It's a long shot, but I'm hoping someone has found a miracle doctor for voice problems. Over the last couple of years, I've spent thousands trying to find out why I have excess mucus on my vocal cords. It causes me to have to constantly clear my throat, and by the end of the day, my voice is shot. The problem is not a tumor and it is not allergies. The doctors have tested multiple times for both. One doctor said that I have a deviated septum that is causing an unusual drainage, and he wants to operate. However, I'm suspicious of his diagnosis and would like to have a competent second opinion. I know of no one who has had a success with deviated septum surgery. I will travel anywhere to get a solution, if there is one.
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Voice Doctors
- Thread starter pellmell
- Start date
M
madel
Guest
If not allergies or a tumor...do you happen to get tonsiliths?
It's a long shot, but I'm about to have my tonsils removed because I get these little obnoxious things called tonsiliths and they in turn (I strongly suspect...we'll see after I get the tonsils removed whether or not I'm right!) create excess bacteria which in turn contributes to any infections I get (which happen frequently...I think in part because of the tonsiliths) which increases mucus production.
Other than that I'm not of much help. Maybe approach a couple of other ENT docs about the septum theory and see what they say? Best I got - good luck!
It's a long shot, but I'm about to have my tonsils removed because I get these little obnoxious things called tonsiliths and they in turn (I strongly suspect...we'll see after I get the tonsils removed whether or not I'm right!) create excess bacteria which in turn contributes to any infections I get (which happen frequently...I think in part because of the tonsiliths) which increases mucus production.
Other than that I'm not of much help. Maybe approach a couple of other ENT docs about the septum theory and see what they say? Best I got - good luck!
pellmell said:
There is this little school in the Atlanta area called Emory University. :
I heard an interview several years ago... maybe on Terry Gross program... about this doctor that helped sales people, lawyers... people of all kinds who need their voice to function robustly clear up their issues.
If you will Google Emory Voice Center you should find a wealth of information. If you are based somewhere that allows economical travel to Atlanta, these people might have something to offer you.
If travel to Emory does not appear to be practical, it may be that writings for medical journals by some of their staff might give you hints on what to ask your doctors to consider.
After I hit the [Post] button, I remember the main focus of the interview I heard. Pitching your voice! The concept is that our thorax area, our vocal chord area and our head cavities tend to work best if we pitch our voice so that it resonates well in that part of our body that is "tuned" for those frequencies that resonate well.
And right there on the radio the doctor explained some exercises that help you find that "sweet spot" and milk it for the best sound, and the sound that least irritates your speech mechanism.
Those of us who have practiced the art of radio broadcasting, men in particular, purposely pitch our voice too low until it becomes an almost unbreakable habit. So based on that broadcast I built my own little voice warm-up routine that finds that sweet spot and I go through it just before I hit the [Record] button.
Then I woke up one day and realized that for years I automatically selected that pitch when I was in front of a group to speak.
It is possible your body is producing mucus in excess because you are "grinding the gears in your voice producing gear-box".
In my case I hum around until I find the bottom of my comfort range, and make that DOE (as in singing musical scales) and I found that when I went up the scale what musicians call a "fifth interval"..... SOE... as in DOE RAY MEE FAH SOE ... I'm there.
Your mileage may vary.
And right there on the radio the doctor explained some exercises that help you find that "sweet spot" and milk it for the best sound, and the sound that least irritates your speech mechanism.
Those of us who have practiced the art of radio broadcasting, men in particular, purposely pitch our voice too low until it becomes an almost unbreakable habit. So based on that broadcast I built my own little voice warm-up routine that finds that sweet spot and I go through it just before I hit the [Record] button.
Then I woke up one day and realized that for years I automatically selected that pitch when I was in front of a group to speak.
It is possible your body is producing mucus in excess because you are "grinding the gears in your voice producing gear-box".
In my case I hum around until I find the bottom of my comfort range, and make that DOE (as in singing musical scales) and I found that when I went up the scale what musicians call a "fifth interval"..... SOE... as in DOE RAY MEE FAH SOE ... I'm there.
Your mileage may vary.
Believe it or not, one other option to have checked out is acid reflux disease, even if you have no other symptoms .
I had this same problem about 10 years ago, and it turned out I have acid reflux that is not intense enough to wake me up at night, but is serious enough to be irritating my vocal chords, causing the excess mucus. A Nexxium once a day takes care of it.
I had this same problem about 10 years ago, and it turned out I have acid reflux that is not intense enough to wake me up at night, but is serious enough to be irritating my vocal chords, causing the excess mucus. A Nexxium once a day takes care of it.
M
madel
Guest
That's fascinating GRC! I hadn't thought of it scientifically or experimented with it much yet, but a couple of days ago I noticed there are certain pitches that just seem to come out clearly while most others don't. Makes sense in context of your post!
