I thought I heard the noise too. Take it slow, Barb, & let the fingers do the talking. PS: Is not this the right time to ask them to re-tune the vocal range to get that sultry sexy voice you always wanted? Gerrit Kleynscheldt Tel: 021 947 8918 (International +27 21 947 8918) Fax: 021 947 1521 (International +27 21 947 1521) Please note the following: Because e-mail can be altered electronically, the integrity of this communication cannot be guaranteed. -----Original Message----- From: Bonnie Rowley [SMTP:[log in to unmask]] Sent: Tuesday, June 22, 1999 1:28 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Bionic Barb I'm so glad to HEAR it! In a message dated 6/22/1999 3:11:31 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [log in to unmask] writes: > Dear List-family.... > > YYYYYEEEEEHHHHAAAAAWWW!!! <---Barb, yelling LOUDLY in excitement> > > As of tonite, I have my REAL voice back! Back, and LOUD, if > that's how I wanna speak! YEA!!!!!!!!!!!! > > UCLA's Dr. Gerald Burke injected collagen into both vocal cords > this afternoon, and now at 11:45 p.m., my "normal' speaking voice > has returned!!!!!! Well, "returned" for > 3 to 6 months, anyway.... till the collagen's absorbed by my body. > > But HEY - guess what? Next time my "normal" voice starts fading > away to a breathy whisper I'll have not one option, but TWO. > Yup folks... TWO, as in 1-collagen injections lasting 3 to 6 > months, or, 2- a long-term ("long-term," as in as long as the PD > stays slow moving as it's been for almost 25 years) tiny, > man-made, hammer-shaped thingee implanted into my vocal cords via > the passage thru the thyroid capsule (inserted right THRU the > capsule AROUND and/or past the thyroid). > > The tiny "thingee (has a long medical name which I can't recall, > but I'll get it from Dr, Burke tomorrow and List-post it) > procedure accomplished in a 1/2 hour operation in the doctor's > office and has been performed on folks with vocal cord problems > for about 10 years or more, according to Dr, Burke and also by > many other neck and throat specialists all over the world. > > Only recently has this type of surgery been done on Parkies, and > WHICH Parkie gets it is decided by their own neck and throat > specialist/surgeon, based upon their PD being rather slow moving > (as in slowly degenerating rather than swiftly moving). I'm not > too sure what constitutes "slowly moving" to the DOCTOR, but to ME > that means the vocal cords are stable enough to permit the "tiny > thingee" to remain implanted for at LEAST a year or longer before > needing to be replaced by a new one cut to fit the changing vocal > cords. > > Since I won't be a candidate for this procedure till the collagen > which I got today is absorbed by my body (3 to 6 months), > obviously I cannot share more about this surgery till I've had it. > But since it's apparently so well known by neck and throat > specialists, if you'd like to know more about it (like cost - > Medicare covers it, by the way), I suggest ya call the nearest > teaching hospital/university and ask for their neck and throat > clinic... They 'll no doubt be able to fill ya in on this > relatively minor operation. > > OH.... and ya might hear some MD's saying this surgery ISN'T for > PWP's, but Dr. Burke SWEARS it CAN be successful when performed on > a Parkie, provided the doctor makes sure BEFORE the operation that > the patient's PD is indeed slowly to degenerate. > > (NON-proofed for errors or typos) > > Barb Mallut (written in haste, 'cause I'm awfully tired now) > [log in to unmask] > >