Losing my voice ... not a metaphor

Djeet

15+ years ago I lost my voice for about a week. I think it was allergy related. It sucked. I mainly used chloraseptic which addressed the pain somewhat but didn't help my voice really. It passed. I didn't have to exercise my voice much back then.

I have to talk a lot now (work). It hurts to talk. Started about a week+ back. Not much of a talker outside work so it's not an issue after hours or on weekends. No fever. No pain outside of actually talking, though it's sore afterwards if I talk awhile. No lymph swelling. No symptoms as far as I can tell. I think it's allergies as it seems correlated to congestion and other allergy symptoms. Swallowing doesn't help, but a deliberate cough will. It will help my voice be less gravelly so I can be heard, but it I know coughing is inflaming it more. Just got off a fairly long call where I was doing most of the talking, and throat hurts, the inside bits (I really don't want to talk for a few hours).


Any advice on how to remediate? Advice on addressing pain or making voice better are both welcome. Right now it hurts to swallow as well (I can tell it's hurting my vocal chords/bits). Not talking for extended periods seem to be the only thing that helps.

I guess I can use chloraseptic again, but it doesn't feel right.

Quid

See a doctor.

The Wolfman

Assuming it's not some allergy or outside influence affecting you, talking is pretty much like using any other muscle in the body. I kind of have the same problem myself. I'm pretty damn silent for most of the average day. But every so often I'd go to a party, get drunk which turns me into an absolute chatterbox, and by the end of the night I've thrown my voice out.

The default response of "go see a doctor" applies. But on the chance they find nothing wrong, the solution is probably going to be old fashioned exercise. And probably some old wives remedies like tea or honey and the like.

Reznik

I use herbal tea + honey just to make it feel better whenever I have a sore throat, but yeah, see a doctor.

SanderJK

Although not as bad, I have been dealing with this since December.
I'm seeing a specialist next week, but my personal physician basically said:

People that are constantly in pain are likely to have a physical problem.
People that wake up (mostly) fine and suffer deteriation through out the day are probably using their voice badly, and speech therapy would be the most likely outcome.

He have me 35/65 on my particular case, we'll see.

Go see a doctor

Inquisitor77

Djeet wrote: »

15+ years ago I lost my voice for about a week. I think it was allergy related. It sucked. I mainly used chloraseptic which addressed the pain somewhat but didn't help my voice really. It passed. I didn't have to exercise my voice much back then.

I have to talk a lot now (work). It hurts to talk. Started about a week+ back. Not much of a talker outside work so it's not an issue after hours or on weekends. No fever. No pain outside of actually talking, though it's sore afterwards if I talk awhile. No lymph swelling. No symptoms as far as I can tell. I think it's allergies as it seems correlated to congestion and other allergy symptoms. Swallowing doesn't help, but a deliberate cough will. It will help my voice be less gravelly so I can be heard, but it I know coughing is inflaming it more. Just got off a fairly long call where I was doing most of the talking, and throat hurts, the inside bits (I really don't want to talk for a few hours).


Any advice on how to remediate? Advice on addressing pain or making voice better are both welcome. Right now it hurts to swallow as well (I can tell it's hurting my vocal chords/bits). Not talking for extended periods seem to be the only thing that helps.

I guess I can use chloraseptic again, but it doesn't feel right.

I would echo seeing a doctor. This may be indicative of a bigger problem, especially if the pain is acute.

If the doctor says that your throat is just sore/tired, then you may need training on how to speak properly. It's a skill just like any other and requires training. You may have been using a very difficult speaking technique that is fine for everyday stuff but breaks down when you have to project your voice or speak for long periods of time.

Djeet

I will see a doctor if this doesn't start to improve in a few days or if I cannot make adjustments to address. I suppose I'll need an ENT specialist? Can you just call one to get an appointment or do you need a referral? I don't have a PCP right now (I know).

It hurts now. Not as bad. Not talking though. Didn't hurt when I woke up and was dealing with morning activities to get kids ready for school (there's a fair amount of negotiating for 60-90 minutes, but I don't have to project) and myself for work. Bout halfway through the call I felt I had to swallow/clear throat cause I feel like I may not be understood. I think I speak with a fair amount of vocal fry and deeper than average register and this is just supersizing it.

About a week ago my woman wanted me to come out to karaoke so I was practicing some songs and that's when it came very apparent. Not a musician, but if I went over my normal range (like an octave and a half over my normal speaking voice?) it would just cut off. Kinda like voice breaking during puberty.

ArbitraryDescriptor

You didn't mention it so I'll ask: Have you tried motrim/ibuprofen to knock down the inflammation?

An antihistamine to partially rule out allergies?

I could see where the inflammation was an allergic response initially, but is now a self-perpetuating irritation.

Disclaimer: Not a medical practitioner.