• UCLA Health
  • myUCLAHealth
  • School of Medicine
UCLA Head and Neck Surgery

UCLA Head and Neck Surgery

UCLA Head and Neck Surgery
  • About Us
    • Chair's Welcome
    • Maps and Directions
    • For Referring Physicians
    • News and Events
    • Faculty Recruiting
    • Webinars
    • Donate
    • Contact Us
  • Clinical Services
    • Conditions Treated
    • Airway Stenosis Program
    • Balance Program
    • Beverly Hills Clinic
    • Cochlear Implant Program
    • Endocrine Surgery Program
    • Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
    • Head and Neck Cancer Program
    • Microvascular and Reconstructive Surgery
    • Minimally Invasive Surgery
    • Nasal and Sinus Disease Program
    • Otology/Neurotology
    • Pediatric Otolaryngology
    • Swallowing Disorders Program
    • Voice Center for Medicine and the Arts
    • Airway Stenosis Program
    • Balance Program
    • Beverly Hills
    • Cochlear Implant Program
    • Endocrine Surgery Program
    • Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
    • Head and Neck Cancer Program
    • Microvascular and Reconstructive Surgery
    • Minimally Invasive Surgery
    • Nasal and Sinus Disease Program
    • Otology/Neurotology
    • Pediatric Otolaryngology
    • Swallowing Disorders Program
    • Voice Center for Medicine and the Arts
  • Conditions Treated
    • Airway Conditions
    • Head & Neck Oncology Conditions
    • Microvascular & Reconstructive Surgery
    • Nasal & Sinus Conditions
    • Neurotology Conditions
    • Pediatric Head & Neck Conditions
    • Swallowing Conditions
    • Voice Conditions
    • Goiter
    • Laryngeal Cancer
    • What is HPV
    • Oral Cancer
    • Spasmodic Dysphonia
    • Superior Semicircular Canal Dehiscence
    • Zenker's Diverticulum
    • Juvenile Nasopharyngeal Angiofibroma
    • Dysphagia
  • Patient Resources
    • Appointments
    • Patient Stories
    • Patient Education
    • Preparing for Surgery
    • Conditions Treated
    • Find a Doctor
    • Maps and Directions
    • Contact Us
  • Academic Programs
    • Residency Program
    • Fellowship Program
    • Sub-Internship Program
    • Mentored Research Pathway Program - Medical Students
    • Mentored Research Pathway Program - Residents
    • Visiting Student Scholarship Program
  • Research
    • Research Opportunities for Students
    • Research Labs
    • Lab Safety Resources
  • Contact Us
  • Our Expert Team
    • Faculty Physicians
    • Staff Physicians
    • Research Faculty
    • Health Psychologists
  • UCLA Health
  • myUCLAHealth
  • School of Medicine

UCLA Head and Neck Surgery

Patient Resources

Patient Resources

Patient Resources

  • Appointments
  • Patient Stories
    • Lucy's Story - Tongue Cancer
    • Agustin's Story - Lipoma Surgery
    • P.Jone's Story - Primary Hyperparathyroidism
    • JK's Story - Salivary Gland Cancer
    • Maya's Story - Hemithyroidectomy Surgery
    • Randy's Story - P16 SCCA of the Tonsil
    • Shane's Story - Tongue & Neck Cancer
    • Lauren's Story - Hoarseness & Voice Problems
    • MB's Story - Parotid (Salivary) Gland Tumor
    • Laurie's Story - Squamous Cell Cancer
    • Endocrine Success Story
    • Michael's Story - Tongue Cancer
    • Eric's Story - Ameloblastoma
    • Richard's Story - Basal Cell Carcinoma
    • Stephanie's Story - Plasmacytoma Multiple Myeloma
    • Deena's Story - Oral Cancer
    • Paul's Story - Throat Cancer
    • Lawrence's Story - Throat Cancer
    • Robb's Story - Melanoma
    • Cory's Story - Neck Tumor
    • Don's Story - Tongue Cancer
    • Libby's Story - Oral Cancer
    • Nicole's Story - Parotid Tumor
    • Bob's Story - Tongue Cancer
    • Patient Story - Tongue Cancer
    • Sharon's Story - Facial Tumor
  • Patient Education
    • Throat Cancer and How to Prevent It
    • Interactive Procedure Videos
    • Live-Tweet Surgery
    • Preparing for Surgery Videos
    • Real Patient Questions Answered
    • Historical Lectures
    • Webinars
  • Preparing for Surgery
    • Preparing for Surgery Videos
  • Conditions Treated
  • Find a Doctor
  • Maps and Directions
  • Contact Us
  • Appointments
  • Patient Stories
  • Patient Education
  • Preparing for Surgery
  • Conditions Treated
  • Find a Doctor
  • Maps and Directions
  • Contact Us
  • Lucy's Story - Tongue Cancer
  • Agustin's Story - Lipoma Surgery
  • P.Jone's Story - Primary Hyperparathyroidism
  • JK's Story - Salivary Gland Cancer
  • Maya's Story - Hemithyroidectomy Surgery
  • Randy's Story - P16 SCCA of the Tonsil
  • Shane's Story - Tongue & Neck Cancer
  • Lauren's Story - Hoarseness & Voice Problems
  • MB's Story - Parotid (Salivary) Gland Tumor
  • Laurie's Story - Squamous Cell Cancer
  • Endocrine Success Story
  • Michael's Story - Tongue Cancer
  • Eric's Story - Ameloblastoma
  • Richard's Story - Basal Cell Carcinoma
  • Stephanie's Story - Plasmacytoma Multiple Myeloma
  • Deena's Story - Oral Cancer
  • Paul's Story - Throat Cancer
  • Lawrence's Story - Throat Cancer
  • Robb's Story - Melanoma
  • Cory's Story - Neck Tumor
  • Don's Story - Tongue Cancer
  • Libby's Story - Oral Cancer
  • Nicole's Story - Parotid Tumor
  • Bob's Story - Tongue Cancer
  • Patient Story - Tongue Cancer
  • Sharon's Story - Facial Tumor
  1. Home
  2. Patient Resources
  3. Patient Stories
  4. Lauren's Story - Hoarseness & Voice Problems

