Really upset: my voice isn't getting any better.

[toptramp]

I've had a very hoarse voice for a week now. It started with a virus; including fever etc. My voice is still very hoarse and husky. I am finding it distressing as it is effecting everything. i am a teacher and I need my voice back.
I have tried throat lozenges, honey and lemon, gargling cider vinegar, thyme tea. Everything and i still sound like a phone sex worker. I am goig to the doctor's tomorrow. I just need to take more time off don't I?

Sometimes the vocal chords just take a bit longer to recover - you've obviously been doing your best to soothe them, but when you say you sound like a sex worker it makes me think that you're trying to speak.

The best thing to do is to not try to speak at all whisper if you must, but stop attempting to make a sound for several days - until Sunday.

Hope it gets better, keep up the soothing stuff, stay quiet

I have to speak for my job and I have to speak to my dd. She's 3. I can't not talk!!!! OMG. This is hell!

Its been 4 weeks tomorrow for me, and I'm finally almost - almost - back to normal. I had identical bug: felt like laryngitis, no voice, fever, then croaky with cold, and hardly any voice at all for 2 weeks and abnormal voice for another week after that.

Utter, utter pain in the rear (I had it over half term with dh away: two small ones and a dog - and no voice ) and you have my total sympathy. I think you do need to take more time off, as the more I used my voice the more I lost it (and it started hurting again).

Hi Elibean. My plan is to go in tomorrow but take Friday off as hardly have any lessons then chill over the weekend and only have to be in 1 hour on Monday so will have chance to rest it. Yes- bollocking pain in the arse. It has made me realise how precious my voice is!

I had this. I got antibiotics for sinusitis in the end but coincedentally or not my voice improved too. It took about 2 weeks in total but thats probably due to having 2 young kids. When i was first ill my throat was absolute agony but after day 3/4 it was just no voice.

Dont get really upset though, its just a temporary thing.

I've had no voice for over a week. It's incredibly difficult not to talk with two Dss and so every afternoon puts me back to square one. Doctor said to inhale steam five times a day and take ibuprofen and to refrain from talking at all.

Have you tried Vocalzone (you can get it in Boots)? My husband is a lecturer and this helped him when he lost his voice last year.

I have had a whole packet of vocalzone without success.

Sounds like a plan, toptramp

Mine started going again (and is sore) and its 4 weeks today. I spoke too soon, clearly, in more ways that one!

Its actually getting a tad depressing, and slightly anxious making - its going on soo long. I'm thinking maybe GP next week if not 100% better, meantime am off to pharmacy to stock up on manuka honey, lozenges, vitamins, and anything else I can think of.

Hi there, Elibean, I went to GP. She said that due to a mild winter the normal bugs weren't killed off and have mutated so lots of people are getting laryngitus. She said I just have to rest it (fat chance) but that a week is no time at all and up to a month is usual.

Really? That helps...thanks for telling me, though sorry you had to go to GP for both of us

I know what you mean, fat chance of resting it. Hey ho, here's to bell-like voices a week or two from now!

This happens to me twice a year and I'm an actor so I need my voice too! The best advice is to rest you voice as much as possible. I know it's crap but it's the only thing that works for me.