Vocal Chords

Who'da thunk that a little thing like vocal chords could be such a big deal?

Back in February, Aaron lost his voice after having a pretty bad reaction to the chlorine in a swimming pool/hot tub.  He healed up fine, and then lost his voice again 2 weeks later.  He continued to come home from school with his voice completely gone about once every week.  Sometimes he would miss the next day of school if his voice wasn't hoarse, and sometimes his voice was fine by the next day.  But, in April, his voice would disappear more and more frequently and stay hoarse for longer periods of time.  So, we finally wised up and took him to the pediatrician. 

The pediatrician told us that "No, it is NOT normal for a nine year old to lose his voice that often."  (huh.  who knew?  ;))  He told Aaron to start taking allergy medication and to rest his voice for a week (no school, no playing, NO TALKING!!), and to make an appointment with an Ear/Nose/Throat Specialist if that didn't work.  Well, I'm here to tell you that keeping a 9-year-old home on unlimited video games and tv is more torturous than you would think!!  It's HARD not to talk (or whisper only) for that long.

But, Aaron did it.  He went back to school the day after his week was up, and came home with his voice GONE.  URGHHHHHHHH!  So - to the E/N/T we went:

Here is Aaron trying to control his emotions as he awaits the scope that gets to go right up his nose and down his throat:

Apparently, it is a little painful.  The doctor asked me if Aaron was extra loud (when questioning his scratchy/hoarse voice and continual loss of his voice), and I [honestly] told him that he is my most quiet child, and that he certainly isn't any louder than any of his friends.  Well.  Aaron than proceeded to sob louder than I could possibly imagine during the initial part of this procedure.  Uh -- nevermind -- he is VERY loud!!  haha.

 

And here is a beautiful picture of Aaron's vocal chords.  They are a little red and swollen up front, but mostly in back.

 

Pretty cool lookin', huh?  I tell ya what - technology is amazing.

So, Aaron was told to keep taking the allergy medicine,  avoid extra loud talking/singing/noise making for a couple of months, and was prescribed an antacid.  He had some acid build up which was causing most of the inflammation in his vocal chords.  Weird.  I know.  BUT - he hasn't lost his voice since, and it has been several weeks.  I can't imagine him not having his cute singing voice, and hopefully he'll be singing again soon too!