Singing after laryngitis

Subject: RE: Singing after laryngitis
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 16 Nov 11 - 04:20 PM

Charmion: I got hit with this at Whitby, a bit over a year ago. After a lot of medical consultation (one guy wanted to scrape my sinuses---a terrifying thought) an ONT diagnosed it as acid reflux. I've been taking meds for that, and have gone through some voice therapy (not too useful) and some voice lessons (more so). I seem to be finally getting over it. We could always start a thread on hoarse whisperers.

Subject: RE: Singing after laryngitis
From: GUEST,Pete
Date: 16 Nov 11 - 03:27 PM

You're completely right Joe. I can't wait to release my voice. Can you even imagine how I must have felt having my finger broken at the same time while I was suffering from laryngitis. I'm also a guitar player.

PS Here I found some useful tips on laryngitis treatment http://www.laryngitissymptoms.net/

Regards,
Pete

Subject: RE: Singing after laryngitis
From: Charmion
Date: 02 Nov 11 - 05:48 PM

Hmmm. Interesting -- thanks, Marje. Although it's my inability to sing that freaks me out, I actually don't talk very well, either. Maybe a speech therapist could help.

Subject: RE: Singing after laryngitis
From: Marje
Date: 02 Nov 11 - 04:53 PM

When I had a long-term throat problem (in the UK), I was referred to a speech therapist. This was really helpful, and made a big difference to me. We concentrated more on speaking, as I had more difficulty with this than singing. She gave me tips like drinking plenty of water, and using chewing gum to keep the throat lubricated if water wasn't available.

It was at this time that I took up the melodeon, so that I wouldn't miss my singing so much. Eventually my voice recovered, and I now enjoy both playing and singing, but I'd probably never have taken up a new instrument if I hadn't lost my voice. So keep on at that guitar and mandolin - perhaps you'll end up playing them far better than you would have done!

Non-singers (like most doctors, and in fact most people) have no idea how disabling and upsetting it is for a singer to lose their voice. I do understand, and I hope you soon make a full recovery.

Marje

Subject: RE: Singing after laryngitis
From: Charmion
Date: 02 Nov 11 - 11:59 AM

Okay, four weeks have now passed since I lost my voice, and I have just returned from the doc's office.

First, he says there is nothing he -- or any other doctor -- can do to hasten recovery from the initial infection and inflammation. The antibiotics have done as much as they can, and I just have to wait for the swelling to go away. Gradually. When it feels like it. If I still can't utter so much as a single musical noise by Christmas, he will send me to a throat doctor, who will peer down there with his laryngoscope to see if there is anything to see.

"The voice thing is not a medical crisis," said the doc in his infuriatingly calm way. "The cough -- that's a crisis."

The asthma medicine apparently doesn't help. Dysphonia -- that's hoarseness to normal people -- is a well-known side effect of Advair. I'm not giving up the Advair, though; breathing is a habit I've grown to enjoy.

So I should play the guitar. When I get tired of that, I should practise the mandolin. Then I should play the guitar some more. "Don't let the things you can't do stop you from doing the things you can do," said the doc. I hate it when he gets all sensible.

To deal with the condtinuing cough, we are now doing Round 3 of clarithromycin, the big, bad antibiotic for infected lungs. When that finally clears up, I get to have a chest x-ray, and then I get to go to the respirologist for the full meal deal, with a Pulmonary Function Test on the side! So much fun.

I'm just glad we pay for all this through our taxes. (Yay, OHIP!) If I had to shell out cold hard cash for the respirologist, I think I would keel over from the shock.

Subject: RE: Singing after laryngitis
From: EBarnacle
Date: 29 Oct 11 - 11:14 AM

If you absolutely must speak more than a few words, use fisherman's friend. It has a lot of menthol and kills the pain. It is vile enough that you won't overdo it.

Subject: RE: Singing after laryngitis
From: GUEST,blogward
Date: 29 Oct 11 - 09:27 AM

Caruso et al's old remedy was to slice up an onion, cover it in brown sugar and leave it overnight with a damp cloth over it. Drink the brown stuff the next morning (it's not as foul as it sounds). Basically Covonia, but has worked for me. Also might be worth checking your singing technique - try to vocalise using just your diaphragm and nasal passages, rather than singing from the throat and chest.

Subject: RE: Singing after laryngitis
From: Charmion
Date: 29 Oct 11 - 09:17 AM

Thanks, everybody. I'll go back to the doc as soon as I can and ask for a referral to a throat guy. In Ontario, you don't just look up otolaryngologists in the Yellow Pages ... Unless, of course, you're a GP looking for somebody to treat your speechless patient.

Subject: RE: Singing after laryngitis
From: GUEST,Cat Kelly
Date: 29 Oct 11 - 05:23 AM

Advice I've had from a professional singer and voice coach is don't bother with ENT specialist - ask for a throat specialist specifically. She says if your voice is instrumental (excuse the unintended pun!) in providing your income you are what's termed a 'professional voice user' and apparently that phrase *should* get you the same treatment as if you were a professional violinist presenting with a broken finger.

Hope this helps & feel better soon!

Cat x

Subject: RE: Singing after laryngitis
From: tonyteach1
Date: 29 Oct 11 - 04:08 AM

Misunderstood - go see an ENT specialist now not a general doctor They can look at your vocal chords and assess the situation Do not sing until you have the all clear

Subject: RE: Singing after laryngitis
From: Jeri
Date: 28 Oct 11 - 10:05 PM

I think you should see doctor now.
It might get better without intervention, even though it hasn't yet done so, but even if it does, you're going to keep worrying about it. That 'worry' factor isn't something that should be dismissed as insignificant.