Thanks for the input. I'm in driving distance of Emory. I will definitely check that out. For what it's worth, a Duke doctor said I was clearing my throat the wrong way. The voice therapist said I needed to do the exercise suggested above. The doctor previously had me on antibiotics, antiviral, neti pot, Nexium, and saline solution. None of them made any difference.
There is a place called Texas Voice Center that claims to be world-class. When I talked with them, they recommended that I consult with a local doctor...the same Duke doctor I already saw. So, I wrote them off. There is no point in continuing to see a doctor that doesn't know the cause of the problem.
The frustrating part is that some doctor somewhere will instantly know the problem and whether there is a solution. I hope I can find him or her.
There is a place called Texas Voice Center that claims to be world-class. When I talked with them, they recommended that I consult with a local doctor...the same Duke doctor I already saw. So, I wrote them off. There is no point in continuing to see a doctor that doesn't know the cause of the problem.
The frustrating part is that some doctor somewhere will instantly know the problem and whether there is a solution. I hope I can find him or her.
Just another thought.
You might inquire with Dr. Robert Ossoff at the Vanderbilt Voice Center in Nashville. Either he or one of his staff can probably get to the root of the problem. He has done wonders for many of Nashville's top singers, and is world renown. Here is a link to his contact info:
http://www.healthgrades.com/directory_search/physician/profiles/dr-md-reports/dr-robert-ossoff-md-2ad8f182
GRS is spot on with the voice exercises. The vocal chords need a warming up period in order to perform properly. If the voice is strained in any way in order to achieve "a certain sound" some collateral damage can occur..so be careful with your instrument.
Cigarette smoking can stiffen the vocal chords..so if we smoke, we are slicing years off our careers. Likewise the allure of the "whiskey voice" (beleive me I know about this one) I used to think I sounded sooooo good after I had been on a sweet little binge the night before..but man what a toll it took on my life..(preaching lite off)
As GRC mentioned..before doing any long sessions..I start at my lowest comfortable voice note..and very slowly slide up until just barely reaching falsetto..then quit. Wait 30 sec and do it again..but while waiting do a simple articulation exercise by making your mouth form a WIDE "E"..and then a WIDE "O"....EEEE-OOOO-EEEE-OOOO for 30 sec. After you have repeated this three times..try reading a script..You will not believe how smooth and naturally powerful your voice will be.
That will be twelve dollars. Pay Pal preferrred.
You might inquire with Dr. Robert Ossoff at the Vanderbilt Voice Center in Nashville. Either he or one of his staff can probably get to the root of the problem. He has done wonders for many of Nashville's top singers, and is world renown. Here is a link to his contact info:
http://www.healthgrades.com/directory_search/physician/profiles/dr-md-reports/dr-robert-ossoff-md-2ad8f182
GRS is spot on with the voice exercises. The vocal chords need a warming up period in order to perform properly. If the voice is strained in any way in order to achieve "a certain sound" some collateral damage can occur..so be careful with your instrument.
Cigarette smoking can stiffen the vocal chords..so if we smoke, we are slicing years off our careers. Likewise the allure of the "whiskey voice" (beleive me I know about this one) I used to think I sounded sooooo good after I had been on a sweet little binge the night before..but man what a toll it took on my life..(preaching lite off)
As GRC mentioned..before doing any long sessions..I start at my lowest comfortable voice note..and very slowly slide up until just barely reaching falsetto..then quit. Wait 30 sec and do it again..but while waiting do a simple articulation exercise by making your mouth form a WIDE "E"..and then a WIDE "O"....EEEE-OOOO-EEEE-OOOO for 30 sec. After you have repeated this three times..try reading a script..You will not believe how smooth and naturally powerful your voice will be.
That will be twelve dollars. Pay Pal preferrred.
One of my (bad?) habits.... well, one of my costly habits is hanging out at Barnes and Noble from time to time. I recently came across a book on this topic That cost me a whole $15.00!!!!!
"Set Your Voice Free" by Roger Love. Has a CD in the back with some samples of voice exercises.
I don't remember that he has a solution for a mucus problem, but he will stretch your imagination about some drills and exercises and some advice of finding your most productive ways to make beautiful sound.
"Set Your Voice Free" by Roger Love. Has a CD in the back with some samples of voice exercises.
I don't remember that he has a solution for a mucus problem, but he will stretch your imagination about some drills and exercises and some advice of finding your most productive ways to make beautiful sound.
The new book "Voice Over, Voice Actor" (Amazon.com), written by VOA's Yuri Lowenthal and Tara Platt (see them on YouTube), has a section on vocal warm ups, stresses to avoid, food and beverages to avoid, hydrating your body the night before a session, green apples, etc etc etc. Good book for $13. Found it quite informative.
