Hello everyone,

I don’t even know where to start with my voice. I noticed in November of 2025 that my voice would crack when I would speak but this was sporadic and so it wasn’t a real concern to me. Since then, my voice has become progressively hoarse but there hasn’t been any big trauma that I think could have caused this. I now have trouble projecting my voice (people can’t hear or understand me most of the time), I experience vocal breaks/cracks every 2-5 words, I can’t increase the volume of my voice or how it sounds when I speak (sometimes it’s really nasally other times more hoarse/deep), other times when I open my mouth to speak no sound comes out. There is tension in my throat and the more I speak the greater I feel a strain/pain. I even run out of air when talking and have to pause to take deep breaths mid sentence to avoid fatigue.

I’ve been to two ENTs who both did a laryngoscopy. One diagnosed me with muscle tension dysphonia and mild silent reflux and gave me acid reflux medication which I was on for 3+ months. Nothing else was found in my throat that could be causing this. The second ENT said a similar thing. No improvements at all following meds. I was evaluated by a SLP who refused to see me on the regular until I got a better diagnosis from a larygologist. She did practice some forward resonance therapy with me (I have exercises that I still practice) and gave me some laryngeal exercises to practice everyday. Still no improvements :( I’m seeing the larygologist next month (after waiting almost 8 months for the appointment) for a videostroboscopy. My likely diagnosis is vocal wave dysfunction but what happens after that? I’m assuming speech therapy which I’m happy to work at but the fact that I’ve seen no improvements in my condition makes me feel hopeless. It’s so embarrassing and isolating to not be able to use my voice the way I want/need to.

I work at a school (but I’m not a teacher) and it’s exhausting to have to explain myself constantly. For context I’ve had this job (for a year now but this issue only started about 6 months after working here) and others in the past where speaking constantly is the norm and have never had vocal issues before so I’m really stumped as to what triggered this. The craziest way I’ve used my voice is when I’m at concerts but I’ve been to many in the past and have never had this problem. Even in the cases where I’d “lost my voice” it always came back the day after.

Does anyone have any similar experiences? How are you coping because I feel like this is making my life so horrible! Any advice on what I should be asking the larygologist so I make the best use of my time with them?

Hello, people.

I have lost my voice in one of my heart surgeries, when I was still a child 20 years ago.

In the last 2-3 years it has gotten a lot worse, now I can barely speak and it immediatelly leaves me out of breath when I do (too much effort).

I've had 2 Type 1 Thyroplasty and tried speech therapy with no success.

This video was taken earlier this year.

Any suggestions?

Hi, my baby boy is 9 months and a few days ago he was diagnosed with laryngomalacia. We brought him to ENT because I had concerns about his hearing, babbling, and his noisy breathing, since birth he was a noisy breather snoring through the night but no trouble with feeding at all. At his 6 month appointment I mentioned to his pediatrician he’s not babbling yet even though he’s social and he vocalize with a lot of vowels just no (ma, ba, da) sounds and she said he’s fine it’s still normal a couple weeks after I took him again because I’m feeling something is wrong so I asked for ENT referral and gladly she gave it right away. At few days before he turned 9 month we had our appointment where they tested his hearing and he failed his left ear hearing test due to fluid in the ear and he was diagnosed with laryngomalacia after they did a scope in nose. Now he is scheduled for a sleep study and a potential procedure for tubes and fixation for his voice box if he show sleep apnea. Did anyone experienced late babbling with their little if he had a similar story ? And what’s your experience with this wonderful thing🙂‍↕️

I feel like my voice feels and sounds tight and requires more effort then it should , based on the video , is there any specific areas for massages that could benefit me in anyway in releasing some tension ?

Hello everyone, I’m glad I found this page to vent about vocal issues. I’m not the best at explaining my MTD problem so bear with me.

