Scott Adams, who’s best known for being the creator of Dilbert, has been fighting with episodes of spasmodic dysphonia for the last two years.  He’s explored several treatments, including Botox injections into the throat.  He’s considered surgery.  He’s in the early phases of a non-medical treatment that seems to be working.  That blog entry discusses the problem and how all the info about treatment options is pretty much controlled by big pharma.

I find this fascinating.  I have an old friend who’s plagued by the adductor form of SD.  He’s not rich and famous and he doesn’t have insurance that pays for any kind of treatment, so he basically lives with the problem.  In a way, it’s kind of funny; if I call him and he responds in a kind of Gregorian Chant, I know it isn’t a good day.  And forget going out anywhere when he’s having an episode.  (He can’t talk and I’m mostly deaf.  Wasn’t that a comedy with Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor?)

By the way, I recommend Scott’s blog.  It’s a fascinating look into the mind behind Dilbert.