Pats Paraganglioma, 555 Kattenhorn Drive #14, Powell, WY (2026)

04/27/2022

Everything went well. I have a voice but I have to stay overnight to make sure I can breathe.

04/25/2022

Tomorrow afternoon I will finally have my vocal cord implant surgery!

A little background to catch everyone up. Last summer my voice began to get weaker as the vocal cord injection from post surgery wore off. This injection type was supposed to last a year and for many it will last even longer. However, my voice was so quiet that I could not be heard with any background noise at all.
I met with my ENT, Dr. Pelczar in September 2021 and he agreed that the injection was no longer working and requested preauthorization from insurance for a vocal cord implant. Surgery was denied as “not medically necessary”. Dr. Pelczar appealed and it was again denied so he requested a peer review so he could explain the necessity. He finally got approval in December but surgery dates were limited so I was scheduled for mid January.
A week before my surgery date, Dr. Pelczar called to inform me that the implant kits were on back order so surgery was postponed.
At the end of January the kit became available so surgery was scheduled for February 8. A week before surgery, I took the requisite Covid test. I felt extremely tired after I got home and the next morning I was really feeling quite sick. I went to the walk-in clinic and was told I had an ear infection but my rapid Covid test was negative. That afternoon I got my results from my PCR test and it was positive.
I immediately contacted the surgery scheduler. Because I wasn’t having any coughing or other respiratory symptoms, we could reschedule for just 3 weeks out for March 1. The scheduler made me promise to call if I developed a cough or other respiratory symptoms.
A couple of days later, I began coughing from Covid. Note: I cough a lot from my vocal cord issues but this was definitely different.
I called Kathy, the scheduler, and she had to juggle some things around to get me a surgery date as early as possible after the required 6 week wait period for respiratory symptom Covid but worked her magic.

That day is TOMORROW! Yay!

All my family, friends, colleagues, patients and especially Doug will be so relieved to be able to hear me once again. It has been a struggle for everyone and it will be wonderful to be past this obstacle.

Thank you all for your support, prayers and encouragement.

09/14/2021

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