Losing Your Voice

[Simon76]

Today is the first time in a long long time that I have lost my voice.

I haven't felt very well the past few days, and this morning I woke up and felt better but when I went to speak nothing would come out but little squeaks. It's gotten better throught the day.

 

I'm wondering what folks here do to prevent or cure a sore horse throat?

I am suseptable to them if I stress my voice with too much volume for too long.

[Cripes]

Whiskey.

 

Nothing will prevent that. You stress the pipes, they get sore. I think the more you sing the greater distance you can go. I can sing about 4 songs and then I start sounding raspy (dirty) but the pipes don't get sore. That wasn't always true. I think the throat adapts just like the fingertips do to the strings.

[Stackabones]

Are you doing any kind of warm-ups for your voice? Not that it will prevent a sore throat, but it can help protect it and improve your performance and ability.

[guitarist21]

Here's what not to do: get a bad cold a couple days before your high school prom, play a show, go to prom, be exhausted. I lost my voice spectacularly that way. If you're sick, it is probably coming one way or the other. You can minimize the effects by not stressing your voice out (things to avoid: playing shows, high school prom).

 

And my grandma always says to drink Coke if you have a sore throat.

 

Ellen

[Terry Allan Hall]

Couple thoughts on saving your voice:

 

(1) Limit onstage volume, so that you can hear yourself well w/o straining your voice...I've fired more than a few drummers for playing at a higher volume than I require...I will not strain my voice (or risk damage to my ears) just because someone believes the "if it's too loud, you're too old" BS. (Yeah, I'm a dictator about these things, but the folks who gig w/ me accept it, because I pay my back-up folks pretty well!)

 

(2) Use your monitors correctly so that, again, you can hear yourself well and not strain your voice...thus, you can sing at a "conversational level" and maintain this all night long, several nights in a row, if needed. This also allows dynamics...screaming is really only appropriate right after stepping into a steel trap or urinating on an electric fence!

 

(3) Honey and lemon juice, mixed w/ warm water...use liberally. Good and good for you!

 

(4) Warm up your vocal cords every day!

 

(5) Alka-Seltzer Cough And Cold medicine (mix it in very warm water...tastes slightly like hot lemon-aid) is great for knocking out a cold/sore throat really, really fast.

 

(6) Lastly...don't smoke! (this step also helps you avoid emphesema(sp?) and lung cancer...

[Samilyn]

Do not stress your vocal cords at a time like this. Let them rest. You did say you aren't feeling well, so chances are, there is an inflammatory process going on. Squeakiness is more than likely due to swelling.

 

If you must speak, keep your voice low and well modulated. Do not try to speak loudly. Remember, no strain!

 

Do not attempt to sing. That will only make matters worse.

 

Keep your throat lubricated. Warm liquids are very soothing. Warm salt-water gargle is soothing, but don't do it too often. Two or three times per day should suffice.

 

Forget gimmicky throat sprays. Water is your throat's best friend. (And the rest of your body, for that matter)

 

Stay well hydrated. Guzzle water like you're in the middle of Death Valley.

 

Avoid alcohol and caffeine, anything with diuretic properties.

 

Decaf tea laced with honey and a bit of lemon can be soothing. Honey has antibiotic properties and the citric acid in the lemon juice helps cut excess phlegm. Go easy on the lemon, though, as too much citrus can be irritating.

 

The trick with the lemon is to use just enough to cut excess phlegm so you don't have to clear your throat often. Throat clearing and coughing will further irritate the vocal folds.

 

Ginger tea is excellent because ginger has anti-inflammatory properties and will help reduce swelling. Buy some fresh ginger root at the store and place a few slices in your mug, then let steep. Add honey to sweeten. Ginger will tingle a bit, but it is not uncomfortable.

 

Do not gargle with anything other than salt water. Alcohol and chemicals in commercial mouthwash is a huge no-no.

 

Goes without saying - Avoid smoking or being around smokers.

 

Increase the humidity in your house. Crank up those humidifiers and get that pot of water boiling on the stove. Remain indoors as much as possible, avoiding the cold dry outdoor air.

 

If you're experiencing nasal drip, that will also irritate the throat. Use a neti pot to flush the sinus and help stop the irritating drainage from reaching your throat. It is not the most fun thing in the world to do, but believe me, it does work.

 

Avoid foods that may cause reflux. Reflux is very damaging to the throat. Though I don't customarily advocate the use of commercial chemicals, an acid reducer such as Zantac can be a good thing to protect your throat.

