Anyone had bilateral hemorrhagic vocal cord polyps removed? Doctor wants 21 days of voice rest
Hey everyone,
I was recently diagnosed with bilateral hemorrhagic vocal fold polyps after dealing with a progressively raspy/deep voice and pretty bad vocal fatigue for about two years. If I talk all night somewhere loud like a bar, I can basically have no voice the next day.
My doctor is a voice specialist and is recommending microlaryngoscopy with laser removal of both polyps.
The part I’m struggling with is that he recommends three weeks of strict postoperative voice rest. I’m waiting for clarification on whether that means literally zero talking for all 21 days or a shorter period of complete silence followed by gradual voice use.
I have a two-year-old and a job involving frequent Zoom calls, so three weeks of absolutely no talking feels almost impossible.
I’d love to hear from anyone who has had the same or a similar surgery:
Did you have one side or both sides treated?
What type of laser or procedure did you have?
How many days were you completely silent?
When did you begin gradually talking again?
How long before your voice felt reliable?
Did your voice become clearer or less easily fatigued?
Any scarring, recurrence or other complications?
If you have young children, how did you handle the voice-rest period?
Was it worth it?!
I’m not looking to replace my doctor’s advice—just trying to understand what recovery was actually like for other people and how much voice-rest recommendations vary.