posted
Does anyone else suffer from a very hoarse voice? Mine comes and goes but never goes completely away.
A doctor checked it once. I don't remember what he was called but he was an ear, nose and throat specialist. He checked clear down my throat and only told me that there was no cancer. He did say something was very dry, maybe my vocal cords, I don't remember for sure as it was several years ago.
Is there anything that can be done for the hoarsness>
MariaA
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9128
posted
yes, Lyme can affect the vocal cords. I was heartbroken to lose my singing voice, thought I was going to need to go on a several month silent spell and then re-train myself to sing, etc- and was nicely surprised when my voice came back after I got a lyme diagnosis and got treatment. This is not an uncommon experience, I think.
It's probably possible that other neurological issues can affect hoarseness, too, and that it might not be in your vocal cords specifically.
there is a herbal remedy called Singers' Saving Grace that some people swear by. It has the added bonus of killing topical bacteria in the back of your mouth or on your tonsils .
here's one site that sells that and other products for relief of certain kinds of hoarseness, not sure if they'll be helpful for you or not, I havne't tried them before my Lyme-induced hoarseness went away. Several of these I've used for sore throat from colds etc, and they're very pleasant:
I was on a long drive today, and was working out all four parts of a gospel harmony at the top of my lungs- and earlier in my illness I couldn't sing without my voice cracking inexplicably almost immediately. I'm sure it's related to treatment that it returned, I havne't really done anything to rest my voice or retrain it.
-------------------- Symptom Free!!! Thank you all!!!!
map1131
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2022
posted
Yes, had a hoarse voice, more on than off, for 5 years. Don't know why it disappeared and hasn't returned in over 5 yrs? But one sx gone and umpteen hundred to go.
Pam
-------------------- "Never, never, never, never, never give up" Winston Churchill Posts: 6495 | From Louisville, Ky | Registered: Jan 2002
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posted
I had undiagnosed Lyme for many many years and would periodically become very hoarse just out of the blue. Always wondered what that was about!!!
Following treatment, the hoarseness went away.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Marz
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3446
posted
I'm so glad to hear this can go away. I've had this problem for a few yars and thought maybe an allergy or sinus drainage.
Been on abx too long for a sinus infection and nothing works for allergy.
Is this very tiring for everyone? If I'm talking a lot, it's just so exhausting to work up the energy to talk loud enough so people can hear me.
I used to have a clear soprano sounding voice when I spoke. I miss it.
I'm thinking it's neurological. No doctor's been concerned enough to check it out.
Posts: 1302 | From USA | Registered: Dec 2002
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posted
Hoarse voice for me was one indication of my thyroid cancer. No one can see visually whether you have that, only a biopsy. Get it checked out.
Posts: 252 | From NJ USA | Registered: Mar 2004
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posted
I was diagnosed with a vocal chord polyp, and years of antibiotics have not yet restored my voice. I used to be able to karaoke pretty good, not anymore. I don't foresee my singing voice returning unless I get the polyp removed, and I don't even know if that's possible.
Posts: 495 | From USA | Registered: Mar 2010
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klutzo
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5701
posted
Make sure you get your thyroid checked to rule that out. Hoarseness is one of the common symptoms of hypothyroidism, which is very common in Lymies. I have hoarseness too, esp. in the mornings, and am currently taking 2 thyroid meds.
klutzo
Posts: 1269 | From Clearwater, Florida, USA | Registered: May 2004
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MariaA
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9128
posted
YES! it's definitely a possible thyroid symptom. Lyme also causes a LOT of thyroid issues for many, many people (usually hypothyroidism, not cancer!), so do look into that. For me my voice came back before I knew abuot the thyroid stuff, and even though I have hypothyroidism again, the voice is fine most of the time when I'm not at my sickest.
-------------------- Symptom Free!!! Thank you all!!!!
MariaA
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9128
posted
Elizzza- I'm sorry to hear about your polyp. They do happen, including to healthy people. One alternative to surgery that I heard about when I was investigating this, is to just not talk for several weeks. I think it helps to then have a voice coach work with you to make sure you're not damaging yoiur vocal cords by the way you talk or sing. At the time, I couldn't take a break because I was starting to lecture for a living at the time (very bad for voice I'm sure), but in the future if it causes me problems again or if I develop vocal cord nodules I'm going to try to 'silent several weeks' treatment rather than contemplate surgery at first. Surgery requires that you spend time being silent afterwards anyway.
-------------------- Symptom Free!!! Thank you all!!!!
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