Please help - I keep loosing my voice.

[VorpalSword]

I could really do with some advice / wise words about this.

Every time I get a cold then I lose my voice completely. I don’t get a sore throat, my vocal cords just stop working. If I touch my throat there is no vibration there.

I had covid just before Christmas and it was 10 days before my voice came back. This time I have a cold, this is now day 3 of no voice.

I’m a teacher so need my voice. So far my voice loss is during the holidays but at some point it will happen when I am supposed to be working.

Is there anything I can do to stop this happening, do I need to see my gp?

I have seen my gp more in the last year than any other time, apart from pregnancy, as some blood tests for perimenopause showed up some funny results that are still being investigated so I’m reluctant to add more.

I am really getting fed up with this, and I am catastrophising in my head -what if one time my voice just doesn’t come back? Especially given my throat is not sore.

Thanks, planning to on Monday. It doesn’t feel like I am forcing it as there is nothing there to force. It is just like lip syncing. But I will try (and have been) to keep that to a minimum.

I used to lose my voice all the time. I was diagnosed as having nodules on my vocal chords. Surgery was recommended but actually I was able to sort it with really good voice therapy.

As a teacher you're likely pushing your voice too much. You'll need to learn better control, volume and breathing techniques etc. In the meantime if it's gone DON'T whisper. You're straining your chords more by forcing air through. Keep your throat moist and consider chewing gum when talking a lot (not teaching obviously but if you're out with friends). It relaxes your throat a bit.

Get that referral as fast as you can! And good luck.

Yes it must be very hard. Just rely on texting and WhatsApping for now to keep up some social contact. Humidification and fluids really will help so steamy baths and bathrooms and drink water non stop.

Good luck, it must be miserable and worrying as it obviously has a massive impact on your job but try anything to distract yourself, go to the cinema and lots of bracing walks as the weather now much milder. Easier said than done to stay upbeat I know .

Since you've said it happens following a cold, it's likely to be post nasal drip. Your throat does not have to be sore for you to lose your voice with post nasal drip.

Thanks, I think the gp will be able to see this so hopefully if it is I can get it treated.

My voice was fading with long covid and perimenopause. I struggled to read a bedtime story to my youngest. It’s a lot stronger now but can still fade sometimes.

My GP surgery called, I couldn’t speak to them so my colleague did. Basically told to go away and only come back if I still can’t talk in another 2 weeks. No checks needed (so could be a nasal drip, or laryngitis etc…). I’ve been told to be absolutely silent for the next 2 weeks, which is going to make teaching extremely hard. My throat does hurt today as I was whispering - I don’t see how I can teach without some communication!

Feel totally fed up now.

You can't go on like that, you need to be seen by an ENT specialist.
Ask your GP for a referral.

Absolutely not ok. Get someone to ring, ask for/demand a face to face. Say it isnt a new problem, it is recurrent and you've done all the very obvious voice rest stuff. It was probably a nurse or paramedic, they seem to be running theshow appointment wise.

You need an ent referral. Be pushy. Hard I know in your present circumstances but do not accept leaving it 2weeks. If you do get then you'll need a sick note you can't teach if you can't communicate easily.

It was a doctor and she said she wouldn’t give a referral for another 2 weeks. I have a note saying reduced activities at school and my Head of faculty thinks I can teach silently, with lots of book work. I will see how it goes tomorrow and I will just have to be very strict with myself and no try to talk.

If they have ‘seen’ me and say there is no need for a face 2face I am not sure what else I can do.

They haven't seen you though, a phone consult with a colleague just isn't good enough imo. Sorry I don't want to sound bossy, if you're ok waiting on reduced duties then that's the main thing .

If it were me I'd get someone to ring, ask for a 2 week sick note as I bet the stress and worry is as bad as the communication problems and request to be seen and examined this week. It's a recurring problem, theyre treating it like it's your first episode of losing your voice. Good luck.

I agree with you I just can’t see a way forward. If they won’t give me an appointment then I just have to wait.

Or Dh work does have Bupa so could look at private gp appointment and see if they will give me a referral.

As for teaching, I will see how tomorrow goes and take it from there. If tomorrow is a struggle then I will let my line manager know as we will have to find another solution.

It could be a number of different things but it sounds very similar to vocal cord paresis, which is a condition I have.

Thank you.

Is there anything they can do about that and have you regained your voice? Last question - how did you get a diagnosis?

I hope your voice problems are resolved /resolving.

My voice loss started after having Covid several years ago. I'd lose my voice repeatedly for 3 to 4 weeks each time and like you had no pain but It was very difficult to make a sound as it took a lot of effort. I saw numerous different specialists including an ENT consultant, however I was misdiagnosed with reflux. I knew this was incorrect and did my own research and asked the GP for another hospital referral which is when I was sent to a large hospital with an ENT voice disorder specialist. It took about a year to get the correct diagnosis! Ultimately my voice has improved with speech therapy and time but I still get voice loss episodes and remain under the consultant. I was told if the vocal cord went into paralysis (rather than paresis) they could operate. Yours may be something different but your description has similarities to my condition. I'd recommend keeping a voice loss diary and record yourself trying to talk so you can show the doctor.

Thank you. I'm glad you have some improvements.

I had this and got a referral - camera looking at vocal cords showed all well.

ENT suggested I start taking lanzaprozole for acid reflux even though I had no symptoms and also I had some speech therapy which reminded me to support my voice by breathing low.

Crossing fingers! It's been ok this school year (I teach as well) which is a change since I lost my voice completely 6 times last year.

The ENT referral was under the 2 week protocol which was scary but I think my age triggered that and all was well in the end.

Don't whisper!

Today was mixed. A couple of classes were ok, 6th form worked independently and some were just hard work.

I might not be as well as I thought I am, I am just feeling worn down today and even not whispering my throat feels tired. It is also miserable being at work and not being able to talk, I had lunch in my room as I couldn’t face company.

Not sure why I’m posting, just feel really down tonight.

Yes it must be very tough . Please do consider a 2 week sick note so you can really rest your voice and see if any improvement, plus the psychological effects will be just as debilitating as the physical ones.

Would I be unreasonable to say that I will work from home? I can plan, mark admin shit etc… but being in work is just too hard?

Do it op! For your sanity you need to rest, recuperate and then get seen in 2 weeks. Say yes its back (if it is) but it keeps happening and you want an ent referral.

Thank you. I am going to go to bed with an audiobook and will email in the morning.

I sent an email and had a reply. The suggestion is to continue to silent teach with another member of staff in the room for behaviour management. I just can’t. My throat wasn’t sore on Sunday but it now and I fell done in. I also slept really badly as I keep going round and round in circles.

Anyway I have decided that I have to call in fully sick. I can’t do another silent teaching, I just can’t. I offered to continue to work but not in the classroom but if that isn’t an option then I won’t work at all. I will be off sick and do no work.

I have teacher guilt, especially for year 11, but I can’t risk damaging my voice and making my recovery take longer.

So sorry op, wfh should've been a reasonable adjustment but yes go off sick if that is the only option.

Couple of suggestions, try a humidifier, one specifically that you can hold over your mouth and breath in moist air twice a day. Drink 2litres, a day I know you'll be wee'ing non stop but vocal cords really do like moisture!

Yes work guilt is awful, but I bet you're the sort never off sick. Put yourself first and focus on your health and wellbeing.

I think it would be absolutely impractical for you to silent teach and pretty soul destroying too. Best wishes.

It was the right choice to stay home today. Just slumped on the sofa, going back to work was a lot harder on me than I expected.