So, I’ve loved being a music major so far and all my classes and professors are amazing. But…
I got a bad cold almost 3 weeks ago and it took about 8 days to fully recover, although the congestion was largely nasal so I could still sing decently after day 4 or so. Last Friday, I came down with yet another cold - this time with a gripping sore throat, and with my teacher’s blessing, haven’t attempted to practice since in the hopes of speedy recovery. I’ve only gotten worse, and I’ve been missing classes and work to sleep (only the classes where it won’t affect my grade, and with excusal from the professor and my supervisor).
My voice got wildly hoarse yesterday (previously I could still talk, although I kept it at a minimum and didn’t try to sing). I woke up today with full-blown laryngitis. (Yes, yes, I know to avoid whispering, drink plenty of fluids, rest, salt water gargle, tea with honey and lemon, etc. etc.)
I have midterm juries in 2 weeks and obviously need my voice for that, but I haven’t worked on one of the pieces enough for it. All the other times I’ve had laryngitis (most recently was… 11 months ago) it’s taken me about 2 weeks to recover and I’m freaking out I won’t be well in time to practice.
I’m also really exhausted, but I still am attending my 8am theory/ear training classes (every day) and choir practice because attendance is really strict and I’m not considered sick enough to miss. (Active listening at choir/mouthing words - not actually singing, obviously).
I’m really stressed out over this - does anyone have advice? (And the infection is viral, so I can’t take antibiotics.)
Talk honestly with your teacher. Explain how sick you are. Your teacher should help you. You cannot sing while sick.
I got so sick once during finals I had to fly home for care. I was excused from every final and accommodations were made. I was surprised as I was so sure no one would help me. Adults know people get sick. Your jury can be moved if necessary. Talk to your teacher … and please rest!!! Ask for help. You need it and it’s shows maturity and strength to ask for help.
Stop talking! Like - just stop. Write everything down. Wear a sign that says you’re on total voice rest. Take anti-inflammatories as directed for a few days. Voice rest for 4 days - start tomorrow and you’ll only miss two days of speaking up in classes. If you totally think it’s not possible then stop after classes Friday and don’t talk AT ALL until Monday morning. No guarantees it’ll fix your voice entirely but guarantee it’ll help in a big way.
Do you have a reputable laryngologist? You need to have one that specializes in professional voice users. Where do you live? Some people have to travel to find one.
My D had laryngitis about 4 weeks ago. It was short lived and part of a virus that is going around. Other people (non-singers) have lost their voices for a day or 2 as well with this virus. She has had lingering swelling as we found out via a recent scope. Her vocal cords are fine but there is swelling in the connective tissues. They said it could last months.
I’m sorry. Unfortunately, laryngitis is absolutely brutal and can be just devastating to a singer.
Please don’t go to a regular doctor or a basic ENT. My D was prescribed drugs that probably caused her relapse into hoarseness. She was recovering (slowly) but then had an ear problem and went into urgent care for treatment . Despite us (and yes, I went in to see doc with her) being very clear about her voice usage, they obviously didn’t consider carefully the side effects of what they prescribed her.
Between a good laryngologist and your teacher, they should be able to tell you what is safe and what isn’t as far as singing. It is stressful. My D had 3 performances last weekend and 2 this weekend and this is considered a “light” schedule for her. She will go back to the voice doc in a couple days.
I wish my D would skip classes / responsibilities to sleep! You are doing the right thing. Sleep is when our bodies heal.
Your Voice Teacher should be your very best advocate here… I agree with @dbandmom that you should see an ENT/Laryngologist who specializes in “professional voice users” or singers as soon as possible. This is tough, but some things cannot be rushed; as a singer with laryngitis you are essentially an athlete with a serious injury. There CAN be lasting results if you sing too much and too soon, and this is not something to fool with. EVERY college has ways to deal with illness that is incapacitating! You can extend and reschedule every single thing (even that jury), if necessary. And maybe you won’t have to!!! This may disappear magically within a week or so. I just returned from a visit to a Laryngologist with my younger D (not the one studying for her BM VP, thankfully), who sang only one show as a lead in March with a fever and the beginnings of laryngitis; she subsequently missed every show of the run and was on vocal rest for an entire month. Even so, with all the swelling, she developed a granuloma on her Arytenoid Cartilage, which has just healed (7 months later). You need to listen to your body, seek qualified medical treatment and take the time you need to recover. Hang in there! It’s going to be okay!
