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08 Jun 09 - 07:51 PM (#2651778) Subject: Throat Problems From: Diva Since March this year I've had a run of sore throats; this is the fourth. They clear up after about week of rest and the usual round of fluids and paracetemol. Any hints and tips before I head off to the Docs would be welcome. |
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09 Jun 09 - 07:20 PM (#2652713) Subject: RE: Throat Problems From: Michael Harrison Well, I don't have much to say, but I find that I have throat problems every day - and I'm currently doing a one-hour show five or six days a week. I end up adjusting my shows to accomodate how my throat is working on any given day. It would seem to me that if you are getting a sore throat you "may," and I emphasize the word, "may," be singing from your throat and not getting enough air, etc. I say this not knowing who you are, or having any idea how you sing. An interesting thought is that I recently conducted a folk sing-a-long and some of the response from the "thank you" notes included not only what a great time they had, but that they had a sore throat the next day - but didn't care. I've done the "doc" thing and was told that reflux is my problem and is placing a toll on my esophagus and throat - so I do zantac, etc. If you haven't already, you might try going to a vocal instructor who specializes in technique to determine if you are doing all of the "right" things in your delivery. One would think that if you are doing all of the right things then it might be a physical problem that a doctor can resolve or advise on. Good luck,....mwh |
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10 Jun 09 - 02:15 AM (#2652907) Subject: RE: Throat Problems From: giles earle Have you caught four separate throat bugs in the last fourteen weeks, or is this the same one, coming back to haunt you when you thought it was over? If your bad throat is the result of viral infection(s) or any other medical condition, you'd do well to the doctor ASAP for proper assessment and any necessary treatment. |
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10 Jun 09 - 02:16 AM (#2652910) Subject: RE: Throat Problems From: Diva Many thanks for that Michael. We have air con problems at work and I don't think that helps either. I try to avoid doing the doc thing but common sense tells me this needs a quack. I should also have done a search on previous threads but thats what happens when you are doing this at stupid o clock!!! So I'll have a read through as well. |
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10 Jun 09 - 02:19 AM (#2652911) Subject: RE: Throat Problems From: Diva Being a thrawn (stubborn) person I am just assuming they are a run of viral infections and don't need antibiotics but its the fact they keep coming back. However, the fact that they keep returning needs looked at. |
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10 Jun 09 - 02:57 AM (#2652922) Subject: RE: Throat Problems From: giles earle Well, may not just the coming back. If you have simply been catching viral infections, four in three months is an awful lot - and a visit to the quack would be sensible, if only to check there's nothing else wrong. Are you a singer, as your alias implies? Singing whilst your throat is bad is not the best idea; it's not neurotic to try to look after your 'instrument' and have it checked over. This is experience speaking, incidentally! I caught seven colds in the twelve months to March, because I was too run down and stressed out to have any resistance to infection (I normally have just one or two minor colds a year). And there was air con at work, so badly adjusted that the office was well into the category of 'sick building'. By the end of 2008 I was really struggling with bad throats and a persistent cough. Since leaving that job a few weeks ago, the difference is amazing: voice much clearer and the cough finally clearing up. With hindsight, however, I can see I'd have been much better off seeing the doctor when things were bad -- at the every least, he might have been able to help with the throat problems (a frogged-up throat and uncontrollable cough being so worrying to a singer that I'm sure they made the overall stress worse!) and could also have had a more objective view than my own, on how best to cope with the physical effects of the air con and/or the stresses of the job. It's up to you, of course, but my instinct is to encourage you towards seeing the doctor for assessment. On the bright side, he may be able to tell you not to worry as there's nothing wrong! -- and that, I think, would be the best time to look for the alternative approaches. |