I’ve struggled with what I think is MTD for along time now probably 6 years but haven’t done anything about it until recently. I got scoped by an ENT and talked with a speech therapist and they both concluded that I likely have MTD from my speech pattern and how I sound. I don’t have any pain when I speak or burning just a hoarse/breathy type of speech. What really confuses me is I have this “other” voice that I can use that is super deep and doesn’t sound like me, but it’s the only sound I can project if I want to talk loud like at a concert or noisy area. I can also use it when talking regularly but I would never use it when talking to people I know because it just doesn’t sound like me. I’m trying to find this middle ground between the two so I can sound clearer and hold a good conversation and honestly it’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done, some good days and some bad days. Just wanted to see if anyone else has had a problem similar to mine or has anyone tips, I know some people have MTD but has anyone had a problem like me?

Side note- I have a little bit of acid reflux and just got on medication for it so I know that might a contributing factor.

Thanks in advance.

4-5 days ago i woke up, and anytime i yawned i felt a quick pain in the front of my neck, slightly to the left (of my larynx it seemed like). my throat has felt normal, no sickness symptoms

i tried singing, and my range (which already isn’t big) is like cut in half if not more. like i’ll try and i reach a certain note and it stops and i can’t go above it at all, and also holding even lower notes doesn’t work, like i just can’t sing :(
it doesn’t hurt when i tried, but i definitely felt a sensation, kind of like reaching the very top of your range

I’ve never experienced this before and couldn’t find any post of it so thought i’d post. i’ve been not singing at all and hardly talking, having tea and a warm pad for my neck but still the same

Getting vocal cord steroid injections for pseudocysts. My doctor said 2 weeks total voice rest. I'm fine with it, given flexibility in my job, but that seems surprisingly long? Is that sometimes prescribed?

Hello everyone!

So it started in November 2024 just after I left corporate to learn vocal and I chose the wrong coach who used make me shout everyday to reach high notes. It happened for a month then I lost my voice for 2/3 days. I left the coach.

Next vocal coach March 2025 had better methods but I used to practice at home I had this habit of practising really loud. till here I didn’t know that it could damage chords.
April, ENT diagnosed me with laryngitis (without the stroboscopy) and was on 1 months rent vocal rest.
By July things got better and by September I found another a great coach I started working again.
I started progressing but by March 2026 corp + music got me no time left for rest and I started feeling voice gets fatigued real fast so got laryngoscopy done. Doc found nodules. Vocal rest for a month again. After that I haven’t been able to find someone who can make me fit for singing regularly. I am better I can talk normally. But still haven’t reached my regular range. And I’m always scared about my voice.

2 years - 4 ENTs, 3 Voice therapists. 4 Vocal coaches.

If you have any suggestions for voice therapists for nodules in Mumbai or Coaches who have successfully trained singers with nodules. It would help a lot.
I will share the stroboscopy photos if needed.

Our 10-year-old son has had a raspy voice since age six, and previous ENT visits using a standard camera exam have not provided answers. He is some how a mouth breather and experiences shortness of breath when crying or running.

​Could this be related to teeth misalignment, voice misuse, or something else? I need to know what specific, advanced tests I should demand to get a proper diagnosis. I am looking for advice on whether to see a pediatric pulmonologist, a speech-language pathologist, or request a different type of ENT exam?

​Would like to advocate foe the right testing for our baby boy.

So i’ve had mtd diagnosis for almost 2 years and i have my days but in general i sing with ease now and haven’t had much concern in about a year. 6 days ago i noticed i have a sore feeling when singing high notes sometimes they aren’t even my highest but its on the left side only and it feels like a tongue root related thing but i don’t know. my concern is that for 2 years my ONLY symptom has been a slight buzz sound when singing on vowels im i’m having a rough day vocally. ive NEVER experienced pain when singing. it’s not fatigue either. does this mean my mtd is regressing/getting worse?

So went to the pharmacist (in the uk, I am 18f, 5’6 and I would describe myself as slim but not skinny as I don’t know my weight. I vape but have stopped since I started feeling like this, I’m not on any medication) I lost my voice. A few nights ago I got really dehydrated but was too late to go downstairs and get some water. The day after that I had a horrific sore throat like when the back of it feels raw. The day after that I got a cold and then the day after that I properly lost my voice (the day after that it was feeling better but went to the pharmacy to see the pharmacist) that was yesterday. They gave me a couple things none of which have been helping and now I’ve got green phlegm which normally indicates infection. Should I make an appointment at the doctors? And is this most likely and infection??

