Help! I've got laryngitis!

NutBrnHair · #1 11-13-2005, 08:58 PM

Geez this laryngitis is driving me nuts. I've had a sinus infection since Monday and this past Wednesday I lost my voice. Yes, I'm on antibiotics & I'm taking lots of Vitamin C.

Any ideas?

P.S. You'll notice my posts on Greek Chat have increased this week -- I have cabin fever!

copacabana · #2 11-13-2005, 09:02 PM

Awww that sucks. Drink lots of hot tea! Also, try taking zinc supplements as well as vitamin C-- it's supposed to be good for your immune system.

honeychile · #3 11-13-2005, 09:02 PM

As someone who has had it more times than I care to remember, the Number One thing to remember is DO NOT WHISPER!!! Talk in a voice as close to your regular voice as possible, even if it squeaks or cuts out halfway. If necessary, carry a pen & paper or a chalkboard. Your vocal chords will thank you!

I'm a hot lemonade person, but I know others who swear by honey (with or without lemon), herbal tea, and a cold mixture that you can get at GNC (zinc, vitamens C & E, and echinacea).

DolphinChicaDDD · #4 11-13-2005, 09:07 PM

Tea- but no milk. Sugar is okay.

Gargle with some warm salt water, that usually helps me.

If it doesn't come back, make an appt to see a doc. Cause I had laryngitis for 2 weeks one time, and I finally made an appt to see my doc when I was going on three weeks and she flipped out on my because something like if you have it for that long you can do permenant damage to your vocal chords. She gave me some steroids that helped.

NutBrnHair · #5 11-13-2005, 09:26 PM

Yikes -- I have been whispering (because that was the only sound I could make until today). Today, I sound like a pre-pubescent boy, so I guess that's progress.

I will definitely heed the other good advice too -- thanks.

I called my Doctor on Wed. a.m. about the sinus infection and the laryngitis. I guess I'll finish taking the antibiotics (5 more days to go) and then call for an appt. if I'm not better.

I've been trying to be so good. I really haven't been talking much at all.

Thanks for the tips.

honeychile · #6 11-13-2005, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by NutBrnHair
Yikes -- I have been whispering (because that was the only sound I could make until today). Today, I sound like a pre-pubescent boy, so I guess that's progress.

I will definitely heed the other good advice too -- thanks.

I called my Doctor on Wed. a.m. about the sinus infection and the laryngitis. I guess I'll finish taking the antibiotics (5 more days to go) and then call for an appt. if I'm not better.

I've been trying to be so good. I really haven't been talking much at all.

Thanks for the tips.

FWIW, I have nodes on my vocal chords which swell when I use them too much - that's how I found out about not whispering. I could tell a funny story about them, but I think I'll toy with you!

NutBrnHair · #7 11-13-2005, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by honeychile
FWIW, I have nodes on my vocal chords which swell when I use them too much - that's how I found out about not whispering. I could tell a funny story about them, but I think I'll toy with you!

Hmmm...now I'm curious. Does it look like you have an Adam's Apple??!? LOL

honeychile · #8 11-13-2005, 09:53 PM

ACK - NO!!!

I was a tour hostess in school. We were taught how to ever so gracefully gesture towards artifacts without pointing, how to handle all sorts of crowds, etc. Each tour was roughly an hour long, and I was a "preferred hostess" - which meant that I got first dibs on the better tours, and the celebrities & such.

I was working three jobs one summer, waitressing the breakfast shift, then hostessing, then helping the bf park cars, and within a month, I started to squeak. I went to the doctor, and he gave me a spray, telling me to use it if I felt a tickle in my throat. I had 8 tours the next day. The doctor did NOT tell me the high alcohol content!

First tour, just a spray afterwards. Second tour, I needed a spray midway, too. Third tour, I needed one every other room (20 rooms). Fourth tour, every room. Fifth room, sprayed prior to talking each time. I vaguely remember the sixth tour, including flopping my hand towards the ceiling (instead of the Emily Post-esque gesture) and having to sit down for a moment in a few rooms. I have no memory of the last two tours!

Somehow, I got home (my roomie & I were staying in one of the fraternity houses which rented out during the summer), and passing out. My roomie came in, and said, "Shouldn't you be parking cars?" I mumbled something like, "oh, I don't think I should drive..." as she looked at the empty spray bottle.

The best part is that I got more tips that day than any other day I had worked (I kept pulling dollar bills out of my skirt & cardigan pockets!), and FOUR people wrote to my boss, telling me how much fun they had during my tour, and set up another tour with me!

carnation · #9 11-13-2005, 10:15 PM

Hot Dr. Pepper works for me! Try a big ol' mug of that, Nut!

NutBrnHair · #10 11-13-2005, 10:17 PM

honeychile, THAT is funny!

carnation, nice idea but I can't abide cold Dr. Pepper.

irishpipes · #11 11-13-2005, 11:23 PM

Laryngitis is almost always caused by drainage, and the only way to speed up the recovery is to dry yourself up. I am a singer, and when I get it my husband (who is a doctor) always puts me on decongestants. Also, drink TONS of water. You want the tissue to stay hydrated, and the passageway to dry up.

tunatartare · #12 11-14-2005, 02:00 AM

This is really disgusting, but last year when I simultaneously had both laryngitis and pharyngitis, my mom made me a tea or some kind of horrible tasting hot drink from Ginger root. It was disgusting but cured me like you would not believe.

wrigley · #13 11-14-2005, 02:16 AM

Try steaming your face and throat. Drink chammomile tea.