Now the trick is to keep it. It was a 2 1/2 hour procedure, not my longest but one that was pretty involved nonetheless. The surgery was performed at Lankenau Hospital. I know Lankenau. When I was working my way through Weste Chester University, one of my sources of income was a florist in Broomall PA as a jack of all trades including delivery. I excelled at delivery. I can’t get lost, I negotiate traffic with relative ease and I’m efficient at route planning so I went everywhere. Lankenau was close enough to have good old Vandy transport blossoms there often. However, the last time I was there was in March of 1990 when my youngest son William was born. I was his mother’s coach, having dont the classes for natural childbirth. The last time I left was when we toted Will and his mom back to Wilmington Delaware and our house on West 22nd Street. That was 29 years ago. So we know Lankenau is over 30. But it’s an infant compared to Hahenemann Hospital where all of my other Philly ENT procedures were performed. Here’s what Dr. Sataloff said he was going to do: “Micro direct laryngoscopy with possible vocal fold reconstruction, thryoplasty with fat and muscle graft, possible resection of web, injection — steroid, fat harvest.”( I know that’s a lot of stuff, starting with Micro direct laryngoscopy You can check WebMD for the first piece. (click the link to be whisked to WebMD) If your curiosity extends beyond that, WebMD can help.)For sure, they harvested adipose tissue from my neck and injected it into my left vocal fold. I was awake but with a local anesthetic so I didn’t feel anything. It was fascinating. There were about ten people involved in this procedure under the supervision of Dr. Sataloff. He’s a teaching professional and every one of my appointments is with Sataloff and a bunch of residents, fellows and medical assistants. The operation was no exception. Every other time I was under general anethesia and missed the OR fun. At one point, I felt like some of my air was being cut off and I started to wiggle to get attention that issue. A little suction with a vacuum tube helped and we continued but I was admonished to stop fighting it by Dr. Sataloff. “Mr. Olmstead, we are in the final stages of this procedure and things are going very well. But you could do damage to our work.” Well, since the vacuum tube had given me relief I could calm down and I did.Now the OR business was completed and, with the admonition that I couldn’t speak, cough, clear my throat, whisper or mouth words silently, I was escored into recovery to recover from the local anesthetic. I was all taped up and gauzed. At my follow-up they removed the gauze and bandaged the access point. I’ve added some photos. The first is the result of the procedure in my vocal folds. They now touch. They also vibratee. And as long as I can keep from coughing, clearing my throat, etc., they will continue to improve the quality of my voice.
Some of the tissue injected is visible.
When I came home from Lankenau Hospital, I sported gauze and tape.
After the follow-up on Tuesday, October 8, 2019 the gauze and tape were replaced with the bandage shown here.
Things are very hopeful. I’m considerably more encouraged than I have been for quite some time. The light at the end of the tunnel is probably not an on-rushing train. I am so greatful for the support, good wishes and prayers from all my friends. You’ve made the tribulations easier to bear and the positive outcome seem inevitable.
God bless you all!