Lauren's Story - Hoarseness & Voice Problems

Share this
Request An Appointment

Hoarseness & Voice Problems Patient Story

Testimonial: Evaluation of Hoarseness and Voice Problems at UCLA

“I hope you know the magnitude of contribution you have made towards my health and future” —Lauren

Dear Dr. Chhetri,

Happy National Doctors’ Day.

I am not sure whether you remember me among the numerous patients you must treat every day at UCLA. But you changed my whole world powerfully for the better one afternoon in December 2020: we met on Friday, 12/11, in the wake of my recent orthopaedic surgery, after which I had inexplicably lost my voice despite zero intubation. There were myriad other symptoms which I wasn’t certain were connected; in sum, the situation was perplexing and deeply concerning. I was at an absolute loss.

You took the time and care to assess me in the context of the entirety—the total picture, as they say—and ran labs that no one before you had thought to order. Previously I had struggled with great pain, localized weakness, and increasing disability over a 5-year span, having seen 3 neuro-ophthalmologists, 2 ophthalmologists, and 2 neurologists in hopes of identifying an answer. None was determined.

Were it not for your intellectual clarity and broad spectrum analysis 4 months ago, Dr. Chhetri, I would still be suffering grievously with intensifying and baffling symptomology of unknown origin. Because of your efforts and now with the diagnosis in hand, I have been able to find relief with medication and am anticipating the promise that operative care may hold. Surgery is imminently on the horizon in April.

I can’t thank you enough for your clinical insight, intervention, and diagnostic acumen right when I needed it most. In less than an hour you forever altered and improved my trajectory, giving me a chance at enjoying high-level quality of life again that I didn’t realize was possible. Although words fail to properly express my gratitude, I hope you know the magnitude of contribution you have made towards my health and future.

As someone who aspires to someday join you within the most honorable ranks of the medical profession, please rest assured that I will never forget your impact nor the nuanced yet vital lesson you taught me about practicing the art of medicine, not just the science.

With best wishes, kindest regards, and heartfelt appreciation—

Sincerely, Lauren

 

Contact Us

Appointments | Contact Us | Maps & Directions | Patient Stories

Like Us on Facebook Follow Us on Twitter Subscribe to Our Videos on YouTube Follow us on Instagram Connect with Us on LinkedIn Follow us on Pinterest
UCLA Health hospitals ranked best hospitals by U.S. News & World Report
  • UCLA Health
  • Find a Doctor
  • School of Medicine
  • School of Nursing
  • UCLA Campus
  • Directory
  • Newsroom
  • Subscribe
  • Patient Stories
  • Giving
  • Careers
  • Volunteer
  • International Services
  • Privacy Practices
  • Nondiscrimination
  • Billing
  • Health Plans
  • Emergency
  • Report Broken Links
  • Terms of Use
  • 1-310-825-2631
  • Maps & Directions
  • Contact Us
  • Your Feedback
  • Report Misconduct
  • Get Social
  • Sitemap
Like Us on Facebook Follow Us on Twitter Subscribe to Our Videos on YouTube Follow us on Instagram Connect with Us on LinkedIn Follow us on Pinterest

Sign in to myUCLAhealth

Learn more about myUCLAhealth