 

Avoid any medication that causes drying, such as antihistamines. But obviously, if you are on prescription medications, do not stop taking them without consulting your physician.

 

Treat yourself as though you have a bad case of flu, even if you don't.

 

Plenty of rest.

Eat well.

Drink plenty of fluids.

Take a good multivitamin.

 

When you have recovered, seek the services of a professional voice coach and have your technique checked out. Do whatever it takes to lessen the strain of singing at volume.

[Samilyn]

Here's what not to do: get a bad cold a couple days before your high school prom, play a show, go to prom, be exhausted. I lost my voice spectacularly that way. If you're sick, it is probably coming one way or the other. You can minimize the effects by not stressing your voice out (things to avoid: playing shows, high school prom). And my grandma always says to drink Coke if you have a sore throat. Ellen

 

Your granny is right. The coldness is soothing and helps reduce swelling. Additionally, the carbonation helps cut excess phlegm. Though Coke is essentially a diuretic in larger quantities, it does have it's uses if taken in moderation.

 

And flat Coke poured over chipped ice and taken in small sips is an excellent remedy for upset tummy. You can even guy Coke Syrup at the pharmacy for this. Your granny probably used it to soothe colicy babies. It's an age-old remedy that really does work.

[Fred Fartboski]

When I was a kid my mom would get Coke syrup from the local soda fountain(yes, they still had soda fountains where they mixed the syrup and seltzer by hand when I was a kid ) for me when I had a sore throat or upset stomach.

[daklander]

 

...... I'm wondering what folks here do to prevent or cure a sore horse throat? ...

 

 

You can't prevent a sore/hoarse throat. They come with colds and there's no way to prevent them. To minimize them, don't hang with people who you know have colds. Wash your hands with soap often. Get enough sleep. Keep stress to a minimum.

To minimize them, if you feel a cold coming on use Zicam. Once you have a sore throat, gargle with a salt rinse. (You should be going that for oral hygiene anyway.) Believe it or not, coating your throat with Vicks and wrapping it loosely will help.

If you have to perform while you're hoarse a lemon & honey toddy will work (I use rum or vodka) as will just about any carbonated beverage.

[Samilyn]

When I was a kid my mom would get Coke syrup from the local soda fountain(yes, they still had soda fountains where they mixed the syrup and seltzer by hand when I was a kid ) for me when I had a sore throat or upset stomach.

 

As I said, an age-old remedy that worked. Also made being sick a little more bearable because it tasted good.

 

I remember soda fountains, too. An ice-cream soda or root-beer float was the most wonderful treat....not to mention, a few spins round and round on those vinyl and chrome stools at the counter.

[Simon76]

I knew there would be some good info here.

After consulting my smoking quit tracker:

Quit Time: 3Y 3M 5D 18h 54m 10s

Days Quit: 1,192 Days

Cigs not smoked: 35,783

Money Saved: $6,262.13

Life Saved: 4M 1D 4h 55m

 

I quit the caffiene at the same time as nicotine.

And, I quit alcohol about 4 years before that.

 

I'm going to try some hot lemonaid with honey and ginger.

 

When I feel colds coming on I usually do eat lots of zinc tabs.

No way am I going to do Zicam.

 

January 19, 2006

[Samilyn]

I knew there would be some good info here. After consulting my smoking quit tracker: Quit Time: 3Y 3M 5D 18h 54m 10s Days Quit: 1,192 Days Cigs not smoked: 35,783 Money Saved: $6,262.13 Life Saved: 4M 1D 4h 55m

 

{Applause} Hats off to you!!

 

I quit the caffiene at the same time as nicotine. And, I quit alcohol about 4 years before that. I'm going to try some hot lemonaid with honey and ginger. When I feel colds coming on I usually do eat lots of zinc tabs.

 

Be very careful with zinc. It interferes with calcium absorption and can create serious mineral imbalances, among other things.

 

No way am I going to do Zicam. http://zicam.vanosteen.com/

 

Zicam is bad news indeed. They need to get that crap off the market.

[daklander]

Medical reports going as far back as 1938 have noted that high doses of zinc can harm the tissues involved in smelling, so if you're taking lots of zinc you're running the risk anyway.

Zinc gluconate is a weak organic salt that dissolves to form positively charged zinc ions and negatively charged gluconate-a naturally occurring, non-toxic compound found in all human tissues. Zicam Cold Remedy is a buffered gel, formulated to have a neutral pH

[Cripes]

I quit all drugs the very day I left the Air Force.

