Finding My Voice

Yesterday, my college friend (Adam) logged on and reminded me that I haven't posted since March. I tried to explain that I wasn't sure about the purpose of my blog. At first, I thought it was all about the surgery.

Then I read backwards.

I realized about 51% (a precise calculation) of posts were surgery/voice-related. The rest were "me-being-me."

So I've decided to jump back on.

Stay tuned for future posts and musings. There's no particular topic here. Just my voice.

My mom makes meat

"What the ? Has she lost her mind?"

"Oh no. That's just Carla practicing her vocal exercises! She sure sounds goofy!"

True story. I have about 10 phrases that I've been working with (we're not up to full sentences yet), and they all start with the letter "m" or "n." I'm supposed to be practicing the list 5 times a day. In all honesty, I practice about as much as I practiced piano when I was a kid...when I felt like it! With the piano lessons, you could tell. I never became a virtuoso, but I dabble around still. And I'm realizing ... it's working the same with the voice. I REALLY have to pratice to get it right, as yesterday's vocal therapy session was just so-so.

Slow down. Open your mouth when you talk. Breathe! Don't punch out your words.

I'm working on all of these! Here's the good news. In voice therapy, there are exercises, then there's the small talk before and after the session with the doctor. During small talk, she said I was doing MUCH better, and that she noticed much less strain in my voice. It's starting to work!

I also saw Dr. Amin while I was at NYU. Another scope in the nose (yuck). We're happy to report that I'm at 98% ... well ahead of schedule. And I don't have to go back for another 6 months (which is too bad, because I really like having that laryngoscope stuck through my nostril) barring any issues between now and then.

And I agree. Things seem to be working just perfectly. I survived my first couple of teaching gigs and I am being much more cautious about how and when I use my voice.

Enough blogging...I have to practice my phrases...

"My mom makes meat."

Back to Work

You know things are back to normal when...

I went back to work this past week, teaching a two-day class for UBS in Weehawken, NJ (across the river from NYC). I'm grateful that it was a three instructor (!) program, so it wasn't too demanding. I did one 3-hour session in plenary (about 25 participants),then worked in small group discussion with a group of seven. Everything went perfectly! I am well on my way to full recovery. I'm also grateful to Jon and Marie, my co-insturctors, who shared the load.

Week of Feb. 25 I am in Kansas City teaching three full days solo. This will be challenging and a real test. If it works, then we know things are back to normal!

Well on my way!

Jan. 31 -- Just nine days past surgery and Dr. Amin determines that I am 90% into my recovery and about two weeks ahead of schedule. He "scopes" me again (I'm starting to get used to this) and says "If I didn't do the surgery, I would never have known that you just had surgery a few days ago!" Now, maybe you think he's just complimenting himself and his skilled surgeon hands!!! But the fact is, I'm healing quickly.

Again, Dr. Amin spent time with me...as much time as I needed. I asked him for some more pictures (coming here soon). He was kind enough to download an entire video of my Jan. 8 exam (to see the video -- it's gross-- go back to the Jan. 8 post).

He said normally, he would want to see a surgery patient after another two weeks, but didn't need to see me for a month. I'd say that's a good sign of my progress!

Now vocal therapy...that's another story. I am learning how to talk all over again. Please, help me remember: speak slowly, breathe, open my mouth (:o), and relax my shoulders.

Updates coming soon.