Thanks for all your messages of support. Problem is it is a bit complicated. I will try and explain. After I had been into hospital after the shooting, I went back a week later to have the stitches out under my arms from the chest drains and then a week after that to have the bullet out, which I was quite happy to keep in, but it was slowly making its way down my back and would have ended up in my bottom, which is no good for the invisible panty line. So, the guy who had patched me up and saved my life in Plaza de la Salud snipped it out for me. I then casually asked when my voice would come back. He said maybe never, but maybe in a couple of years, but recomended me to an ENT surgeon in Santo Domingo. So off I trekked to him, and had a tube/camera shoved up my nose and down my throat, and 4000RD$ later he said nothing could be done as my throat was too badly burned. So that was that. Then a doctor who is a customer at my colmado recommended another guy, Messina, US trained who was an ENT surgeon and a facial reconstructive chap, and he is on the DR1 list so off I trot to see him. He chats the first time (3000RD$) and says wait a year, but gives me some nerve regenerating pills and says go back 2 months later. Pay the guy and then go back 2 months later, where he too shoves a tube up my nose and down my throat (4,000RD$). Says the vocal chords are moving but not coming together. Wait. So I wait another 4 months and back I go again - last week. He does the same tube business-4,000RD$ (I should say that is not pleasant) and says it won't get better on its own and he needs to do this fat injection business. So, I need to speak so I can work as cash is a bit tight, and as I can't dive (hole in lung) and can't speak it is a bit limiting. I can speak Ok one to one, but on the phone it is a bit hard, and I can't shout at kids and husband or dogs (V frustrating). I'm not too good in tourist industry even though I speak 5 languages fluently as when they ask why I can't speak they get a bit uptight when you say you were shot about 400 yards away from where they are supping their cold Presidente. So I need to get this fixed. What will happen if I go to Santiago is yet another tube down my throat, more money, loads of cash on petrol as it is a long way from here, and I can't see what more anyone can say as I am pretty sure the only solution to get these vocal chords together is to make them fatter and put fat in them. We don't know if it will work as my voice box is damaged too but I know that can't be fixed. I just want the easiest and cheapest solution. I am probably being a wimp, but the idea of being driven back from Santiago by my husband after a general anaethestic is enough to make anyone a wimp - he's a typical Dominican driver, but worse. So I can't see that yet another opinion will help as I am sure it will be the same. Hopefully you see my dilemma.
Thanks anyway for your advice and I am still thinking about what to do.
matilda