9 days later

It has been exactly nine days since I started supplements and probiotics.  

On that day I met with my chiropractor for a routine adjustment.
My voice was hoarse and soft and crackly (is that even a word).
I had had the effects of vocal cord paralysis for 6 weeks.

My history with a chiropractor goes back about one year.  I had plantar fasciitis and was having trouble running.  I had orthotics, was taking anti-inflammatory medications and a list of physical therapy exercises that didn't seem to help much.  I wanted so badly to lose the weight and I knew running and eating healthier would help that but it was such a viscous circle.  Weight loss would help me run without so much pain.  Running would help me lose weight.  Lose the weight so I could run. Run to lose the weight.  

That's me and hubs at my cousin's wedding in the Summer of 2011. Probably 15+ lbs heavier.

Upon my very first visit, I was told that I had lots of things going on.  She adjusted me and we worked out a plan to work towards maintenance.
After two adjustments things felt better and after at third my foot pain was gone for longer and longer stretches-as well as the hip pain that always started after I ran any measurable distance at all.
I was hooked and I maintained my chiro visits faithfully about every 6 weeks.

Now fast forward to 9 days ago.

I walked into the office of the chiro for that maintenance adjustment as usual she asks "How's it going?"

She means what do I need adjusted.
When she hears me speak she asks about my voice and I tell her it's a paralyzed vocal cord.

She tells me that she can fix it.
Reluctant and stunned I say.
"What? My voice?"

"Yep" she says confidently.  "How do you feel about acupuncture? "  

"Uhhhhhh (freaky!  That stuff is crazy.  Needles randomly jabbed into my body is crazy talk!) why?"

"Well I am working with another patient who had no voice and she is starting to sound more like you."

She lists off supplements I need to take and I make a mental note.

I get adjusted and head to my local health food store for the goods.

That night, my husband and I catch mere seconds of a glimpse of a voice after one adjustment. 

It's Thursday.

I have an adjustment and acupuncture on Friday.  Occasional moments of a voice off and on.

Monday I am adjusted and have acupuncture and my voice has more good moments than bad.

Wednesday I am adjusted and have acupuncture and all Thursday and Friday I am doing well.

Friday I am again adjusted and have acupuncture.  Sunday I sing in church!

Now my voice sounds a bit like I just talked to much or maybe am getting over being hoarse from yelling.

She will be gone for 10 days on vacation so I am curious what will happen.  Will I continue to improve as the probiotics and supplements wash all those nasties out of my body?  Will it go back to the way it was?

I also do not want to count out the enormous amount of prayer that has taken place for me and by me. 

I know that God put each person in my path and all these circumstances lined up just perfectly according to HIS will.

I am still not sure what I God wants me to learn from this but I have learned:
 the importance of taking care of my body in a more natural and healthy way.
 the power of prayer.
 to appreciate my health.
 to be a little more open minded.
 to take charge of my health.
and most importantly to reduce the drama.

At first when this happened I cried.  HARD.  I was alone when I got the news and the prognosis was devastating. 75% chance of getting a more normal voice back someday-maybe in a year.
I should be tested for cancers.

God led me to learn that it was just my voice.  Other people endure much harder things in life than this.
He helped me to draw more near to my husband who kicked the supportiveness into ultra high gear.
He helped me to ask for prayer and rely on Him and his timing.
Once I did, things changed and I am changed.

That's hubs and I about a week after I lost my voice.  Ice Climbing.  I did more picture taking but hey I tried.

Oh and by the way.  The gas is pretty much gone too.  Don't run from me anymore!

Acupuncture

So I didn't look like the character from Hellraiser.  It looked a little more like this. 

The size of a wire. Ha.  And there was only one. Ha Ha Ha Ha.

So I was thinking this is nuts.  It is totally not going to do a dang thing!  I felt almost embarrassed that I was trying it.  I know people do this stuff all the time.  It seems nuts to me that doing that could work. I mean seriously it would save insurance bundles of money to do this rather than pay for collagen injections in my vocal cord, medications, or even surgery!

Well friends I am living proof that this Chiropractor lady knows a thing or two. My voice is much stronger!  I made some phone calls today.  I didn't feel as exhausted or breathy and my voice is more hoarse-a good hoarse.  Like maybe I yelled a little much at the soccer game.  

I also had an adjustment-my second in 3 days. I started supplements and vitamins.

Here's the list-

A multivitamin like One A Day (was taking before)

A probiotic (recommended for gut health)

Vitamin D3-5000mg (recommended by Chiro-auto immune health)

B complex (recommended by Chiro-auto-immune health

Magnesium 500mg (already taking for menstrual migranes)

Vectomega-Omega 3's (was planning to take so picked it up too)

Emergen-C (at least one packet a day)

I will get acupuncture two more times in this week (3 times in one week).

Stay tuned for magic.  

Vocal Cord Paralysis

Those are vocal cords. Yes, I know what they look like sicko.

Tee Hee

Anyway, I have a paralyzed vocal cord.  It's the right one. In January I would have some troubles after my cold winter runs with runny nose, sneezing, coughing, and hoarseness.  Then mid January my voice distorted and became horse and just never came back normal.  

Sometimes I sound like a wookie, or an electronic device, or Stevie Nicks.  The best I've gotten is Rachel Ray but that's a rare day.

I went to an ENT specialist after having it for three weeks and he did a scope and diagnosed the vocal cord. He also suggested a cause could be from tumors or nodules but CT scans all proved to be normal. Praise God!  That was a long weeks wait.

Since then (with the help of some educated and wonderful friends) I have switched ENT's and am currently waiting to be seen by a new one at the end of March. 

A routine trip to my chiropractor got me started on a more natural course of action in the meantime.  She did my routine adjustment and decided to continue to do more but suggested some supplements and other natural treatments including acupuncture.

Yep, that's what I envision.  

So today I am going to try acupuncture.  It takes 30 minutes and I am willing to give it a whirl.  She tells me she can have my voice back before I even go to see that ENT.  I prayed for her last night that she would be a wise and talented lady and that this would work.  

I only started seeing a chiropractor last year.  I have to admit I was convinced they were like voo doo or something.  I mean I thought life with medicine was the better life.  Well after she totally cured my plantar fasciitis-a very painful foot problem making it impossible to run-I am convinced.  And, she did this in literally a week.

I miss my voice.  I miss talking to people on the phone.  I missed talking at the wedding I attended last weekend to friends I hadn't seen much.  Not sure if Hubs misses it.  There we are all ready for the wedding.

So I am taking a gajillion supplements, probiotics (not to be confused with ebonics I learned), vitamins,  minerals and drinking lemon and honey and avoiding processed foods as much as I can.  I am working out and running and just trying to be healthy.  It's good.  I feel good.  I enjoy the time with husband and friends as they try to do the same.  Welcome to 42.  Woopidy doo!