[Samilyn]

 

Medical reports going as far back as 1938 have noted that high doses of zinc can harm the tissues involved in smelling, so if you're taking lots of zinc you're running the risk anyway. Zinc gluconate is a weak organic salt that dissolves to form positively charged zinc ions and negatively charged gluconate-a naturally occurring, non-toxic compound found in all human tissues. Zicam Cold Remedy is a buffered gel, formulated to have a neutral pH

[Broadus]

Take HoarseNoMore for your voice problems. Side effects may include loss of taste, kidney failure, palpitating heart, short-term memory loss, and enlarged tongue. Consult your physician to see if HoarseNoMore is right for you!

 

Bill

[daklander]

 

There's a lot of controversy surrounding the use of zinc and Zicam, as well as dozens of other drugs on the market, both OTC and prescription. I've always preferred to take the most natural course of action first, which is mostly common sense and good self care, followed by remedies offered by this good Earth, again with a healthy dose of common sense in knowing when it's appropriate to seek medical assistance. Though I have a marked preference for natural remedies and homeopathic medicine, I have nothing against the miracles that medical science has to offer. Modern drugs and treatments are indeed necessary in many cases. But I also think the pharmaceutical industry has brainwashed the common sense out of most people, especially where OTC remedies are concerned. So many drugs actually do more harm than good in the long run. Every time you turn around, some chemical cocktail or other is being recalled due to heretofore undiscovered dangers.

 

 

Oh, I pretty much agree with you, and I don't personally use Zicam but know several people who swear by it. The thing is, there is no real proof one way or the other. The tests that have been run were done on mice, not humans, but those tests were pretty much negative in reactions for the zinc gluconate. There were certainly reactions with zinc sulfate but that's not what those cold remedies are concocted from.

Personally, for colds, I'm a lot of hot herbal tea and soup kind of guy but will take some other stuff as well if I really need it to function.

[mole2]

(2) Use your monitors correctly so that, again, you can hear yourself well and not strain your voice...thus, you can sing at a "conversational level" and maintain this all night long, several nights in a row, if needed. This also allows dynamics... screaming is really only appropriate right after stepping into a steel trap or urinating on an electric fence! ...

 

I hate when that happens.

 

 

I can't offer any advice on the singing as my voice sux and is better off hoarse and not heard.

 

 

[daklander]

 

Take HoarseNoMore for your voice problems. Side effects may include loss of taste, kidney failure, palpitating heart, short-term memory loss, and enlarged tongue. Consult your physician to see if HoarseNoMore is right for you! Bill

 

 

 

Yeah, I like a couple of the new ads for meds. There's one for asthma meds and one for allergies that have so many potentially fatal side effects it's amazing the drug companies dare airing them.

[Fred Fartboski]

I find, sometimes, I sing better when I have a cold. Gives the voice an interesting timbre.

[daklander]

 

(2) Use your monitors correctly so that, again, you can hear yourself well and not strain your voice...thus, you can sing at a "conversational level" and maintain this all night long, several nights in a row, if needed. This also allows dynamics...screaming is really only appropriate right after stepping into a steel trap or urinating on an electric fence! A great bit of advice there Terry. I've sung pretty much in "normal voice" for a long time. Because of that I can still do gigs if I have a cold and subsequent hoarseness. What really drove that technique home was the cancer and subsequent treatments.. (5) Alka-Seltzer Cough And Cold medicine (mix it in very warm water...tastes slightly like hot lemon-aid) is great for knocking out a cold/sore throat really, really fast. One of the few cold meds I take. If I'm really bad Thera-Flu seems to be better for me. YMMV (6) Lastly...don't smoke! (this step also helps you avoid emphesema(sp?) and lung cancer... Agreed! I quit in 1972.

 

 

Characters placed here due to forum requirements.

[guitarist21]

Your granny is right.

 

Aha! She says some weird stuff sometimes and according to her my entire family (except her, of course) is "full of bologna," but looks like she got something right. I have to give her my weekly update () soon so I'll tell her that she was right about the Coke.

 

Ellen

[Fred Fartboski]

Avoid alcohol and caffeine,

[garthman]

The consumption of 1/2 a litre of good red wine a day cures everything. And a couple of pints of good beer occasionally re-inforces the protection.

[garthman]

PS. Well done with quitting smoking - I gave up a few years ago too but never did the calculations. The money saved is impressive, even more so in the UK where tobacco is highly taxed - I've calculated that here the saving would have been