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10 Jun 09 - 04:20 AM (#2652961) Subject: RE: Throat Problems From: Diva Yep I am a singer (though hopefully NOT a Diva) and yes you are quite right...an instrument needs looking after. And while at the folk club on Friday night night, despite crap throat, it did not occur to me NOT to sing! Interesting point about the air con......ours has been problematic since day one and most of us leave with headaches or sinus based problems. |
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10 Jun 09 - 10:04 AM (#2653132) Subject: RE: Throat Problems From: M.Ted I have it on the authority of a doctor who works with the Center for Disease Control that those are not "recurring" infections, they are actually infections by new viruses--of which there are many circulating. I am particularly prone to respiratory infections, and when I get them, they tend to hold on for quite some time. As a result, during the years when I was performing I was forced to break many commitments due to illness, and I finally had to stop singing entirely, and performed only as a musician for many years. The people that I know who sing for a living are obsessive about getting both excercise and rest, are fastidious about diet, and, particularly in flu season, avoid social situations as much as possible. They also have boxes full of remedies and pallitives that they rely on. In addition to the standard over the counter stuff, homeopathic and herbal remedies have gotten to be very popular because they often seem to work when the other stuff doesn't. They tend to see doctors who treat performers-- |
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10 Jun 09 - 10:15 AM (#2653137) Subject: RE: Throat Problems From: Alice People have the wrong impression about viruses and antibiotic treatment. Sure, we know that antibiotics work on bacteria, not viruses, but the problem is that a virus sets up the conditions for you to get a bacterial infection in your throat, ears, lungs or sinuses, so that is why it is important to nip those bacteria in the bud with an antibiotic even though you have a virus, too. Without health insurance to pay for medical care, I made the mistake of letting a virus illness go on thinking, hey, it's prob a virus, why would I need to get an antibiotic... and I ended up with chronic sinus infections so bad for a year that I could hardly function. Take care. Hope you recover soon. Alice |
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10 Jun 09 - 10:18 AM (#2653140) Subject: RE: Throat Problems From: Alice re: homeopathy. Don't waste your time or money on it. It's just a placebo. the ultimate fake |
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10 Jun 09 - 10:47 AM (#2653151) Subject: RE: Throat Problems From: GUEST,leeneia A metaphor: Suppose you had two children. One child is loquacious and glib, used to demanding and getting his way. The other child can't talk, and you have to watch him to see if he's ill or in trouble. Yet he's good and he's loveable, deserving of your attention. ========== The glib child is your left brain, which comes up with political, economic and ego reasons not to go to the doctor. The silent child is your throat, which is asking for help by hurting and being sick. Your throat has been asking for help for 4 weeks out of 14. It's time to have mercy on that defenseless 'child.' |
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10 Jun 09 - 10:56 AM (#2653160) Subject: RE: Throat Problems From: Amos 1. Check the environment for stuffy, moldy, or toxic corners. 2. Check your own life for stresses (such as not wanting to say certain things, for example, or suppression of intense feelings). 3. Use a tongue scraper regularly and vigorously as well as other routine medical things you do. |
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10 Jun 09 - 12:03 PM (#2653214) Subject: RE: Throat Problems From: Diva I have been a big and very brave Diva and am going to see my doc on Friday!! However, I do appreciate the hints tips and advice on this thread. Anyone who knows me in the real world knows I would do ANYTHING rather than go to the docs. As a child I had recurring bouts of tonsilitis and my mother dragged me to the docs with alarming regularity but was lucky enough, I think, to have the one doctor in the whole of Ayrshire who didn't believe in whipping out the offending tonsils. I eventually grew out of it (in my twenties) Last time I asked about whipping the offending and "battle scarred" tonsils out my doc said I was too old...... |
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10 Jun 09 - 12:08 PM (#2653216) Subject: RE: Throat Problems From: giles earle Well done! Do please update the thread after you have seen the doctor, to let us know how you get on... |
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10 Jun 09 - 12:13 PM (#2653222) Subject: RE: Throat Problems From: Diva She will probably tell me to shut up for a while...........oh horrors a silent Diva...... back to the honey and lemon |