Accommodations should be possible. Have you talked with anyone about this? An MD would have to document. Better to get that set up in advance than in a crisis, perhaps.
I don’t know much about voice but wonder if 1) antibiotics are appropriate (I find I have to strongly advocate for them even with fever and evidence of infectoin and 2) if steroids are needed, either inhaled (which are gentle) or systemic. Generally inhaled steroids are for the lungs but i have used them for my throat and upper GI. You spray into your mouth, put a little water in your mouth (very little), swish and swallow. Then don’t ingest anything for a half hour. This would be the Flovent inhaler, not the Diskus, and the 220 mcg one.
Again, others know more about this in regards to singing and I don’t know much about meds that might harm
So best advice is to see an ENT who knows singers for sure!
@dramasopranomom Your post left me unsettled all night last night. I’m glad your D has healed, but that kind of recovery period…ugh…one of my worst fears.
I wasn’t getting notifications so I didn’t notice this all… but…
Yes, I’ve been avoiding talking (by which I mean perhaps saying 5 short phrases in response per day… writing everything else). My voice is slowly returning. I have a (postponed) lesson on Monday…
I’m not taking any medication (no antibiotics, as it’s viral).
I don’t think it’s that serious to need to see a specialist, but also I can’t see any type of ear/nose/throat specialist until 2+ weeks from now due to booking, and I haven’t made an appointment yet.
One thing I’m worried about is that I’ll heal barely in time for my jury, but be unprepared, as I obviously haven’t gotten to practice. If my voice starts sounding normal again, can I assume that it’s safe to resume practicing? I really don’t want to cause permanent nodules or anything.
Unfortunately this upcoming week I can’t skip classes anymore, and I also can’t continue skipping work (I missed all of my shifts last week). I don’t feel so exhausted anymore - it’s literally just my voice (and a tiny amount of postnasal drip that could be worked through on its own) hindering me.
I certainly don’t want to give medical advice, so please don’t take this as medical advice…
Daily swelling tests can be helpful for those who have heavy voice demands. Of course, it’s ideal if you are used to doing them and already know what is “normal” for you. If you are going to try to be self-assessing whether or not you should sing, they may help you…
If you aren’t going / can’t get to see a doctor, I’d wait to see if your voice teacher can listen to you and give the "blessing’ to sing. Obviously, she can’t check you every day and it’s possible that you will swell again after doing a little singing. So, that’s where the swelling tests can be useful.
My D is still “in recovery” in terms of getting back her full range. I think she sings to a G above high C with ease / comfort normally. She’s only at about an E flat above high C right now. So, if your juries include songs that use your tippy top range, you may want to address that with your teacher in case it takes a while to get that part of your voice back. If your songs aren’t ready anyway, maybe you can choose something else that will be “easy” on your voice.
My D has been given the OK to sing by 2 different doctors in the last 5 weeks, but without seeing them, we wouldn’t have been sure. They give her clear guidelines on what to do if A B or C happens. It’s very scary and frustrating when your voice is not performing as normal. And I don’t know what this virus was that was going around, but it was like you’re miraculously better from one symptom one day and then have something else the next day. Gah!
@CharlotteLetter , I know precisely zero about how to deal with vocal issues, particularly at your level, but I felt terrible for you and the pressure you must be under (and feeling lousy and having other responsibilities at the same time…yikes!). I’m rooting for your quick and complete–and timely!–recovery!
All ENTs are booked through next year, so I won’t bee seeing one anytime soon… I am trying to get a referral from a regular doctor to see one sooner, and continue with rest, fluids, humidifier, lemon water, tea & honey, and 15k other folk remedies.
On the bright side, my lower speaking voice is returning (which I learned while using it to attempt to make a doctor’s appointment), but still not my range. My healthy range is normally F3-A5 - down to C3 on weird low days, and up to E6 (above high C) on miraculous high days. (It’s another story whether I’m mezzo or soprano - due to year-round allergies I can rarely sing in my highest range.) The only two pieces I’d be anywhere near prepared for (if my voice miraculously reappeared tomorrow) are from Bb3-A5 and C3-Eb5. If my voice partially returns, I might be able to switch the first one for one that’s D4-F5… but I’d still need my voice. Right now I could do E3-B3 without forcing it, which isn’t even slightly helpful.