K
kenglish
Guest
I have what I like to call "Acid Reflux from Hell", which seems to vary from acidic, to non-acidic...depending on the phases of the moon or the price of tea in China ;D .
It causes anything from a constant tickle (mucus coming up and clinging to my vocal cords), all the way to uncontrolled hiccups and spasms that send undigested food across the room. The best thing I can do, right now, is try to eat very little at a time, and I do a thing where I slowly, but forcefully, exhale until I can hear a "wheeze" from my vocal cords. That seems to clear the worst parts.
I plan to have surgery soon, where the use the top (fundus) of the stomach to help pull the esophagus closed ("Fundoplication" ). It's usually a laparoscopic out-patient proceedure.
It causes anything from a constant tickle (mucus coming up and clinging to my vocal cords), all the way to uncontrolled hiccups and spasms that send undigested food across the room. The best thing I can do, right now, is try to eat very little at a time, and I do a thing where I slowly, but forcefully, exhale until I can hear a "wheeze" from my vocal cords. That seems to clear the worst parts.
I plan to have surgery soon, where the use the top (fundus) of the stomach to help pull the esophagus closed ("Fundoplication" ). It's usually a laparoscopic out-patient proceedure.
Jeff is right...the folks at Vanderbilt are pioneers in the study of "voice". I would also highly recommend the people at the Pittsburgh Center for Voice (many studied at Vandy...Dr. Jackie Gartner-Schmidt is terrific and Dr. Clark Rosen is revered as a laryngologist!)) As a professional who has had numerous voice-issues over the past 7 years, I can attest to the horrors of not being able to do effectively what was once seemingly effortless. After years of therapy, exams, going to the next doctor and the next....I finally had the fundoplication surgery 4 years ago. If you're experiencing the effects of acid reflux (burning, excessive throat-clearing, lack of power and range) and OTC products or prescriptions are not helping, ask a good laryngologist or gastroenterologist about the nissin fundo surgery. It's the gold-standard.
However, it's not a cure-all for everyone, including me. Do some research on LPR, too. Often called "the silent reflux", LPR (or non-acid reflux) many times doesn't have the typical symptoms of acid reflux. The problem is that acid, bile, and other substances make their way up through the esophagus and "pool" in the voice-box. The esophagus has much greater healing properties than does the larynx and the vocal folds! Chronic throat-clearing can be a sure sign of LPR effects. Be careful of diet, eating late at night, and certainly DON'T SMOKE!!
If an ENT cannot diagnose, search out a good laryngologist who can scope your vocal cords and start a treatment plan. Reflux sucks!! (hey, that rhymed!) Together with some decent exercises, diet modification, medication, and maybe even voice-therapy, you'll find some relief. For me, there's been no magic cure-all. (unfortunately) Good luck!
However, it's not a cure-all for everyone, including me. Do some research on LPR, too. Often called "the silent reflux", LPR (or non-acid reflux) many times doesn't have the typical symptoms of acid reflux. The problem is that acid, bile, and other substances make their way up through the esophagus and "pool" in the voice-box. The esophagus has much greater healing properties than does the larynx and the vocal folds! Chronic throat-clearing can be a sure sign of LPR effects. Be careful of diet, eating late at night, and certainly DON'T SMOKE!!
If an ENT cannot diagnose, search out a good laryngologist who can scope your vocal cords and start a treatment plan. Reflux sucks!! (hey, that rhymed!) Together with some decent exercises, diet modification, medication, and maybe even voice-therapy, you'll find some relief. For me, there's been no magic cure-all. (unfortunately) Good luck!
I remember reading something a good while back on one of the VO boards.
I found the link and it gives a good bit of info on the subject (even voice samples). I'm not sure if you have to be a member to view this or not. But if so, it's free to sign up.
Hope this helps!
http://www.vo-bb.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=10257&highlight=winnie+pooh
I found the link and it gives a good bit of info on the subject (even voice samples). I'm not sure if you have to be a member to view this or not. But if so, it's free to sign up.
Hope this helps!
http://www.vo-bb.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=10257&highlight=winnie+pooh
RDO said:
Interesting site. Thanks for posting.
I would not be surprised to learn that maybe every metro area the size of Indianapolis or larger has at least one medical group working in this specialty.
This is a specialty that reminds me of the Plastic Surgeons or as some prefer: Cosmetic Surgeons. For some it is a luxury- a prettier face, boobs made more attractive, a nose shaved down to size. For others its very practical and even life saving. Burn scars made bearable. Cleft palates made into functional speaking ability. Accident victims restores to a socially acceptable appearance.
You know these offices can't make a living off of radio announcers who want to start their own voice-over studio. There are corporate executives who need a speech pattern to match their decision making ability. Sales people who must be able to deliver their story over and over and over... everyday! Think of the singers who need help if they are to live up to the professional grind.
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