DO IT ALL 😤😤😤 She also asked if I have a big following and if you guys miss me and stuffs and I was like yeah 😭💕 That's also why I had a meltdown yesterday because like you guys saw in her message, I have to bring samples of how my normal voice used to sound before my nodules so they can know when I sound like myself again. This means I have to show them parts of my audios for the first time so I've been trying to scramble to find the most normal and non-lewd parts of my audios to go snip... I'm also just self conscious about everything I produce anyway so I'm dying inside but I'll just have to suck it up I guess!!!

Follow-up appointments
Next ones are December 13th and December 31st!