If you think you want too much from your doc, that you're a problem patient, I don't agree. I don't know that that's the case, but I'm just sayin'. They don't know their previous treatment didn't work unless you tell them.

All infections don't respond to all antibiotics, and you might need something different. The coughing alone can mess up your vocal cords.

Subject: RE: Singing after laryngitis
From: Crowhugger
Date: 28 Oct 11 - 09:44 PM

My answers to your questions:
Nahhh, don't panic. It wastes such a lot of energy and it's very hard on your body. And makes it very hard to think logically.
Nahhh, don't wait until Christmas. If I understand correctly, after the prescribed course of treatment you are croaking instead of speaking and silent instead of singing. IMO that means it's time to see a doctor. Your choice whether to return to the same one and say "that didn't work" or go elsewhere. Either way, if there is part of the treatment you didn't complete (e.g. plenty of sleep or total voice rest), be honest with the doctor about that.

My friend gets laryngitis with every bad cold and her doctor's advice always includes total voice rest. But she has a job that involves the public, so total voice rest for a month means a month off work. Who can afford that? Certainly the doctor never offers to foot her bills for that month. Not that she should, but I'm saying it's easy to know what to do, not so easy to do it in our world--what with kids, job or whatever... It takes a confident and independently wealthy person to insist that EVERYONE including customers and co-workers WAIT while you write or text EVERYTHING! Most employers would scooch you out the door pronto.

Subject: RE: Singing after laryngitis
From: GUEST,999
Date: 28 Oct 11 - 09:07 PM

Makes sense to me, Joe.

Subject: RE: Singing after laryngitis
From: Joe Offer
Date: 28 Oct 11 - 09:05 PM

Well, guys, I think we should stop nagging her. She's had antibiotics and Prednisone, so my guess is she's seen a doctor....

Subject: RE: Singing after laryngitis
From: GUEST,999
Date: 28 Oct 11 - 06:29 PM

"2 - 3 months delay until you get it checked are worth it"

Nope!

Go see a doctor now.

Unless I have misunderstood, Tony, what you gave is bad advice, imo.

Subject: RE: Singing after laryngitis
From: tonyteach1
Date: 28 Oct 11 - 06:16 PM

Leave it alone and go to an ENT for a check up first A voice is for life 2 - 3 months delay until you get it checked are worth it If you are of ahem mature years it will take longer to clear than you think

Subject: RE: Singing after laryngitis
From: GUEST,999
Date: 28 Oct 11 - 05:50 PM

So for this you wonder whether to wait until X-mas? Santa's gonna take care of it? Are you NUTS? Go see a doctor. As Joe said, at his age--sorry Joe, too good to let pass although I may have a few years on you--those people with MD after their names studied for at least a month and letting that knowledge and skill go to waste is, well, it's wasteful.

GO SEE A DOCTOR!

Subject: RE: Singing after laryngitis
From: Charmion
Date: 28 Oct 11 - 05:31 PM

I've had the antibiotics -- two rounds, actually -- and a course of Prednisone to knock back the lung inflammation, which was really quite stupendous; i still have a loud, ugly cough. I'm sure there's still a serious inflammation at work in the larynx, as nothing else couls explain the noises i've been making lately. But how long is too long?

Of course, if you're accustomed to being capable of song at any time, five minutes is too long.

Aaaagh!

Subject: RE: Singing after laryngitis
From: Joe Offer
Date: 28 Oct 11 - 05:08 PM

I think if something has gone on longer than a week, it's time to see a doctor. At "our" age, you never know.....

[yeah, I know you're younger than I am, Charmion]

It's hard to resist the temptation to sing after having laryngitis. I usually try to sing at a very limited volume and range.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Singing after laryngitis
From: GUEST,999
Date: 28 Oct 11 - 05:02 PM

Worth looking at--takes about 40 seconds. If you are squeamish, close your eyes. The sounds generating are from a person with laryngitis. The info so far is good. BUT, rest is part of the answer; go see a doctor. You may still have inflammation although you may not feel it.

http://www.entusa.com/larynx_videos_flash/laryngitis-1/laryngitis-1_flv1.htm

Subject: RE: Singing after laryngitis
From: GUEST,Captain Farrell
Date: 28 Oct 11 - 04:47 PM

The dreaded lurgy has been through our family anti bios from doc got my voice back to about 90%

Subject: RE: Singing after laryngitis
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Oct 11 - 04:37 PM

Rest voice, ginger tea. Here I found some useful tips http://www.laryngitissymptoms.net/

Subject: RE: Singing after laryngitis
From: Diva
Date: 28 Oct 11 - 01:18 PM

Try steam, rest your voice do not speak if at all possible. Hot honey and lemon (manuka honey if posss).....but go to the docs...
Hope you are soon on the mend and it was lovely to meet you both at the Frank Harte festival
Kathy

Subject: Singing after laryngitis
From: Charmion
Date: 28 Oct 11 - 01:08 PM

I caught (developed?) laryngitis along with a big package of other respiratory nastiness during our recent sojourn in Ireland. My voice disappeared on Thursday, 6 October. I think I left it on the train from Galway to Dublin.

For two weeks, I had no actual voice at all. Resonance began to return about a week ago. It is now 28 October and I can sort of talk again, but I sound like a teenage boy with a really bad head cold.

I still cannot sing. At all. There's no pain or strain; just a croak. No musical sound. Nada.

I appeal to all you 'Catters with experience of voice box injuries and ailments. Should I be beating on the doc's door demanding a referral to a throat guy now, or can it wait till Christmas?

In short, should I panic now, or may I hesitate?