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Scope Test

jknnej

By jknnej
in Coping with Celiac Disease

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jknnej Collaborator
jknnej
Posted

So, since going gluten free, I've lost my voice....I am a singer (a soprano) but you'd never know it now because my voice is low and scratchy.

Now, when I had my endoscopy/biopsy, the dr looked at my vocal cords and they looked fine...he even took pictures. I took those pictures to an ENT-Ear, nose, throat doctor. She said that although the cords looked fine on the pictures, she would need to do HER scope test on me. Now, I walked out after that because:

they stick a tube/camera up your nose and down your throat and you are awake the entire time.

Now, I handled the GI biopsy just fine because I was OUT; that's fine with me. But now I am freaking out because she wants to do this test with me fully awake-they won't even allow you to have a sedative.

I REALLY need to find out what is wrong with my voice; I've already had to quit teaching choir because of this and I now teach English. I enjoy it, but I still need a voice to teach.

Help!!! Has anyone else had this test? Is it awful? Did they give you a sedative? I know I need to stop being a baby but it really freaks me out. I need to find out what's wrong with my voice before I do it permanent damage, if I haven't already....help!!!!!

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Ursa Major Collaborator
Ursa Major
Posted

I am afraid there is no other way for the specialist to look at your vocal cords. I feel it is very important she look at your vocal cords, the other doctor wouldn't really have known what to look for.

Are you sure that other intolerances aren't causing you to lose your voice? I constantly lost my voice before I went off all the foods I am intolerant to. Now I just realized that my voice has been fine for many months, no sore throats, no scratchy voice, or losing my voice.

So, there might be nothing wrong with your vocal cords, your vocal cords might be reacting to foods you're intolerant to. Something to consider.

theprincess Newbie
theprincess
Posted

I'm studying to be a speech-language pathologist so I know some clinical stuff but MORE importantly, I'm a vocalist, too!

1. The test at the ENT is NOTHING. If they use a flexible scope, they will stick it down your nose (some people Afrin or numb you first) and it will hang to your vocal folds. It is uncomfortable but not painful at all <-- I am a major pain wussy. It sort of feels like if you snort water up your nose. This scope is actually good at identifying major things like nodules and bumps but not so good if you want a detailed view. So if they think they need to they will send you to an SLP who will perform a rigid scope (some ENTS do this but most just refer you)

2. The rigid scope is not painful at all because it doesn't "go down your throat" perse. The therapist wraps some gauze around your tounge and then pulls it out so that they can see the back of your throat. Then they take a metal stick with a camera on the end of it and look at your chords.

In both cases they will ask you to do a series of silly sounds so that they can watch the way your chords move. Sometimes one chord will get lazy or stop moving. This could be a cause of the scratchy sound and would not be able to be detected on the endoscopy (because you wouldn't be making noise and vibrating your chords against one another.)

I highly reccomend that you go back and let them do the test. It's not painful or scary and it could really help you. If you have some kind of reflux (which is common to Celiac I've heard) then treatment is very simple. Your doctor may want you to go to a SLP for therapy because vocalists can gain a lot from learning how to use their voices properly in ALL contexts.

I hope this wasn't too detailed or boring. Good luck! Feel free to e-mail or pm me if need be.

Ashley

jknnej Collaborator
jknnej
Posted
  • Author

Yeah, I guess I will have to have it done. I am such a wussy with things and gagging, though!

I really do need to find out what is up with my voice, though.

I am worried that if I have nodules, which is very possible considering I overuse my voice, how can I go on vocal rest as a teacher?

I do have reflux and I take Prevacid for it. But the endoscopy picture of my cords and esophagus show no damage, so that is good,....

Well, my appointment is Tuesday, 10/24. will they do it right then and there?

theprincess Newbie
theprincess
Posted

Yep. I have had both scopes and an endoscopy and I SWEAR that the flexible nasal scope is no big deal. In fact, in school we volunteer on each other! If it was that bad I would be honest. (You won't gag from a scope down your nose most likely, either)

KEEP THIS IN MIND: It is highly unlikely that you have nodules if they weren't seen on the endoscopy. They are pretty obvious, kind of like little whiteheads. BUT there are a host of other things that could be wrong with the functioning of the chords. Thats why its important to have it done, because the endoscopy is not a functional test. You need to find out whats up so you can bless the world with your voice. GL again!

jknnej Collaborator
jknnej
Posted
  • Author

What other kinds of things could be wrong?

Hopefully no nodules...the problem the ENT said before I left was that there could be nodules on the underside of the chords because she could not see that part with the pics she had.

OK if you say it's not that bad I'll do it..hopefully I won't gag...I will be terrified, though!!

How is the rigid scope? Is that test worse than the flexible one?

theprincess Newbie
theprincess
Posted

There are a ton of mildly irritating but totally fixable things that could be wrong. Also, it could be totally non-medically related that you just are doing some harmful things while you are teaching class, even without noticing it. It's easy to hurt your voice speaking - in fact - even easier than while singing!

I think the rigid scope is worse because I gag easily, I didn't gag with the flexible. GL - let me know how it goes.

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flagbabyds Collaborator
flagbabyds
Posted

the flexible thing is not that bad and i have the worse gag reflex even during my sleep studies i couldn't have the tube down my throat cause i would be barfing everywhere before tehy got it down, they do numb your nose so you really don't feel a thing and it does not go to the back of your throat just into your nose

don't worry about it it is not something to stress over.

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