Symptoms: sensation of swollen neck glands, tongue, palate; jaw tightening; occasional struggle to speak, slight slurring of words

Diagnosis: Vocal ulcers

Cause: Weeks of resting after surgery -> silent acid reflux (no heartburn) -> vocal cords ulcerated

Fun stuff: Got to see my vocal chords live on camera thanks to the ENT up-your-nose-and-down-your-throat camera. Unfortunately, I was not given any of the still photos.

Here’s an informative summary of vocal disorders!