Botox Patient Call Information

Botox Patient,

You received a botox injection today into your vocal folds. You should expect a possible weak and breathy voice for a few days to a few weeks following this injection. Then you will have a few days of a slightly hoarse voice and gradually it will become a smoother and stronger voice with fewer to no breaks. Once your voice reaches this point, it is referred to as the “good voice phase” and the botox is in full effect. Remember this injection is not an exact science and sometimes is not in the most efficacious spot.  Sometimes it takes several injections to get the correct dose and the least amount of side effects (breathy voice and difficulty swallowing thin liquids). Some people are breathy for a few days and some for a few weeks. It varies patient to patient and shot to shot.  The two phases (breathy phase and good voice phase) are directly related…usually the longer the breathy phase is, the longer you will have the “good voice phase”. Two weeks of breathy phase is the average for most people receiving botox injections into BOTH vocal folds. If you receive botox in only ONE vocal fold you may skip the breathy phase altogether and notice a smoother voice in a day or two. However, this good voice phase will not last as long. You will just need to return a little sooner for your next injection. Many people need both vocal folds injected to stop the spasm cycle or vocal tremor. Every patient is different. During the breathy phase you may experience some mild to moderate swallowing problems with thin liquids. Please take small sips and drink slowly. Try thicker liquids if you are still choking when you drink slow small sips. This will slowly improve once your voice strength returns.

Sometimes we will ask you to call and let us hear your voice a few weeks after the injection so that we can listen to the results and create a more accurate follow-up plan. This phone call will allow us to evaluate the effectiveness of your injection. If things are going according to plan, meaning you are either still breathy at 2 weeks after the injection or your voice has moved into the “good voice phase” then the clinician will not necessarily need to call you back unless you have a question. She will just make a note of your voice quality and results in the chart. If you do not notice any change in your voice in the first 10 days then please call and make a follow-up appointment to see Dr. Schweinfurth again.

Please call Josie at 601-984-6591 on ___________________________ (Date)

Leave a message with the following information:                                             

• Your Name
• Your Birthday (so I can look you up in the chart)
• Date you were injected __________________ and how many units________________
• Number of days/weeks of breathy voice…keep track here________________________
• Tell me any other information you would like me to know
• If you would like a call back please state that in your message and the best number to reach you. Otherwise I will just make a notation in your chart about your voice quality. Also please allow 48-72 hours for a return call, sometimes I will let Dr. Schweinfurth listen to your voice message to discuss the results and determine the best course of action before calling you back.

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