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10 Jun 09 - 03:09 PM (#2653364) Subject: RE: Throat Problems From: M.Ted Well, Alice, my own experience with homeopathy has been very good. The respiratory infections that I mentioned above tended to feature an uncontrollable cough that kept me awake nights for two or three weeks at a time. I went to many doctors over the years, including several nationally known specialists, and took an amazing number of drugs--some of which were dangerous, some of which tasted bad, and all of which were ineffectual. After all those years of misery, I discovered that an off-the-shelf homeopathic cough syrup, which cost $2.98 at the time, made the cough disappear. If it was the placebo effect, I'd like someone to explain why none of the conventional meds I'd had up to then provided it. I could go on, and give you lists of common, everyday conditions, like burns, sprains, stings, and headaches that respond quickly to homepathic remediation but tend to be unaffected by conventional treatments--or I could just point out that homeopathy it proved effective during influenza pandemic of 1918--homeopathic hospitals, such as the National Homeopathic Hospital in Washington D.C, reported no fatalities, at a time when other hospitals were losing a third, or even more of their flu patients. I need not mention that, even now, flu epidemics are still a threat. |
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10 Jun 09 - 06:32 PM (#2653532) Subject: RE: Throat Problems From: Stringsinger Diva, With proper coaching you can learn to sing through throat problems without injuring yourself. Any strain should be avoided. Shouting should not be practiced. Too much conversation before a performance should be avoided. If you are singing in a folk club, you might be inhaling smoke. That's a no-win situation. Be sure that you have adequate warm-ups before you perform. Singing "cold" can cause problems. MTed is right in that singers have to take care of their instrument through exercise and enough sleep. Avoid milk products as that will cause congestion in the larynx. Above all, don't strain. That ruins your voice. Frank Hamilton |
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10 Jun 09 - 06:47 PM (#2653546) Subject: RE: Throat Problems From: Surreysinger Alice, I'm afraid I feel that you are wrong, and side with M.Ted on this one. I had treatment from a homeopathic GP for many years (sadly no longer with us) and found a great deal of help from the remedies he prescribed (he was a nationally recognised qualified doctor, and very astute on diagnosis) ... I miss them these days!! As to the persistent throat problems - been there, done that, more often than I care to admit. On one occasion, after seeing the doc I had a course of speech therapy, as severe stress was causing me difficulties. I reckon for a number of years that sick building syndrome had a real effect too (dry air from the air conditioning, poor circulation of air, due to messing about with room layouts which meant that the circulation system had not been designed for the new layouts ... not to mention the quick transmission of any airborn viruses to all staff!! These days I find that the reduced use of public transport as well has meant that I go down with less bugs! Diva - hope that your visit to the doctor yields some results... and I can heartily sympathis. Back to the honey, cider vinegar and lemon for me at the moment! |
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10 Jun 09 - 06:50 PM (#2653551) Subject: RE: Throat Problems From: Surreysinger > If you are singing in a folk club, you might be inhaling smoke. > That's a no-win situation. Stringsinger, I take it you're posting from outside the UK? That's the one really big benefit of the anti-smoking laws over here for me. I no longer find that the folk club is no longer an area of trial and tribulation on that basis , which it certainly used to be . :-) |
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10 Jun 09 - 08:44 PM (#2653631) Subject: RE: Throat Problems From: Alice you believe in it, so you had a placebo effect, nothing more |
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10 Jun 09 - 10:10 PM (#2653680) Subject: RE: Throat Problems From: guitaaress I sing a three hour session of Rock and Blues twice a week which is pretty hard on the voice, putting it mildly. Is your throat sore the day after a singing session or does it start out that way? Very important to know because; beer, lemonade, orange juice, anything cold is adefinate no no both before and during vocal performances. Iced water is also a no no. Drink plenty of room temperature water only both four hours before a performance and copious quantities during a performance. Your tone, control and vocal stamina with improve at least 20%. I make my living with my voice, trust me, this works. |
