BS: Why Cats was poorly

Subject: BS: Why Cats was poorly
From: GUEST,Cats
Date: 28 Nov 06 - 09:01 AM

So many of you have phoned, e mailed and sent messages this year while I have had problems with my health. I saw the consultant yesterday and the good news is that my throat and voice box don't have nodules. The bad news is that I have muscles in my throat which go into spasm for no apparent reason [which in the middle of a song or teaching or storytelling could be a bit iffy!!!]. I have to see a Speech Therapist in the new year. The other odd thing is that if it goes into a severe spasm I could keel over and stop breathing again but as soon as I do it will relax and I'll start again. So, that's it... got to be careful and not overdo the voice but festivals here I come and if I do fall over and stop breathing again, don't worry. I'll just have to make a sign saying 'I ain't dead'!!!
Thanks to all of you for all your messages.

Subject: RE: BS: Why Cats was poorly
From: MBSLynne
Date: 28 Nov 06 - 09:18 AM

Get it right Cats! It's "I aitent dead"

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: BS: Why Cats was poorly
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 28 Nov 06 - 09:19 AM

Good to hear, hope you get things sorted out soon.
Keep well
Giok

Subject: RE: BS: Why Cats was poorly
From: MMario
Date: 28 Nov 06 - 09:39 AM

You and Esme Weatherwax!

Subject: RE: BS: Why Cats was poorly
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Nov 06 - 09:56 AM

Sounds like spasmodic dysphonia, like Diane Rehm has. Here is a link to the page at the WAMU-FM site with some information about her radio career and difficulties with the neurological condition.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Why Cats was poorly
From: Cats
Date: 28 Nov 06 - 12:38 PM

Thanks for that. I have a lot in common with Mistress Weatherwax!! I had a look at the thread, thanks. It's abit like that but it feels as if I have a lump in my throat all the time that won't go away and it makes it hard to swallow and breathe as well, which is how I ended up in casualty in Plymouth on St Patricks night.

Subject: RE: BS: Why Cats was poorly
From: MBSLynne
Date: 28 Nov 06 - 02:09 PM

I aspire to be like Granny Weatherwax but I'm rather afraid I'm more of a Nannie Og

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: BS: Why Cats was poorly
From: gnu
Date: 28 Nov 06 - 02:37 PM

Acid reflux disease can also cause those symptoms. There are more than a few Mudcatters who share similar problems with throat ailments. Best of luck with it.

Subject: RE: BS: Why Cats was poorly
From: Cats
Date: 28 Nov 06 - 03:01 PM

Hi Gnu, It's not acid reflux, I was tested for that too. I think I have had every test in the whole world since march! It's a latin name which translates into a lump in the throat syndrome. I'm lucky as Derriford has done more research into this than any other hospital and they are treating me.

Subject: RE: BS: Why Cats was poorly
From: gnu
Date: 28 Nov 06 - 03:04 PM

Well, if you can get that name, I would appreciate you posting it.

Subject: RE: BS: Why Cats was poorly
From: Cats
Date: 28 Nov 06 - 03:15 PM

gnu.. I think it's something like Globus Pharyngis as it presents as a cricopharyngeal spasm. Reflux is either larygopharrngeal or gastroesophagul reflux. It's the chronic version which can stop you breathing by the involuntary muscular spasms in the throat, difficulty in swallowing and a sensation that there is something there all the time are also symptoms. You want to keep swallowing but there is nothing to swallow. Hope this helps.

Subject: RE: BS: Why Cats was poorly
From: jeffp
Date: 28 Nov 06 - 03:31 PM

Interesting. I occasionally get a laryngospasm, where the vocal folds close abruptly and tightly, not allowing air to pass into the lungs. Very scary to watch and uncomfortable to experience.

Good luck to you.

Jeff

Subject: RE: BS: Why Cats was poorly
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Nov 06 - 04:31 PM

There are lots of sites out there, via Google, but my cursory glance at a few didn't land on any that offer a good overall view of the condition. They touched on aspects of the condition or the diagnosis. Maybe digging through the links will find something more.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Why Cats was poorly
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 28 Nov 06 - 06:13 PM

I'm glad you've got an explanation Cats!

Hope you stay clear of spasms.


Kitty

Subject: RE: BS: Why Cats was poorly
From: Hawker
Date: 28 Nov 06 - 07:04 PM

Glad you are not really poorly then, just spasmodic! join the club - Tamsyn has been in hospital with what was initally a suspected collapsed lung, then a suspected pulmonary embolism, heart attack........ and finally diagnosed as costochondritis, a post-viral (she had a cold 2 weeks ago) inflammation of the cartilage around the sternum, where the ribs join to it. The pain from this made her intercostal muscles go into spasm, causing her to have symptoms similar to a heart attack. Pretty scary for her, but she is popping pain killers and almost back to normal!
If you keel over mid-song, do you want me to keep it going til you wake up?
Seriously though glad its not all the things it could have been which no doubt all passed through your mind while you werer waiting for answers!
Cheers, Lucy

Subject: RE: BS: Why Cats was poorly
From: katlaughing
Date: 28 Nov 06 - 07:43 PM

Good to know you are doing better; finding an explanation can be half the cure, imo. Good luck with the speech therapy, too.

