u/x0xe

I was wondering if anyone had any similar experiences to me with their Thyroid nodule RFA procedure or if you’re a medical professional who has an ideas of what could be happening. I am feeling awful, it’s been over 2 weeks and I’ve already had a checkup with the Dr. who performed the procedure and an ENT. I was put under general anesthesia for the procedure because of the size of my nodule and because my Dr said he needed me completely still for the procedure. The whole reason I went with an RFA Is because I didn’t want to be put under and I didn’t want to lose thyroid function and have to take a pill my whole life, but I was convinced that going under was for the best if I wanted this done right. But I woke up with a bunch of complications I never would’ve expected. I woke up with a raspy voice and the ultrasound confirmed vocal cord paralysis on one side, the Dr said it could be from a few possibilities, could be anesthesia, could be swelling or could be nerve damage. The Dr confirmed nerve damage the next day as my voice didn’t improve, i followed up with the Dr. and there was nothing flagged by Dr after a week and I followed up with an ENT & they also confirmed vocal cord is not moving. This is already stressful, but on top of this, I am in so much pain. The ENT did their scope and found no signs of internal issues to my throat after I complained about pain swallowing & told me this is inflammation and to take ibuprofen and I’ll get better. I had unbearable pain swallowing as soon as my steroid tapered off and it felt like swallowing razors. Finally yesterday I felt a bit better after ibuprofen but had acid reflux and threw up in my mouth and with only one vocal cord working it’s nearly impossible to cough to get it out and I cried after. It really scared me. I then went to bed after feeling decent(ish) all day and then a horrible neck stiffness took over one side of my neck and I tossed and turned and couldn’t get the pain to subside with OTC meds. Today I woke up to my nodule that I thought was looking fine this whole time swollen and tight. I already called my Dr. but haven’t gotten a response. All of this is just so overwhelming and I want to feel like myself again. I went into this procedure completely healthy and feeling good and leaving this with no voice, unable to eat, and terrible pain and stiffness & the only resolution I’ve been getting is “take ibuprofen” 17 days out. Also I am a type 1 diabetic, I was put on steroids already and blood sugars spiked like crazy so I think that’s why I wasn’t put back on steroids.