Artist
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So about a month ago I got tonsillitis. Not a huge deal, took some pills and I got better... however, my voice never did. Within a matter of hours my vocal range was cut into half of what it used to be.
I am a professional singer. Its been a month of me turning down money and being unable to sing... Has anyone ever heard of this? Has anyone ever had this same problem? What is going on??? I can't figure this out.
I've gone to multiple doctors and none of them have told me anything useful. One put me on steroids that seem to be making the problem worse.
Can anyone here help me? |
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Oct 01, 2009 | 10:56 pm |
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Moderator
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Do you have a singing teacher or vocal coach? If you're getting no joy from a generalist doctor (who has to know a little about a huge range of subjects, but won't necessarily be a vocal expert or be used to dealing with singers), see if you can track down a vocal coach who has experience with something like this.
Good luck,
-Eido |
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Oct 02, 2009 | 1:40 am |
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Moderator
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I'm sorry to hear about that, Chris! I had an extremely bad case of laryngitis one time, and ever since then I can't do a particular falsetto I could do before. (Not for singing; for a voice characterization.) It's very frustrating.
I second Eido's suggestion of a vocal coach. I wish I knew of one I could point you to. I wish you well, man! |
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Oct 02, 2009 | 2:01 am |
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Artist
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Also, don't underestimate how long it can take to heal from tonsilitis, even if the infection is gone. This has happened to me before but I got my voice back eventually. In the meantime, you can try to mediate the symptoms using some old school methods opera singers use. I went to a vocal coach when I lost my voice years ago and discovered opera - I've never been so amazed by a body of knowledge as by that which I gained studying voice at that level!
Since you're missing out on work, some of these things will be more appropriate for you than others but I'll mention as many as I can remember just in case any of them can be fit into your lifestyle.
The first thing is rest. If you are missing gigs already anyway, you might as well give your voice the rest it REALLY needs, which is complete. That means not talking AT ALL or never above a whisper for at least a week - more would be better but try that first. When I say nothing above a whisper, I mean there shouldn't be any reverberation of your vocal chords. This includes laughing - laughing is one of the single most damaging acts we do to our vocal chords unless done without the vocal chords. It's too strange to keep this up for long but it will really help while you're still healing. (It is possible to do this - in my case, I had to do it for several months. But I'd had several cases of tonsilitis, laryngitis, and bronchitis in a row and was singing in smoke-filled clubs for a couple of years at the time.)
Next is keeping your throat warm. Wear a light flannel or wool scarf around your throat whether it's cold or not. It really helps protect your vocal chords.
Gargle with tepid salt water every evening (must be iodized salt). Dry hot tea with honey and lemon in it (but not scalding hot). Drink more water (not fizzy water) than you're used to drinking until this goes away. Don't drink anything carbonated.
When you do start singing again, keep drinking lots of fluids which are neither too hot nor too cold but avoid harsh things like black coffee, carbonation, straight alcohol.
As I said, not all of these things will suit you or your lifestyle but, if you use some of them when you're ill or healing from an illness, they can really extend the health of your vocal chords and, sometimes, bring them back to health after serious trauma.
If you can't find a vocal coach quickly, there is usually a voice class at local junior colleges, community adult education, and/or local churches if you join the choir.
Hope these suggestions help. |
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Oct 02, 2009 | 2:28 am |
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Artist
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this is very interesting and hope it works 4 cd |
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Oct 02, 2009 | 2:39 am |
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Artist
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I second what Carla says, some great advice there...
But to add, after you have rested your voice for a time and start singing again, try and do some regular, gentle vocal exercises just for 10-15 mins a day... Humming, scales etc, and try and bring your voice back to strength gradually rather than jumping straight back in.
Also, try and avoid acidic foods and drinks like orange juice, these won't help.
I suffer from Acid Reflux, to a point where the acid was actually coming back up and burning my vocal chords... I had to go for endoscopies and all sorts and was referred to a hospital speech therapist to help me get my voice back... The one thing that she stressed was rest and to understand that it takes time, so don't be in a rush. Although my vocal chords had no major long lasting damage, I do feel that my voice never truly recovered fully, but I have learnt to manage it better and still sing live every week.
Good luck, I hope you can get through this. |
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Oct 02, 2009 | 7:07 am |
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Artist
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You should see a laryngologist who can use a camera to look at your vocal cords and the surrounding structures. I had vocal problems stemming from swollen arytenoids and excess mucous. Turns out I have esophogitis and am now on prilosec. Best of luck. |
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Oct 02, 2009 | 8:27 am |
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Artist
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Think rational thoughts.....his IS an important thing thats going on with you.....
Carla & Music Girl gave you all you need to know....
SEEk PRO HELP
Look for an ENT specialist in the phone book! |
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Oct 02, 2009 | 2:32 pm |
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Artist
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All excellent comments. |
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Oct 02, 2009 | 2:55 pm |
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Artist
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Have you changed anything in your diet or are you taking any new medications? I lost my voice for almost an entire year. The doctors couldn't figure out what was wrong. I had CTs, MRIs, even endoscopic surgery, but there no was no help. My throat tissue was so swollen it was sitting on my vocal chords, but they couldn't figure out why. Finally, I figured out that I was allergic to my blood pressure medicine. Once I went off that, my voice started to improve. It got to a certain point then stopped getting better until I discovered that vicodin somehow jump-started the healing again. I took vicodin for about 20 days, which helped a lot, and the rest just took time. About 3 years later my singing voice was recovered enough that I could sing again (though I'd lost most of the upper register).
Anyway, make sure you aren't allergic to anything you're putting in your mouth. You don't want to do the kind of damage I did.
-- Joanna |
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Oct 04, 2009 | 12:56 pm |
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Artist
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amazing advice, I did find that if I didn't sing for a bit then I gained a couple notes back. I hope my voice isn't permanently damaged, what are the chances that I will never sing again? |
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Oct 07, 2009 | 12:15 pm |
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