Instead of a sign, you could always get it tattooed somewhere.**bg**

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Why Cats was poorly
From: Andy Jackson
Date: 29 Nov 06 - 11:33 AM

Love and caring thoughts on their way.
Andy

Subject: RE: BS: Why Cats was poorly
From: vectis
Date: 29 Nov 06 - 07:35 PM

Glad you've got a diagnosis at long last, hope it is the start of getting better in the long term.

Subject: RE: BS: Why Cats was poorly
From: Bonecruncher
Date: 29 Nov 06 - 10:53 PM

Hi Cats
Sounds like you might have a muscular/nervous dichotomy between the thoracic inlet, i.e. the throat and area surrounded by the sternum, clavicles and spine, and the thoracic diaphragm. This is something which can be worked upon by gentle manipulation of the muscles of the throat and of the abdomen. A good osteopath should be able to help you.
If you PM me with your phone number I would be happy to discuss possible treatment with you. However, any chat must be soon as I am due to go into hospital soon for re-plumbing to try and improve the circulation to my legs.
Colyn.

Subject: RE: BS: Why Cats was poorly
From: Cats
Date: 30 Nov 06 - 12:36 PM

Thanks, Colyn. Will do.

Subject: RE: BS: Why Cats was poorly
From: Micca
Date: 30 Nov 06 - 01:54 PM

Many healing thoughts from your friend in London, Cats, May I commend the throat relaxing properties of Rum and Shrub??

Subject: RE: BS: Why Cats was poorly
From: Cats
Date: 02 Dec 06 - 10:19 AM

Have taken your advice, MIcca. I am very well acquainted with those healing properties , haveing taken the medicine for many many years. But, I think I'd better take extra now, just to be on the safe side!

Subject: RE: BS: Why Cats was poorly
From: kendall
Date: 14 Jan 07 - 09:48 AM

I've had a 6 year battle with cancer of the right vocal cord. The latest was an operaion to fill a gap left when the surgeon removed the cancer.
He then injuected a bit of my own flesh into the gap, and although the operation was a success, the vocal FOLDS are still closing when I speak. It's driving me batty!

Subject: RE: BS: Why Cats was poorly
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 15 Jan 07 - 08:12 AM

refresh

Subject: RE: BS: Why Cats was poorly
From: Cats
Date: 15 Jan 07 - 02:07 PM

Hi Kendall, You were having a few problems when you visited us in June. The last time I was able to sing properly was August but the consultant has said that if I do what is asked of me now, I might just be able to put it back, although it might take a while. So, I am being put off work as from this Thursday and will be having intensive speech and language therapy up to 3 times per week for 2 hours at a time at the hospital and I am going to see another consultant who is going to film my vocal chords with strobe lighting!!! Pity we can't put video on mudcat! Look after your voices everyone out there... not being able to sing for months at a time is heart wrenching.

Subject: RE: BS: Why Cats was poorly
From: Hawker
Date: 15 Jan 07 - 03:07 PM

NO MORE singing then Cats! and I wont tell the speech therapist about Saturday night!
Reminds me of last year when my thyroid had a cyst and squashed my vocal cords so I couldn't sing - the words of that song Beggars Velvet used to sing kept going round in my head......

After love I ask of life ,
just one simple thing,
pray never let me see the time,
that does not let me sing.

I was lucky and it sorted itself out........Fingers crossed for you that all will be restored to normal ASAP!
Cheers, Lucy

Subject: RE: BS: Why Cats was poorly
From: kendall
Date: 15 Jan 07 - 04:44 PM

A singer without a voice is as useless as a trap door in a canoe.

Subject: RE: BS: Why Cats was poorly
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 15 Jan 07 - 07:18 PM

Take care, Cats.

The song quoted by Hawker is, of course, Dave Webber's Blackbird.

Kendall - just from my experiences of losing my voice at Sidmouth and Whitby festivals I wonder if I could ever adjust to not having a singing voice. It's not like I can competently play a musical instrument to compensate (apart from a shaky egg, which apparently doesn't count). I just risked singing at Herga while recovering from a cold, but only 3 verses.

Kitty
xxx

Subject: RE: BS: Why Cats was poorly
From: Amos
Date: 15 Jan 07 - 07:46 PM

Well, a singer without a voice can still perform the PRICELESS service of applauding others, and accompanying them.

But, the thing is, I expect, that you still FEEL like a trapdoor in a canoe (which I suppose would only be useful if you had to let the bear out).


A

Subject: RE: BS: Why Cats was poorly
From: Andy Jackson
Date: 16 Jan 07 - 03:13 PM

Nearly all the singers I know sing because they love to sing and because they love the people they sing to.
Having the singing voice taken away will surely not diminish the love felt in either direction.
A.

Subject: RE: BS: Why Cats was poorly
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 16 Jan 07 - 06:19 PM

No Andy, it won't diminish the love, but in the overall scheme of enjoying life, losing your voice is like losing a faculty or limb....

Kitty

Subject: RE: BS: Why Cats was poorly
From: GUEST,Cats
Date: 17 Jan 07 - 10:11 AM

... and it is so difficult to go to somewhere and not join in.