Need advice... Afraid I have polyps/nodules.

D

daydreamsinger

New member
Okay... So, I may be overreacting mostly because I am terrified of polyps and nodules on my vocal chords. About two and a half months ago I got a severe sinus infection including laryngitis. I took a z-pack. But I didn't really get over it until about three weeks ago. My legit/head voice is fine. I'm a soprano and can hit high notes and my whole range fine using my head/legit voice. Though, what I am known for is my belting/chest voice. It is just not what it used to be before the sinus infection/laryngitis. I can hit up to a D in belt but I could hit much higher before. When I go up to belt higher than a D it becomes questionable. It's as if there is mucus in there and it's keeping me from really hitting the notes. At times, I can work at it and eventually hit the note, but I don't want to have a questionable belt. I want it back the way it was before. Any thoughts on what can help? or if I have a serious problem?

Signed an incredibly frustrated and distressed singer...
 
I'm not a doctor but it sounds very very serious. Perhaps the sinus infection has damaged your vocal cords. Perhaps the z-pack has damaged your vocal cords. I would suggest you hurry over to the er and get it checked before it gets any worse.
 
You must be crazy....

This is home recording forum not a home remedy forum. Perhaps your google search was misspelled.

It would be ridiculous for anyone here to give any advice other than "go to the doctor"

So, with that being said, GO TO THE DOCTOR!
 
A really good friend of mine is a singer, and it's her career. She sings - she doesn't play anything, so she went to her own doc. He sent her to a specialist because nodules on the vocal chords (which isn't even the right medical term, but we all use it) usually need physical treatment. The local ENT people at the hospital may not even be a 'singing' doctor - as in they can treat the problem, but are not experienced in the impact on voice. She elected to pay to see a doc who treats performers - in the UK, hospital treatment is free (but you often wait for non-life threatening conditions) but private treatment is quick. It cost her a fair amount, but she had the surgery, and didn't speak at all for a week. The nodules were removed. She's fine, but her voice is slightly different - I think perhaps 'darker' would be a good descriptions, but the scar tissue has also toughened the vocal chords up a bit and she doesn't get the soreness she got before when singing for long periods. She sings on cruise ships, so it's very much X hours a night, every night for months at a time.

She did have one come back, I think, but the local people followed the specialist, specialist's lead and it went off OK. She will get more - that seems to be how it goes. As for sinuses - I have no idea!
 
To be reassuring, it's distinctly possible that after two months of sickness and not singing, your voice may just be a bit out of shape and need some more time to recover.

That being said, if you're concerned about it see a doctor.
 
Freddie Mercury had the same thing. He suffered a bit live because he could not do the top notes. But he never dared to have surgery. That has probably changed these days. I guess there are better methods.
 
Were you singing while you were sick? If not try a few weeks of vocal rest. Your chords may be tired. I still suggest visiting a doctor though.
 
The posts saying see a doctor are the ones to go with, but I'll tell you a little bit more.

Firstly, book in with an ENT doctor, that is an Ear Nose Throat specialist. No usual doctor will be able to tell you whats happened in there. The ENT will be able to put an endoscope down there and see if there is any damage or signs of infection.
Depending on where you live, this can be booked pretty quickly or you will have to be put on a waiting list.

If you have to wait, the best remedy for any vocal problem is to rest your voice. That means completely no speaking or singing at all. Write notes to communicate if you have to! Or text your friends when they're in the same room! Do this until you see an ENT.

You may just have lost your balance of support whilst having the infection. This is quite common, so try not to worry that its worse than losing your technique temporarily.

If the ENT does end up diagnosing you with nodules or a polyp, he may suggest that you take an operation but don't jump on that one just yet. Take 7-10 days of voice rest after your appointment and go and see the ENT again for a second opinion. In many cases this will see improvement or even a complete reduction of nodules or polyps.

If the ENT doesn't end up seeing anything, and says your voice is fine, then rest your voice for 7 days and start training your technique again.

I hope that helps! Lots of luck :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top