Posted by jen (198.26.118.37) on February 09, 2004 at 13:55:36:
In Reply to: Re: vocal chord dysfunction posted by Valarie on September 15, 2003 at 07:59:46:
: : : Hi, I run and usually fine at practice. Although when there are meets I get VCD. I was treated for asthema at first and nothing worked. If anyone has any suggestions that helps them under an attack please let me know.
: : Hi, My daughter was recently diagnosed with VCD and the allergist told her to "stiffle a yawn". Pretend that you are about to yawn but you don't want anyone to see, you can feel your jaws and neck muscles opening. This helps her during soccer and fencing. Inhaler was no help and can also be more harm than good.
: hi, my husband is in the army and has had trouble breathing during Physical training. No one can figure out what is wrong with him....they no its nt asthma because he has trouble breathing in, not out. Could this be VCD? We don't want him kicked out beacause of something he doesn't have (asthma).
I am currently being treated for the same conditions and am under the care of the military pulmonary specialist. He has sent me to speech pathology where I am learning to relax my voice by taking quick short breaths in as well as speaking breathier using the HA sound. I am also seeing a biofeedback specialist.
They had to scope me in order to diagnose the problem. I ran on the treadmill in the clinic and they scoped me before and after. It was unpleasant but I could physically see my vocal chords fibrilate and swell. It was good for me to see the problem since my only symptoms consisted of dificulty breathing while running. It has been five months now and the symptoms are slowly emerging. But my primary diagnosis was by being scoped. If your husband is having these problems maybe you should encourage him to seek a military specialist. VCD makes breathing with a gas mask difficult and may make him nondeployable.
Good luck,
Jen