My voice is gone!

[elektra]

I have completely lost my voice. I have laryngitis maybe? This has NEVER happened to me before and I actually thought that anyone I had encountered that explained they had lost their voice and only spoke in a whisper was being overly dramatic. I guess this is what I get for thinking that!
So if anyone has experienced this, how long does it usually last? I am supposed to travel for work later this week and give a big presentation on Thursday morning. People are flying in to attend and I am freaking out a bit. Although, what can I really do?

[SammyeGail]

Do you feel achey or any other cold like symptoms? Even just slightly?

I used to get laryngitis every year when I was younger, felt fine otherwise, maybe a little weak. Years go by and I never get it again until this past April. I went to the doctor and he gave me some expectorant, something about mucus building up on my voice box (yuck). Well, I was real sick and had a hacking cough, at least you don't have that, lol! You could try getting some OTC Mucinex and see if it starts breaking it up. Drink LOTS of water.

If you can try to see your doc tomorrow. I can't exactly remember how my voice was after 2 days, it was back, but a little horse (I know I used the wrong spelling, lol).

I hope your presentation goes ok, maybe just make alittle joke at the beginning about recovering from your first case of laryngitis : ).

Good luck and take care!!

Samantha

[bubbaray]

Are you taking asthma meds, by any chance? I used to get laryngitis ALL the time when I took pulmicort. It was a PITA in law school, LOL.

You need to completely rest your voice. NO WHISPERING -- that is harder on your vocal cords than talking in a hoarse voice.

Try warm (not hot) beverages, honey & lemon worked for me.

Good luck!

[mom2binsd]

I'm a speech therapist and like Melissa said...don't whisper...it seems like a good idea but whispering..like shouting is much harder on your vocal cords that plain talking...you need at LEAST 2 DAYS OF VOCAL REST!!! It may seem impossible but if you want your voice back you need to talk only when necessary...only use your voice for the most vital thing (use notes and wipe boards to communicate)....drink tons of water/avoid caffeine beverages/and avoid extremely hot or cold drinks/avoid "mentholated" cough drops too..if you need to suck on something a jolly rancher candy is good. Get lots of sleep (it's a lot easier to rest your voice when you're sleeping!)

Sometimes we get laryngitis when we're going through stress and illness isn't always a trigger....our voice is a mirror into our emotions (just think of how your voice sounds when you are upset, angry, etc...and where the phrase "I can hear it in your voice" comes from.....if you don't get your voice back in a few days get in to see an ENT...(skip the family doc...ask for a referral right away)

[elektra]

Thanks for the advice about not whispering. I had no idea that was harder on your voice than talking normally.
So I'm trying to drink alot of water and trying not to whisper.
Just canceled most my conference calls for tomorrow. :)