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Ken and Carline... As UCLA's Dr. Gerald Burke explained it to me (and he's the MD who performed the procedure), when the vocal cords are healthy and they do their "thing," as they are designed to do, they are very taut, (spelling?) and kind snap together with near-blinding speed, hundreds of times a minute. Air gushes between the two cords just as they meet in the middle. When the vocal cords aren't working well, from one of the several diseases that can affect 'em, or because there was some kind of injury to 'em, then they don't "snap." In THAT scenario, they sloooowly move toward each other and meet with a flaccid, loose, wobbly touch - and sometimes are SO lazy they DON'T touch - just 'flop!" And the air that normally would be pushed out between the vocal cords sits there - somewhere or other (like I know?) <grin> - going nowhere. PD affects many other non-visible things within the body besides vocal cords - WE just tend to see the disease as attacking hands, arms, legs and other VISIBLE body parts. Unfortunately, the disease can affect internal organs and body parts as well. And as for that MD in the French forum, well POOH on HIM, 'cause we have LOTS of PWPs here on the List, myself included, who are living proof that PD *CAN* weaken one's vocal cords to the point where their ability to communicate effectively by mouth is virtually impossible. AND - the collagen injections DO work, (IF one's MD feels one is a likely candidate for the procedure). The collagen not only works by enabling one to speak with near-normal vocal volume, but ALSO makes breathing easier and more normal. Furthermore, IF one continues to get collagen injections over several years, even tho most of it is eventually absorbed into the body,, a small residue remains after each injection. Eventually, that residue will build up and will no longer be absorbed (I have nooooo idea how or why this happens), and one has the beneficial effects of the collagen, without further injections! SOOOO kindly tell that MD he is COMPLETELY INCORRECT! (which is another way of saying he's just plain WRONG, but... uhhhh.... knowing the EGO that usually goes with the JOB, I imagine he won't believe me anyway). Aw heck... just tell him I said he could put THAT in his pipe and smoke it! <--- Barb, having a tizzy-fit> (grin) Barb Mallut [log in to unmask] -----Original Message----- From: KF Etzold <[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]> Date: Wednesday, June 23, 1999 1:11 PM Subject: A strong Voice, courtesy of Collagen >Barb: >I read with interest that you had succesful injections of Collagen to improve >your voice. Now, How does this work? The implication is that changes take place >in the vocal cords and that those changes are related to PD. Do you know what >the effect is of PD on the cords? >Carline's voice has gotten weaker and I am curious. As a side note a doctor on >the French forum said: > >"Je ne pense pas que les injections de collagene puissent ameliorer la >voix lorsque seule la MP l'a deterioree .." > >ie. he does not think that the injections will help when they deteriorated due >to PD only. So, I am confused. >Well Barb .... You are our local expert .... speak. >K-F cg Carline >