voicedoctor.net - Singing voice

Raspy voice after force singing with a bad cold

theexcavationer — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 06:18:44 +0000

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Hello. I'm a 43 year old male and have been singing for most my life. I studied music in jr college where I took many voice training lessons and learned several voice exercises for warming up, cooling down, strengthening the voice, breathing exercises ect... ect...ect. however, knowing all the right and wrong ways to sing never stopped me from becoming an 80's style heavy metal singer. Up untill about a month ago I have never had any problems with voice fatigue or harshness of tones in my voice. But about a month ago I had a terrible cold with a sore hroat and bad cough but had to perform a show regardless. Needless to say, After the 3hr show my voice was trashed. This was by far the most punishment my voice has ever taken and for the first time ever It didn't recuperate over night. In fact its been over a month and my voice is still raspy like I have a cold but I got over the cold about a week ago. Now when I sing it feels harder to controll my breathing and my lower range sounds raspy like I need to clear my throat. My upper range still sounds ok but feels less controlled and has a tendency to bend off pitch if I put much power behind it. Im hoping I still have a bit of cold yet and that it'll all be back to normal in another week or two but I'm worried that I may have done some real damage to my voice during that last performance. Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

MY FALSETTO HAS GONE?!?

cchaplindriver — Tue, 06 Jan 2015 09:08:55 +0000

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Singing voice

Hello there. For some reason, I have recently 'lost' my falsetto. I sing for a living(5/6 nights per week) and have never had this problem before. I'm not sure whether I 'over-did' it performing 3 gigs on New Year's Eve but since then, I've had this problem. The rest of my singing voice is fine, no hoarseness or soreness etc. Is this a common problem or am I just weird haha. Many thanks, in anticipation. (Chris from the UK)

hoarseness, pain while swallowing, polyps & nodules

cliolincai — Sat, 03 Jan 2015 22:31:12 +0000

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Singing voice

My voice was an integral part of my identity. Following a tracheal shave procedure in October, I lost most of my vocal range and experienced hoarseness. I assumed this was from the procedure and wasn't worried about it til now, three months later. I went to see an ENT specialist because the recovery time for a tracheal shave is generally around 2-4 weeks. They did some tests and found that I still had a lot of swelling in my throat as well as vocal cord nodules or polyps, I can't remember which. Prior to my surgery I was loud and my voice had resonance. I could also sing falsetto (which I still can) and belt (which I can't do anymore). I lose my voice sometimes and the quality is often raspy. I also feel like my throat is too wide especially when I swallow, like there's a lump or a ball, and sometimes for random short periods of time that occur sporadically swallowing becomes extremely painful. The pain is focused on the right side of my neck. I looked up possible disorders and honestly I feel like I can have any number of combinations of them; silent reflux, vocal cord paralysis, vocal cord nodules & polyps, vocal cord damage. My voice was very important to me and I really want to know if I can restore it. If I have irreversible vocal cord damage I want to know.
Thank you.

Can't sing high aahs sometimes but can sing high oohs always-what's with that?

indicam50-buyer1 — Tue, 28 Oct 2014 00:14:44 +0000

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Singing voice

Thanks for this forum. I have sung high classic rock and roll for most of my life but have been having problems for a few years. I have seen a ENT and he said my vocal chords are clear but maybe a little red. I used Omeprazole for a couple of months but with no success. I have asthma under control with daily Advair (once a day only) and have never smoked, used alcohol or drugs.
An example of the symptoms is I can sing the high ending of "Good Vibrations" by the Beach Boys using the do, do, do, do...sound whereas if I try to do it with an aah sound my voice breaks up. Also have sung "Journey" songs where the lead sings high etc. QUESTION: If my vocal cords can create the high pitch what is going on with the different vowel sounds. Thanks in advance.

Singing voice gone (Proffesional)

muzdog1 — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 07:37:26 +0000

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Singing voice

Is this the end of my career?

itsagirlmusic — Mon, 18 Aug 2014 01:06:03 +0000

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Singing voice

First time diagnosis of nodules. I went in to for a shot because I lost my voice and needed it back to perform for 3700 seats. My question is how severe do my nodules look? Should I have surgery or just rest, speech therapy and voice lessons. I just quit the band in which I believe I acquired these. I left to embark on a solo career that is taking off. Now this! Please help! Any advice will do.

can a disorder which doctor often say remain for ever disapear?

