I read with great interest Adamm's post on hearing and loss of pitch and the many fine responses he received.
My most severe loss from lyme (after walking-on a walker) is my ability to speak properly.
I have serious volume, pitch and hoarseness problems. This has been an ongoing worsening symptom for several years and I have accepted as a normal progression of lyme.
I am a longtime lyme sufferer but only in treatment for three months. I have been on Doxy,ceftin and currently on azithromytin and cipro.
Anyone with speach improvement?
Posted by tailz (Member # 10014) on :
I have a vocal chord polyp, and though I'm not hoarse like I once was, I can't even sing jingle bells anymore. I never got my voice back. I'm testing positive for Lyme, babs, parvo, HHV6, and EBV.
I also am sick from the cell phone boom. Links below.
Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :
Dear Tailz and Rose,
A vocal cord polyp is usually caused by one incident of abuse.
Like screaming real loud.
Problem with polyp(s) is that they can become nodules.
That is like a hard bump on your vocal folds.
If the vocal folds can not meet in the midline and vibrate efficiently
Then hoarseness and breathiness can occur.
Also less volume for speech. You may find yourself taking more
Breaths while speaking to keep enough air flowing
Which is what makes the vocal folds vibrate.
If you haven't been, I would suggest a visit to an ENT.
I know that hoarseness is a symptom of Lyme disease,
But ongoing worsening vocal quality is something that needs to be checked out.
A couple of simple things to do to minimize stress and abuse of vocal folds
Include speaking in a soft voice as opposed to whispering.
Whispering is actually very abusive for your vocal folds.
Not screaming.
Making sure you take a good breath prior to speaking.
Don't try to force out speech when you are out of air.
Taking vocal rests. That means no talking.
I have done voice therapy for patients with nodules
As polyps are usually caused by that one abusive event.
If you don't change the abusive behavior you will not get rid of the nodules.
Stay hydrated. Avoid throat clearing (if you can).
I still recommend seeing an ENT. They don't have to be Lyme literate
To look at your vocal cords and determine if there is anything going on there.
If there is something like a partially paralyzed fold then you may
Talk to your LLMD as we know Lyme loves Cranial X (Vagus) and
That innervates your vocal folds.
I've been a Speech Pathologist for over 18 years.
Please have an ENT look at your throat.
Just to be sure.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posted by NHgirl (Member # 13585) on :
This is making me scared. I thought my 9 yr. old son was not going to have to deal with Lyme.
Right now, my mother, brother, daughter and myself all have Lyme. He was diagnosed with nodules on his vocal cords last year
The speech pathologist at his school did a screening and told us to go to an ENT because he had hoarse voice quality. The ENT checked and found the nodules. They put him on prevacid.
Now, as I'm reading this, I'm thinking it could be Lyme related. I did not have any idea that this could be a possible Lyme symptom. UGH!
Posted by cjnelson (Member # 12928) on :
I had issues of Cranial X too and just about lost my voice. Prior to dx but it came back. It comes and goes but it hasnt since staring tx!!
Now I know it was Lyme issue, then I didnt!
I had to do all the things Geneal said for it to come back around and it took time. It is scary when you lose your voice!
Posted by bejoy (Member # 11129) on :
I used to have a quiet, hoarse, phlegmy voice all the time. After getting rid of Babesia and Candida, I got my voice back, even to the degree that I've been invited to go on tour with a little blue grass band. Fun! You may find your voice just clears right up from treatment.
![[spinning smile]](graemlins/spinsmile.gif)