One consequence of the variety of treatments that I have been through is that I have learnt quite a few new words. An example being: Supraglottoplasty!
Supraglottoplasty is microscopic surgical procedure that’s used to remove or reshape the tissues of your upper larynx. Supraglottoplasty is typically recommended for children with laryngomalacia — a condition in which floppy or malformed tissues block the airway. The procedure can significantly improve your child’s ability to breathe, eat and sleep.
I am certainly not a small child, however, some of the anatomy of my throat had prolapsed due to the absence of innervation on the right hand side.
If the issue affecting breathing is sub-glottic (below that larynx), then surgery is not possible. But supra-glottic (above the larynx) is possible.
This procedure was to take place at Charing Cross Hospital under the expert care of Professor Guri Sandhu.
It was explained that a laser on a camera down my nose (in the way that I had become quite accustomed) would be used to effectively burn away some of the offending tissue. This would be under general anaesthetic.
I was apprised of a number of possible adverse outcomes, the most concerning of which was the possibility of “airway fire”!
This did not sound good at all! I was assured that in the 15 years that this procedure has been performed at the Charing Cross Hospital, that this had never occurred. Partly due to the expertise of the world class consultant, and partly due to the use of high quality equipment. Reassuring indeed!
A couple of days prior I had to attend a pre-op and covid test at Charing Cross. Adrian kindly drove me, and then again drove me up on the day of the procedure.
Coming out of the anaesthetic, I was again able to hear the consultant and nurse conferring that all had gone well. I desperately tried to rouse myself to be able to say thank you but was not even able to raise a finger!
Once again I had a case of shaky legs that took quite a while to settle.
My bed was wheeled through to a recovery ward where I was checked out and as soon as I could pee I was out the door!
My throat felt very painful indeed and I took a fair amount of analgesic. I also felt a little unwell. I was concerned that I may have taken Covid into the hospital. In the coming days Adrian went down with something and tested positive for Covid! I however, did not test positive. Even so, I assumed that it probably was Covid, possibly acquired at the hospital preop visit! Anyway, I got better from this virus after a few days, only to then seemingly relapse, and then I did test positive. So I must have had some other virus, and then got Covid from Adrian. Not a nice experience!
I gradually recovered from it all. In the first instance I didn’t really find much improvement to my breathing. The Worthing ENT recommended a bit more reflux management, and after that I did find an improvement in exercise tolerance, though still substantially below par!
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