<p>Since Monday, I have had a very congested nose and a lot of sneezing. My ears are clogged and my voice is slowly and painfully going. I have tried everything from Zicam to Airbourne, from elm tea to vaporizers. Nothing appears to be working. Friday is my first audition, followed by one Sunday and Monday. Cancelling is not an option. </p>
<p>Advice? Consolation? Anything?</p>
<p>Advice: The usual plenty of bedrest, humidity and fluids and absolutely no singing or talking.</p>
<p>Some schools do occasionally accept recordings in these situations. You could also try rescheduling, although with some schools this just won’t be possible (either your day is their last or their remaining days are full). In some cases, I have heard of singers going to the audition, submitting the recording, and submitting to the usual theory/placement tests and possibly submitting to an interview.</p>
<p>If it is any consolation, this happens every year to many singers (and all have lived to tell the tale!).</p>
<p>I should have mentioned (and you have probably already done this): Call the schools to find out what their policy is for singers that can’t sing on the day. It will probably put you at ease to know what is going to happen. When we don’t know we tend to assume the worst and that adds stress and makes physical recovery difficult.</p>
<p>This always seems to happen. I remember DD trying to do the Peabody auditon right after a round of strep throat. Here is an older thread with some good links.
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/752508-illness-problems-audition-time.html?highlight=sick+auditions[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/752508-illness-problems-audition-time.html?highlight=sick+auditions</a></p>
<p>Rest your voice - completely. Lots of liquids. If you have a sinus rinse system, use it a couple of times a day - neti pot or NeilMed for example. Try Mucinex to thin the mucous. Steam is good. </p>
<p>Good luck. My D got sick during auditions and had to reschedule her Westminster audition. They amazingly accommodating.</p>
<p>“Advice: The usual plenty of bedrest, humidity and fluids and absolutely no singing or talking.”
Ditto on all of the above. BE SURE and see a doctor if you are running a temperature.
It’s hard not to sing when you feel you must rehearse and talk. BUT— DO NOT SING and DO NOT TALK.
D had her grad school debut in a title role last week. One week before, she felt a little feverish(and that is all), went to the Dr. and was able to get an early diagnosis of strep. She knocked it out with antibiotics in a matter of 2 days----if she had waited, it would have been a whole 'nother story! TAKE CARE!!!</p>
<p>Keep the Airborne going twice a day! I take it twice a day when I don’t feel 100%, but once always everyday. I haven’t been sick in quite afew months!</p>
<p>Today is Wednesday. If you read this tonight and want to try something alternative – WITH CAUTION – that I have found to work within 24 hrs, go to drug store or health store and buy Colloidal Silver – make sure it is pure (it will be amber colored) at least 20 ppm and NOT containing “silver proteins” or “MSP” – just pure colloid. Folks used silver for viral and bacterial infections before antibiotics and today silver is used in trace amounts to purify hottubs, etc. The problem is that wrong kind (with chloride or protein coating) or homemade (like the idiot who turned blue and took boatloads even when well) and super super high doses can lead to Agryria, (silver toxicity) which can turn the skin blue – permanently. SO IF YOU USE IT, USE IT WITH THE CAUTION WITH WHICH YOU’D USE A PRESCRIPTION DRUG AND DO NOT USE IT ALL THE TIME OR “THERAPEUTICALLY” (eg. as a preventative. They shouldn’t be allowed to advertise it that way. That would be like taking daily antibiotics – totally toxic!).</p>
<p>Per a wiki on Agryria re dosage:
</p>
<p>My s. plays trumpet and was on tour with his music camp during the whole H1N1 thing. While his plane wasn’t grounded like another groups, several among his crew came down with it. He managed to stay in performance condition and avert H1N1 with it, but knows how to be careful.
