Two things to check out came to mind when I read your post. First, GERD, gastroesophageal reflux disorder, (sometimes
referred to commonly as "heartburn", but not really about the heart- caused from acid traveling the wrong direction) can cause symptoms similar to what you discribe or a thyroid problem can affect your voice as a "goiter" starts to press against the voice box. Eventually you can become quite hoarse.

Of course you should check this out with a doctor. Beyond that, things you can do on your own for GERD include raising the head of your bed several inches and not eating for several hours before lying down. There are also numerous meds for this condition.

If the problem stems from a thyroid condition, the goiter may resolve once you are on the replacement hormone treatment, especially if you are pre-middle age.

By the way, both G-I problems and thyroid problems are very common with patients who also have Lyme.

Hope your voice is soon back to normal.

It has done that to me for years.

Trout

Good to know I'm not alone with this symptom. I just attribute it to Lyme and try to take care of it when it happens.

Peace and healing,
Annie

------------------
``The best way out is always through.'' -Robert Frost

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Oh my gosh! I've been on this board for 3 full months & I don't remember seeing very many with voice problems!!!

Yes, Chime I can relate.

My speech problem was one of my early symptoms. It was very insidious.

Stress would kick my voice out instanteously----meaning it would crack & break.

The longer I talked, the weaker my voice became. It was like a battery going down. I really had to struggle very hard at times to speak.

People just thought I was an emotional cripple.

I could sing along with the car radio, but by the time I reached my destination-----my voice was weak & I got very strange looks when trying to talk to a salesclerk. My voice was gone.

I had to rest up my voice. In a few hours, it would return (kind-of).

Lack of sleep also exacerbated my voice weakness. I tried to talk fast hoping no one would detect it.

In the early 90s, I read in the book, "Instant Vitamin-Mineral Locator" by Hanna Kroeger that a weak voice "CAN" be caused by a lack of sulphur.

What the heck was sulphur?

I went to the Health Food Store & asked how I could buy sulphur. I'll never forget this dear lady. She showed me the amino acid capsules, NAC (n-acetyl-cysteine).

From the first time I took them------I had energy, was very calm & yes, it helped my voice. But the most astounding part was that I felt better all over.

Sulphur rebuilds the body.

In 1994 I was diagnosed by a Movement Specialist Disorder in Houston with essential tremor of head & VOICE.

I was not a candidate for botox injections into the larynx as my voice problems waxed & waned. Voice problems are called dysphonia.

Anyway, fast forward to 2003. I found my LLMD & the morning after I took my first Zithromax------my voice sounded just like a man's voice. It was beyone W E I R D.

Antibiotics helped my voice. If I don't get my sleep-----my voice is screwy.

I still hate the telephone------unless my voice is working really good that day.

When I offer to make a phone call for my husand-------he about faints. He says, "You would do that for me?"

That's why communicating via e-mail is so wonderful for me.

I definitely agree about hoarseness & low thyroid. As of 2002, they've changed the lab values of normal TSH from 10 down to 3.

Labcorp has still not changed its standard values on this! Tsk! Tsk!

Anyway the voice problems can stem from problems with the 10th Cranial nerve (vagus nerve).

I whipped out my hand dandy symptom finder
found on Lymenet resources, entitled, "Lyme Disease Symptoms & Characteristics."

After the first two pages, it's in a chart form listing symptoms & how the body is affected. Very cool!

I's in PDF file & the print is too small to read. I just printed my booklet out & refer to it over & over.

This was also passed out at our Support Group Meeting & it's a goldmine of info.

Click on link below. Then, You'll need to scroll down the page a bit & click on the green blob beside the title listed below.

--------------------------------------------

Lyme Disease Symptoms & Characteristics (chart)

http://www.lymeinfo.net/lymefiles.html

---------------------------------------------

page 5 - Vocal paralysis....paralysis of recurrent laryngeal nerve

page 25 - Verbal difficulties, slurred speech

You'll really like that handout/chart.

Please scoll on by this, for some: It's my opinion-------please indulge me!!

Just some interesting info I hit upon: I heard Robert Kennedy, Jr., speak on Martha Stewart's show.

His voice sounded just like mine. I recorded it for my husband to hear that night.

He agreed-----the voice was so similar to mine.

He's on the Board of Dystonia Foundation (not correct/precise title). He has spasmodic dysphonia.

I received their newsletter & looked him up. He's on the Board!

He has worked on the contaminated river on east coast for years.

I know it's not right to diagnose----------------, but cannot help it; sometimes wonder if he has Lyme.

I'm well-versed in spasmodic torticollis of the head (wryneck) & spasmodic dysphonia because my father has both. He refuses to get the Botox injections.

My dad definitely does not "believe" in Lyme. That may change. My son & I are both Western Blot & Bowen positive & my husband will be tested in 2 weeks.

I also think Ralph Nader has a bit of a speech problem------if I remember right.

I have read he had LD in the 80s. He had Bells palsy.

Anyway-------guys, don't jump on me. I'm just thinking out loud. Still can't help wondering about Micahel J. Fox.

I know. I know-----it appears to be very arrogant to make such a statement, but I've been misdiagnosed too many times to know that it's not exactly IMPOSSIBLE for even the very rich.

Just my thoughts.

Back to Dullchime.

Chime----you're gonna be fine.

Take Care,
Jan

Edited again for spelling.

[This message has been edited by RECIPEGIRL (edited 02 October 2004).]

kind of like the lightheadedness, or ear pain, or tingling on my face etc...all related for me to cranial nerve stuff when i get it...

I "lose" my voice on a daily basis. I wake up with a crisp, resounding voice. But by the end of the day, my voice is almost always weak and strained, barely audible.

I rather hope it's caused by Lyme because doctors are otherwise clueless as to its cause. At least if it's Lyme, I can hope that the symptoms will improve as treatment progresses.

Problem has gone away since I started oral treatment for the Lyme.

Hypopituitarism Symptoms & Signs

fatigue
weakness
sensitivity to cold
decreased appetite
weight loss
abdominal pain
low blood pressure
headache
visual disturbances

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:

HOARSENESS OR CHANGING VOICE
weight gain (unintentional)
joint stiffness
hair loss
facial swelling

you've also just described all the symptoms of LYME DISEASE!!