I have LOST MY VOICE!!!

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   Black Lillyposted 15 years ago

   A few days ago I think I caught a cold, but did not pay much attention to it (will go by itself thing).
   Today, after literally 3-4 hours (!) of quite painful feeling in my throat, I have lost my voice - that means I can only whisper!!!
   
   Maybe someone knows what to do?!?

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      bloodnlatexposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      Hang out in a hot shower, breath in all of the steam, whisper if you need anything

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      prettydarkhorseposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      Hi, you can try gargling with warm water and salt on it, then you minimize from talking until after you notice your voice is back

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      Uninvited Writerposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      Tea and honey. That happened to me last time I had a cold too.

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   Lisa HWposted 15 years ago

   Every few years I seem to get that.  There's absolutely no sound coming out at all.  My children's pediatrician (years ago) told me it tends to happen if you're exhausted (and get a cold/infection). 
   
   Decongestants can make it worse, so don't take those.  When I had it a few years ago I looked online and saw that essentially resting your voice and using sugar-y hard candy or lozenges is kind of "it", as far as doing anything goes.  Ginger tea and lemon is said to be good.  Gargling with salt and water is said to help.  Having clear, salty, soup may help with irritation.  Based only on the idea that it's generally good to get real vitamin C, I aim to drink more orange juice and eat Clementines, in the hopes of maybe building up the immune system.  Since mucous can make it worse, staying away from dairy products may be a good idea.
   
   Vitamin C lozenges seem to help me a little (I figure a sugary lozenge with Vitamin C is better than just hard candy).  Tea with sugar or tea with honey seems soothing too.  Trying to make sound come out just makes it worse, so don't try to force any sound out.  Just go with whispering.
   
   Other than resting your voice and trying to rest more in general, that's kind of all you can do.  When the sound starts to come back (with effort) don't "go wild" using your voice because it's back.  You can lose your voice again if you do that before you're "out of the woods".    You're more "out of the woods" when the sound doesn't take much effort.

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   Colebabieposted 15 years ago

   Gargle with warm salt water. Drink lots of hot tea with honey and lemon
   Don't whisper, whispering puts more strain on your voicebox. Try not to talk at all.
   Hot showers.
   It'll come back in a couple days
   
   I lose my voice every year at Triathlon time

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   gracenotesposted 15 years ago

   Colebabie is correct.  I have had laryngitis many times, usually in the autumn.  Whispering is very hard on your vocal chords.  I like honey and lemon put in hot water, and I find it helpful to breath in steam vapors.
   
   Some of the medicinal teas that you can find anywhere have licorice and eucalyptus in them (and other good things).

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   kiwi galposted 15 years ago

   Causes could be anything.  Go visit a medical clinic, see a doctor.  Have known someone with a cold then no voice and it turned out to be CANCER of the throat. Seek an expert opinion.  Hopefully just a sore throat.

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      bloodnlatexposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      Way to keep things positive!

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         Lisa HWposted 15 years agoin reply to this

            Let's also keep in mind that cancer can also show no symptoms at all.  THAT ought to keep those of us without any symptoms real.    (Sorry, Kiwi, I know where you were coming from; but I couldn't resist picking up on blood's remark.    )

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   Madame Xposted 15 years ago

   drink ginger ale - it really soothes it

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   Black Lillyposted 15 years ago

   Thanks guys...
   A litre of warm nice tea is made, double aspirin + some kind of hot dring that's supposed to help from this, plenty of lozenges, and...
   well, let's be positive - at least a few people will be glad that I shut up for a few days

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   cosetteposted 15 years ago

   i know these sound like two opposite things, but i find that they really soothe a sore throat. as a few said, gargle with warm salt water. that really does help!
   
   for a soothing treat, especially if you have a fever, suck on a popsicle. cherry and banana are the best. they soothe your throat and calm your fever a bit, plus they taste good! i hope you feel better soon.

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   Black Lillyposted 15 years ago

   Thanks again - now I at least know I'm not alone who gets such things...

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