Help with persistent hoarseness

[MsNinele]

Hi. I have been experiencing persistent hoarseness and was hoping some of you could give me some tips how to get better quicker. Here's some background: During my pregnancy in 2011 I experienced mild reflux. After the pregnancy I had a cold and developed hoarseness that did not go away on its own anymore. Three months later it was diagnosed that the hoarseness was due to (silent) reflux. I took Protonix for several months and the hoarseness went away completely. I also did not take any medication anymore. Two years later, this May, I had another cold that brought on the same hoarseness. I am on Protonix again but the recovery is taking months (like last time) which is very stressful to me. I have three young children so it's often loud in our household and I also have to speak quite a bit outside of our home. So voice rest is not really possible. I would love to be able to sing with my children again. I don't really sound hoarse right now but it is an effort to speak and I cannot sing. Is there anything I can do to speed up recovery and prevent this from happening again? I keep hydrated and do not drink or smoke. Thanks!

[Smiley2000]

Hi there,

I had severe GERD and had my anti-reflux surgery (Nissen Fundoplication) last year.  I have been battling with throat and voice issues since 2009 and eventually got diagnosed with Chircopharengeal muscle dysfunction due to long term damage from reflux.

I used to sing on a freelance basis (Old-age homes were my favourite!) and then my voice coach noticed that I could not reach my normal ranges and I had a consult with ENT that noted my pharynx and larynx (voice box) had acid damage.

In the meantime I've had some botillium injections into the Chrico muscle and I consulted a Speech Pathologist that gave me exercises to do.  That made a significant difference in the quality of my voice and I do Sing Australia now :)

I would recommend that you see a Speech Pathologist, but you need to get your GERD under control or even the exercises will not help longterm.  The type of exercises that I do:  yawns with a lot of technical direction and stretches of the tongue against my front teeth.

You may benefit from these exercises and get your voice back to normal.

Please let us know how you are doing.

[Flycaster305]

My vocal chords are basically destroyed by acid reflux, so have great empathy.  Stomach acid is very strong, it can and did not only wreck my vocal chords but in a very short period of time, ate away the enamel on my teeth.  My situation that caused the problem was extreme and fixed with surgical procedures, but I croak when I talk.

If you take PPI's, I'd suggest you take them exactly like your doctor prescribes, which is usually 1/2 to 1 hour prior to a major meal.  If you take them any other time, they just make expensive urine.  They helped me but only when I took them exactly as prescribed.   I'd raise the head of your bed about 6 inches.  You can buy extenders at Bed, Bath and Beyond, but I just cut two, 4 x 4" sections of a fence post, and added a 2 x 4 section.  This will raise the head of your bed and keep acid from draining to your vocal chords and teeth.  Extra or wedged pillows don't work.

I'll bet you and I could sing a great duet of Kim Carnes song, "Betty Davis Eyes."

Keep us informed.