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11 Jun 09 - 12:13 AM (#2653727) Subject: RE: Throat Problems From: M.Ted Actually, Alice, I believed in all the doctors that I had before I started using homeopathy a lot more than I "believe" in homeopathy. It works, so I use it. I am always skeptical when I use it, and always surprised when it works-- Here is an example of something that always surprises me: for burns, swab the burned area with a solution made of half spoon of calendula tincture stirred into a pan of warm water. Then disolve three or four pastilles of Causticum 30c to 200c (whatever you have) under your tongue. I picked up a hot pan that I didn't know was hot til I was holding it--something I'd done as a child, and I still remember days of stinging agony--not this time though! The calendula was very soothing, and within about fifteen minutes after taking the causticum, the pain had gradually evaporated. A couple hours later, it started to sting again, and I suddenly remembered that I'd burned myself--another treatment with the calendula and the causticum, and I was OK again. |
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11 Jun 09 - 06:07 AM (#2653820) Subject: RE: Throat Problems From: Diva I am open to homeopathy probably more than conventional medicine as I am not over fond of the over use of antibiotics. I must mention that on the very rare occassions I DO go to the docs with a throat I am told "paracetemol and fluids" I am finding that steam helps which is new. It is also very interesting to see how other people cope especially when your voice is your job. It is a large part of my job as an archive and local history assistant I am front of house and always talking to our visitors. I have this image of me having to hold up cards...I think it is lucky I have a weird sense of humour |
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11 Jun 09 - 09:45 AM (#2653934) Subject: RE: Throat Problems From: M.Ted If steam helps, let me suggest getting a Jiffy ESteam travel steamer--I got one because I was tired of ironing clothes in hotel rooms, and realized that it helped loosen my cough while I was using. It's much more portable than any of the "Therapeutic" steamers, and actually generates more steam than most of them--and you'll always look your best!-- It's about two thirds of the way down this pageJiffy Steamers I pasted a UK link, but you can get them just about anywhere in the world. In the US they are considerably less expensive-- |
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12 Jun 09 - 11:50 AM (#2654906) Subject: RE: Throat Problems From: Diva Well it is just a very nasty strain and nothing worse! I've been doing all the right things with the stream and the honey and lemon. Just need to do more of them. And I'm knackered because I'm not giving myself time to heal and doing too much. Emmm going to festivals and staying up to stupid o'clock singing bass......whoops That'll be me going to Denholm last night and singing the twa brithers at nearly midnight!!!! I was going to go and leave at the interval and not singing at all.... And she told me to shut up!!! In a nice way...try to have periods of the day when I don't speak...... |
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12 Jun 09 - 12:57 PM (#2654963) Subject: RE: Throat Problems From: giles earle It must be something of a relief that there's nothing that a period of reasonable rest shouldn't put right. Do be careful of the 'knackered' bit, as you may be more tired than you even realise, & so need to be Very Kind to yourself for quite a while! If it's vocal/throat strain... have you tried experimenting with different speaking pitches, for the times you really must talk? I've found taking my voice downwards and speaking gently in chest voice can be a useful temporary measure when I have throat trouble (as long as I keep the sound soft, with no forcing at all). |
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12 Jun 09 - 02:42 PM (#2655046) Subject: RE: Throat Problems From: M.Ted Underscore the comment about having a period of reasonable rest. Whether it is a respiratory problem, or voice strain, you have to forgo the midnight singing til you're recovered, because your voice is the most delicate instrument of all, and irreplaceable. |
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18 Feb 12 - 06:46 PM (#3310725) Subject: RE: Throat Problems From: GUEST,Jean My throat hurts everyday. I was thinking if i damage my vocal cords cause i cant sing the way i oust to. |
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18 Feb 12 - 08:18 PM (#3310750) Subject: RE: Throat Problems From: Paul Burke ut out the booze and you're spelling might improve. |
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18 Feb 12 - 08:20 PM (#3310751) Subject: RE: Throat Problems From: gnu Nasty response. Have another drink, Paul. |