peuse — Sun, 29 Jun 2014 08:38:10 +0000

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Singing voice

hi doctor.i have posted one other question but you did not answer me.your answers are so important for me.doctor i explained simply to not make you tired.9 months ago a doctor said i have arytenoid dislocation. After 6 months a voice therapist said i have nodules & by watching it again i saw a mass on my left vocal cord.2 days ago i was visited by a lecturer(a real professor in iran) & he said there is no mass on your vocal cord & its disapeared & not any arytenoid...but a congenital sulcus vocalis.my answer is this:may this sulcus disapear & how its possibility increases?please answer.There s not any other place to get my answer.thank

several problems(probably chronic & aged nodules & Arytenoid dislocation & Changing the shape of vocal cord(one side))

peuse — Sun, 16 Mar 2014 14:29:46 +0000

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Singing voice

Hi Doctor.Approximately 2.5 (september of 2011)years ago I felt injury in my singing voice but i continued singing in high level like the days without injuries.In those days i did not explore the reason of my hoarsness & the reason of decrease of my highest pitch so because of nervous i was singing with more pressure & without any quality until 9 months ago.i stopped singing & speaking more & loudly although i could not so.5 months ago i went to doctor & he saw my larynx & i saw my left arytenoid dislocated.he said to me do not speak & sing loudly(voice rest) so you would be fine.After 4 Months when i saw my speaking had nt become better i got worry & i went to voice therapist in order of one other doctor.With strobovideolaryngoscopy i found 2 PAIRS OF NODULES(one pair in the middle part of vocal cord & other in the lower part),LEFT ARYTENOID DISLOCATION,CHANGING THE SHAPE OF MY RIGHT VOCAL CORD and a little REDNESS in upper part of my left vocal cord.I forgot to say in 5 months ago i also have had reflux of HCL acid.I am now adviced to not speak & sing(voice rest).I know my nodules will be disapeared by this way but what will happened to me arytenoid?i avoid surgery.my singing voice is unusual & uncommon i am so worry to lost even a part of it height.All of my worry is my arytenoid which i think its dated.please give me a way doctor to be healthy complete

Singing voice gone, many visits to ENT's, still no answers...and I sing as part of my job.

michaelruel — Tue, 28 Jan 2014 23:14:58 +0000

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Singing voice

I am a 43 yr old married white male. I'm in good physical shape, don't smoke, don't drink in excess, and watch my diet. I have been a professionally trained musician for many years. I have sung for many years in many bands and now as I'm a Pastor in charge of the music at church, I sing as part of my job several times a week...or rather I try to sing, but I cannot sing like I used to. This has been going on for who knows how long, I thought about about a year ago that I should just push thru it...after all I know all about breathing and the right way to sing and take care of my voice. No luck.

I finally went to an ENT. He scoped me and even though he only had the scope in for 1 minute he diagnosed me with partial vocal paralysis, and ordered blood work to test for any viruses and a CT scan to check for any tumors pressing on the nerve. Everything came back clean and normal. I saw him again several months later and he re-scoped me and saw (again in about 1 minute worth of scoping) that the vocal chord functionality had returned but it now looked weak and ordered me to go to vocal therapy. I did vocal therapy for a while and still no improvement. I went back to the ENT a 3rd time, was scoped a 3rd time, with the vocal therapist (who commented again how quick he scoped me and wondered how he could see anything in that short amount of time...). ENT then said he was out of ideas and referred me to a super-duper specialist who only did voice.

I went to see the super-duper specialist voice-only ENT who, to his credit, took time to listen to my story and scoped me for a long time with a high def camera and recorded it. This new ENT said the former ENT was nuts to say I had paralysis, as there was no way and he noticed some excess mucous and 1 small spot of red irritation on the chord and declared I have Laragneal Reflux and gave me a list of all my favorite foods that I can never eat again and put me on prescription prilosec.

I'll be honest, I tried to follow doctors orders but didn't stick with it as I was seeing zero improvement. This new year I made an honest attempt for 2 solid weeks + and saw not one bit of improvement.

The best way I can describe it is that I feel that when I sing I'm trying to blow up a balloon with a straw that is nearly totally blocked. I attempt to sing and use proper diaphragm support, head position, and breathing and when I hit many notes and tones literally nothing comes out and I feel that my throat is closing. After the breath runs out I feel out of breath and as though I may pass out - picture this for several sets a week. Not fun. Beyond not fun. So frustrating and embarrassing.

I was intrigued to read your article on reflux and wonder if there is another cause of this and what I can do to finally end this super frustrating saga. Thanks for any help you can provide.

Mike Ruel

Suggested treatment for vocal nodule

jmchaffee75 — Mon, 20 Jan 2014 17:51:20 +0000

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Singing voice