I’m seeing my voice teacher on Wednesday for a makeup lesson, or just to assess, depending on where my voice is at.
And thanks for the link, I have kind of tried those before with my previous voice teacher so I have a general idea… can’t really try them again until I actually have a voice, though.
@CharlotteLetter my daughter came back from a summer camp where they recommended a personal steam inhaler for vocalists. We picked up a Vicks model for under $30 from Amazon. Might be helpful in the healing process.
I went to a regular Dr. who gave me a referral to an ENT (won’t get in for at least 6 months, though) and 4 days’ medium dose of Prednisone with the recommendation to not sing for a few days after my voice comes back, assuming it does come back given the anti-inflammatory nature of Prednisone. I’m going to talk to my teacher before I take it, though, as she probably knows more about steroids and singing than I do.
For yesterday and today, my comfortable range (again, only tried once to check) is D3-E4. Still need another comfortable ninth to be safe… other than my dr’s appt yesterday I didn’t talk at all, and other than talking briefly with my voice teacher today I won’t need to talk at all…
@thisismynameOH Thanks! I’ve been sleeping with a warm humidifier at night and breathing steam twice a day as well, although I have no idea if it’s actually helping (doesn’t feel like it’s hurting). I do plan to get one like you mentioned, although it’s $120 at Target so I’ll definitely look at Amazon.
@CharlotteLetter , UGH! You can pick up a MyPurMist for cheaper at Bed Bath and Beyond, where you can use one of their 20% off coupons. And they are usually available from Costco.com. I hope your teacher can help guide you on the use of steroids…I have no experience with their use for singers. I really really really wish you could get in to see ENT sooner; maybe, just maybe, calling the scheduling office and explaining that you are a “professional voice user” will encourage them to get you seen sooner?? In any event, be sure to take good care of yourself, and find out what the make up plan for juries might be (for your own peace of mind). Thinking of you and sending support!
@dramasopranomom I’ll see if my sister can pick one up for me, as I don’t have a car to get across down…
My teacher has used the same steroids for laryngitis once before and had no issues, so she recommends to go ahead with it. She also pointed out that it probably isn’t too urgent for me to see an ENT if I get better in a couple more weeks or so, as I did get laryngitis from a virus, not overuse. After all, as my speaking voice is back, as far as non-vocalists (and maybe wind players? I have no idea) would be concerned, I am well - “normal” people don’t really use the extremes of their voice, so the 2-week getting well from laryngitis period is a bit non-generous.
Regardless, I have explained that I’m a voice major with performances coming up, but all ENTs are booked far out, so unless it’s somewhere between urgent and emergent. I couldn’t convince my doctor that it’s absolutely urgent that I see an ENT sooner (as she pointed out, it’s not like I’m going to die, and if I continue to rest, I’m not likely to further injure myself).
I have a week extension (at least) for the midterm - so I have 16 days between now and it; hopefully the Prednisone will work quickly, I will have a couple days rest, and a week to practice… if not, she’ll have to talk with the department head about extending it further. We may lower the octave for some of my high notes or I may just sing a couple pieces a fourth or fifth lower if necessary, which still requires at least a voice…
I hope you are better now. My D has been dealing with laryngitis for over a week. It just started out of the blue. Probably viral as strep test was negative and she had very little sinus issues.
Fortunately for her, her voice teacher was able to quickly get her in with an ENT that works with voice students. One thing we learned was to not do lemon/citrus. It can cause reflux and increase the inflammation.
Steroid pack, reflux medication and rest seem to be doing the trick.
Fingers crossed as she has summer program auditions coming up.
My voice came mostly back Monday (didn’t practice at all), it hurt after I practiced for 15 min Tuesday, felt normal Wednesday (practiced 30 min plus a lesson) and great yesterday (still only 1 hr singing as opposed to a regular 2 plus choir practice).
But today, I practiced 15 min before my lesson (Wednesday’s was makeup) and my voice ached, so I stopped and told my teacher at the lesson. We tried some light warmups but it wasn’t working so we ended the lesson early. I’m really exhausted, have bad postnasal drip, and my voice box aches. I’m seeing a regular Dr today (ENT appointment is after the semester ends).