Be well!</p>
<p>When evaluating some of these products, do some research. Taking lots of Airborne is expensive and there is no evidence that it has any impact on a cold. The company has had to pay back millions for false advertising. Chances are it is a coincidence that symptoms are improving or you are staying healthier. The same can be said for many of the popular remedies out there. There is a lot of information on the internet. If there is any evidence that products work, that evidence will be pretty easy to find.</p>
<p>The advice to see your doctor and ask about antibiotics is excellent. Good luck!!!</p>
<p>DD now has a standing agreement with the voice doctor (ENT) who handles the singers at her school. As soon as she feels the cold/etc coming on she goes to see him. He heads it off right away, shots and mega antibiotics to keep it form going to her throat as it always did. He got her from ugly to singing at her brother’s wedding in 5 days. Go see a doctor. .</p>
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<p>True, but don’t push for them if not needed. The vast majority of cold like ailments are viral and antibiotics will not help. They may appear to help because you get better when taking them, but chances are you would get better just as quickly without them. Taking unnecessary antibiotics is a serious problem. Contributing to the development of antibiotic resistant bugs is something we all should avoid. Moreover, there is a significant increased risk of breast cancer associated with heavy antibiotic use.</p>
<p>Yes, Airborne is expensive. I must agree it could be a coincidence, however it’s working for me at the moment. At the very least, it’s a highpowered vitamin.</p>
<p>Your body is doing what it needs to do in order to get the viruses out of there and hopefully in the process a bacterial infection will not happen. You are young, and possibly you will wake up Friday feeling fine, but it is a lot to hope for! There is a lot of well-intentioned advice here, with suggestions for products. It is unwise to undertake this kind of treatment. See your doctor. Find out what you are dealing with. And then, treat your symptoms, their source, and nothing more. Know your body and how it responds to various medications and be respectful of any previous problems. Get lots of rest. Drink lots of fluids. Hydrate the air you are breathing (this is the most important, because dry tissue is more likely to become irritated and infection, and you are effectively treating your entire respiratory tract). Hopefully you have a DVD you can present at your auditions so that the faculty members can hear you at your best. Perhaps you can still “perform” for them but they will judge your voice by your recording. Good luck.</p>
<p>Sleep, hydrate, and RELAX! Sometimes your body tries to compensate for feelings - Sometimes people actually get physically sick when the root cause is emotional. Are you fully prepared? Do you like your school choices? Spend some time coming to grips with what may be bothering you (while breathing steam, etc), and you may find yourself feeling much better.
On Airborne: We’re not big users since one of the main ingredients is echinacea. If you suffer from hay fever, echinacea can trigger an allergic response - exactly what you are trying to avoid. Good luck!</p>
<p>BTW - We also recommend the Neti Pot <a href=“http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=a9_sc_1?rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Aneti+pot&keywords=neti+pot&ie=UTF8&qid=1265914956[/url]”>http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=a9_sc_1?rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Aneti+pot&keywords=neti+pot&ie=UTF8&qid=1265914956</a></p>
<p>Looks gross but it works and no drugs are involved. .</p>
<p>There was a similar thread addressing these issues from last year. Hope this link works.</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/655259-auditions-two-days-chills-cold-coming-do-you-have-advice-operason.html?highlight=neti+pot[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/655259-auditions-two-days-chills-cold-coming-do-you-have-advice-operason.html?highlight=neti+pot</a></p>
<p>There are also vocal specific health threads in the music theater forum.</p>
<p>I feel your pain! The same thing happened to my D before her second VP audition. All the advice you’ve received here is excellent. Keep up the vaporizor and fluids and STEAM. Use a dry erase board for communicating at home or with loved ones. Mucinex Extra Strength and the neti pot are best for congestion, together with tons of fluid. Consider getting a vaporizor for your hotel room if travel is involved. They are inexpensive at CVS. </p>
<p>I agree with all who say to see a doctor (an ENT) if time still permits. I really wish I’d done that timely for my D. </p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Stay away from menthol as it is drying to the chords.</p>