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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To feel this upset about losing my voice?

11 replies

LondonLady29 · 02/07/2015 14:24

am currently on holiday, sunny beach holiday with 6 others (1 is DH). We arrived on Tuesday and are due to fly home on Saturday. Last weekend I had a throat infection and went to the doctor on Monday who said I should be fine as I was fighting it off etc. Tuesday was a really long day traveling and then everyone was really excited because it was the first night and wanted to have a big night out. I only had two drinks but didn't want to be a spoilsport and felt pretty much completely fine so stayed out quite late. The following morning (yesterday) I woke up with a croak of a voice and throughout the day it diminished until last night/ now I can't make a single sound.

It is so frustrating. I want to have fun and joke around with the group and I can't make a sound let alone enjoy a conversation. So much so they have all gone off to the beach and I've stayed at the hotel by myself because it's so awful being around everyone having fun and I don't feel like I can join in. I've cried over it a lot because this is the only holiday I'll have this year and feel like I can't enjoy myself.

Has anyone else lost their voice and how long did it last?
AIBU not to go along to the group activities? I honestly can't join in much at all except for a dumb smile and nod every now and again.

OP posts:
DaysAreWhereWeLive · 02/07/2015 14:26

You're making it way worse for yourself by not joining in!

Have a cup of tea and a grip, and go and enjoy your holiday. Smile

haveabreakhaveakitkat · 02/07/2015 14:35

Poor you, it's horrible being ill on holiday, and not being able to join in with a laugh and a joke with friends is hard Sad. Try and rest up today and maybe aim for a good night out tomorrow?

plecofjustice · 02/07/2015 14:55

Hayfever makes me lose my voice, so I've spent a couple of months with very little voice, or worse, a voice that fades in and out so I sound like a morse code machine! When it's really bad, i've resorted to communicating by text message to people around me.

If you're feeling well enough to go out, then take a big bottle of water (it'll help) and go. You may discover a hitherto unknown talent for physical comedy :)

Stokes · 02/07/2015 15:20

Ugh, sympathies, I hate losing my voice. Never used to happen to me, now it seems to happen with every bug. And being sick on holidays sucks.

But, you're certainly not going to enjoy your holiday couped up in your hotel room. Go down to the beach, enjoy the weather and the company even if you can't join in fully. You will feel better for it.

DoggyFace · 02/07/2015 17:00

please try not to cry - crying is very hard on the vocal cords. how about heading to the beach with a book?

ShuShuFontana · 02/07/2015 17:12

don't cut yourself off, go and listen, join in as you can!

I suffer loads from laryngitis..any germs I get settle in my throat and it can be up to two weeks of silence/minnie mouse/whispering/husky chat line voice.

So I spend a few days with a cold feeling dreadful and no one cares as it's "just a cold" then the voice buggers off but I feel fine and everyone is really sympathetic "cos you sound terrible!"

Talk as little as you can, whispering is fine, just don't force your voice. Drink plenty, take any meds, sooky sweets can help if you feel hoarse. Keeping your throat warm with a scarf, but that may be an old wives' tale!

Original poster
LondonLady29 · 02/07/2015 18:33

Thanks everyone! That was the push in the right direction I needed. I have never lost my voice before and it's pretty scary and isolating isn't it. For anyone who has lost it before how long before I can expect to get t back? Started off hoarse yesterday and gradually disappeared to absolute silence now. Thank you.

OP posts:
sparklewater · 02/07/2015 19:28

I guess it depends on the person/reason. I lost mine for the first time over Christmas - it was horrible! Lasted about 3/4 days though. By day 3 I was able to make myself understood :)

emwithme · 02/07/2015 20:39

Are you somewhere you can get aniseed tea? I lose my voice any time I'm in prolonged contact with air conditioning; I lost my voice on holiday in Egypt and was recommended this by one of the waiters (once he'd giggled at my squeaking!) - it's absolutely amazing.

BikketBikketBikket · 02/07/2015 22:32

OP it's really frightening when you lose your voice for the first time - I'd had a couple of instances (when I'd had throat infections) when I'd lost my voice for 2-3 days - and then in February last year I had a bad allergic reaction to lilies and my voice disappeared for 6 WEEKS...! It was awful - I was on my own at the time, and realised that if anything happened to me, I couldn't even dial 999 for help - which really frightened me Shock

I eventually had an endoscopy and then speech therapy, and my voice very slowly returned over about 3 months (as a pp said, I sounded like Minnie Mouse for a long while). My voice still isn't 100%, and I don't think that it will ever be what it was - but at least I sound like me again, can speak and can sing to my DGC (even if it's croakier than before).

You'll be okay - one tip from my wonderful speech therapist is not to strain your vocal chords, as they tense up and go into spasm, but to try to hum to yourself gently (you sound crazy, but it does keep your vocal chords moving and supple Grin ) All the very best Wine

Original poster
LondonLady29 · 03/07/2015 11:04

You are all so kind thank you. Still mute today, day 2 of silence. Guessing I just need to be patient!

OP posts:
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