Comments on: Laryngitis scare: How to get your voice back – UPDATED

By: Jessica

Jessica — Sat, 19 Nov 2022 02:22:06 +0000

Hi Judy, your post and your responses to these comments has been so calming to me during a very stressful time. Last year I had my first real bout of laryngitis and I was incredibly panicked. I am a litigator and my voice is my job. I now seem to get laryngitis and completely lose my voice every time I get a respiratory virus now. It really upsets my children. I have two questions – the first is as I am not a singer I do not quite understand the 'pulling' technique. Can you elaborate? The second is, have you heard of muscular tension dysphonia? I feel like every time I lose my voice I get very upset and stressed and anxious and that is causing more tension. Any tips on how to deal with this? Thank you so much

By: Unknown

Unknown — Wed, 10 Nov 2021 13:39:22 +0000

I lost my voice and I have a huge solo of the national anthem tomarrow and I dont know if this will help on time do you know what to do

By: Brad

Brad — Mon, 05 Aug 2019 01:22:33 +0000

Hi Judy, 6 weeks ago I got a sore throat with a very minor cold or something. I went to a loud bar 1 night and drank several shots of alcohol plus a couple more drinks, and talked a lot. I lost my voice and went to work the next night (cashier) and further wore it out even worse. I had a dry cough and itchiness for 3 weeks. That has gone away, but I still have a little soreness. It doesn't really bother me unless I talk. Then I can "feel" it, and get a little burning sometimes in my throat/upper chest. I also get this slight burning if I tilt my chin down to my chest when laying down. I don't get much hoarseness unless I talk for a little bit, then maybe a little something. If I talk a lot, I can feel my voice getting strained again. I have an ENT appointment in 3 weeks, and this is really bugging me. What are your thoughts?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 29 Dec 2018 22:04:11 +0000

Hi Judy,
I got sick in March of 2018, so about 9 months ago. I had the sorest throat I've ever had, was tested for strep and the flu, and neither came back positive. It lasted for about two weeks, and then I was fine, but my head voice is completely gone. I thought it would come back after a week or two, but it never did. I can sing in my chest voice just the same as before I was sick, but I can't even make a so much as a sound in my head voice (and it's not just singing, I can't yell in a high pitch anymore either – at basketball games, etc.). Do you have any idea what this is? I hate not being able to sing, and I was hoping to sing at my sister's wedding in May, but am getting worried that it won't even be a possibility.

By: Joyce Lucia

Joyce Lucia — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 03:04:17 +0000

Hi Judy –
While teaching Voice on the East Coast, I saw Steven Zeitels (ENT for Adelle/James Taylor/Julie Andrews…) anyway, here on the West Coast where I now live awa sing jazz and gospel, I probably contracted Sinusitis over 8 weeks ago. Luckly, Steve referred me to one of his "fellows" in the San Diego Area (hooray!) My problem is that although my head voice and chest voice have returned (with good quality and intonation although little power) the register change area (4th or 5th around C3) no longer allows me to change registers by using volume changes, but rather "cracks" as I try to get "mixed voice". Am I just being impatient about wanting 100% control that took decades to gain, or should I go the Mucinex route and see an ENT who could look at my cords with a flexible fiberoptic laryngoscope? Two months ago I could sing as well as you can hear on my website joycelucia.com. Today, I'm left with just a pretty head voice and I have recording sessions/jazz and church gigs that I'd like to resume. Have any advice? Thanks in advance, former Voice Professor at Berklee College of Music.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 07 Jan 2018 17:16:17 +0000

PS: Yes, I'll try your 'pulling' technique. No question about it. Thank you!!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 07 Jan 2018 17:16:00 +0000

Hi Judy, and Happy New Year! THANK you so much!! It is finally getting better. As you say, I'm practicing every day, slowly, and paying a lot of attention to my breath and support, avoiding all kinds of tensions, and trying not to focus stubbornly on weak passages. It's working! Thank you so much!!! Golden advices! Have a Happy New Year! 🙂

By: Judy Rodman

Judy Rodman — Wed, 03 Jan 2018 16:08:31 +0000

YES, vomiting and acid reflux definitely can affect your voice. You're instincts are correct. Allow the irritated tissues of your throat to heal; refrain from re-injuring by getting at the root cause of the irritation as you're doing. Then slowly and wisely work your voice up again. Fyi, the 'pulling' technique for breath control that I teach works also for formal singers, to get your breath pressure as efficient as possible. Using technique with that efficiency is ever more important when your throat has been inflamed or injured in any way. Good luck and thanks for your comment!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 03 Jan 2018 15:50:06 +0000

Hi Judy, many thanks for your articles and suggestions. I'm an opera singer, and after a really bad laryngitis, exactly a month ago, I still didn't get my voice back. I had to cancel 2 concerts… 🙁 As you describe it, my middle register is pretty messed up. I do have a good technique, thank God, and I did (and still do) what you suggest. I have to say, that 2 weeks after I got sick with the laryngitis, as if it weren't enough I got a very bad gastroenteritis, and I spent a whole week (sorry to say this, but I have to) vomiting. I was finally well treated and everything is gone now. Do you thing this event might be slowing down the recovery? I'm still taking a treatment which includes some anti-reflux medicines. I'm pretty sure it does count…
Thanks for your suggestions and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 20 Dec 2017 16:01:03 +0000

Hi Judy!
I had a vocal trauma by having a few drops of Oregano oil. I have used the oil number of times before whenever I felt I was beginning to have a cold. But this time the oil hit right on my vocal chords and burn really badly. I could not breath for a moment. I tried to wash down with Luke warm herb tea but did not help me much. The next morning, I felt that my vocal chords completely dried up and could not vocalize (talk) at all. I have lost my voice before but never to this extent. it has been 2 months now and my voice is better, I can sing some, but my voice gets hoarse very easily now. Does that mean that I am not completely healed? Went to see a vocal specialist ENT but he said that my vocal chords are fine. The problem is NOT the time my voice is fine though. Just a minute or so of easy singing gets me phlegmy. Would I ever get better completely to a point where I can sing again?