Hello everyone,

I was wondering if anyone on here has had experience with a partial cordectomy procedure. It is currently being offered as the next best treatment option and want some others input as the loss of voice and recovery time is very scary to think about.

The history involves throat cancer which was successfully treated with chemo and radiation 10+ years ago, however within the last 1-2 years, the previous radiation damage from the treatment started to damage the head and neck nerves with new right hand/arm numbness/tingling/weakness and right vocal cord paralysis. The vocal cord paralysis has led to many aspiration pneumonia events and is unfortunately progressing to difficulty breathing and stridor. The radiation nerve damage seems to be worsening over time despite this being 10 years ago.

Have already undergone a couple Botox injections into the vocal cord with limited benefit. The only thing that improves the symptoms temporarily is steroids at this point.

Anyone who has had a partial cordectomy can you please let me know your honest experience with the procedure, healing process, and was it beneficial? Would you go forward with the procedure again knowing what you now know afterward?

Thank you for any input anyone can give. Thank you!

This is a long rant

So basically I've had this for about 7 years I guess (I'm 21 now), like it didn't really come out of nowhere, but instead it gradually built up and become larger overtime

But yea it ruins pretty much everthing and sucks out the joy and excitement of literally anything, not to mention how people genuinely have no idea what the fuck this even is so they ALWAYS just get the wrong impression of me

I don't know how this condition is usually activated for other people, for me I guess it has to do with anxiety and not being comfortable with certain people or something, even though I'm genuinely having it also happen AT HOME where nothing is happening, so like at this point I genuinely have no idea how to convince my brain to just let out my voice normally

And I don't even know if me thinking about it is a trigger for it to happen as well, but if it is then that's just fucking stupid, right? Like how tf am I supposed to not be even subconciously thinking about this situation when it's literally happening like 99% percent of the time?

Bro at this point I genuinely don't even know what to say or do. I swear, this is probably THE WORST thing that could happen to ANYONE that is pretty much just unnoticeable to everyone else. Like obviously it's fucking worse if you have a really bad disease or cancer or something tragic happen to you, but AT LEAST with those things people could SEE that and be like "give him a break, he's going through a lot", but with this bullshit literally nobody sees it and makes you feel like shit for even having it

There's gotta be at least one person that also feels this way, like come on bro, it's just honestly just such bullshit and I had to vent about it

Hello, I had an argue with my neighbor 10 days ago and I yelled and screamed so hard bc I was at my wit's end. But I had a real bad sore throat after that and tho my voice sounds normal I have voice fatigue and I can't speak more than seconds now without my throat to hurt. I tried to rest my voice for 5 days but at the 5th day I talked on the phone for 5 hours and it made my throat all worse. I had a radiating pain to my right ear even If I was silent after that phone session and now it has been 5 days after that day too. I'm always drinking warm water, herbal teas and resting my voice. But I can feel it there, my throat is still sore. Doctors said my vocal cords are normal but my throat is slightly red. I also saw some people have it and developed MTD (Muscle Tension Dysphonia), I'm scared of this possibility. Have you ever experienced anything like that and how many days did it take for you to get well? I already have too many chronic health problems and I'm so done with my life. I can't communicate, socialize, sing and I always wanted to be a singer. Now everything is fucked up.

Only able to hit higher notes on open vowels post-surgery?

Hi folks!

So I am four months post-op from my blue light laser ablation of a left vocal fold pseudocyst and cauterizing blood vessels on both sides from hemorrhage.

First want to say I am thrilled with the results. My timbre is strong, smooth, and resonant beyond words. My falsetto is better than it has ever been my entire life - and during the injury it wasn't accessible, so thats a miracle.

Here's the only snag, and it is that past a certain point in my range I am unable to comfortably sing the higher notes unless they are on more open vowels.

Relevant info: I'm a male - prior to injury, I was able to sing up to a Bb4 reliably in mix and a mix/belt - tried to avoid the belting in that top part too much though. I could graze notes higher occasionally but I wouldn't do them live onstage so I didn't count those. Falsetto is not relevant here.

Now post surgery, everything is exactly as it was up to a G4, but then when we go above that things get wonky. I can only sing above G4 comfortably on specific, more open vowels - and I have to move out of the mix I used to use and switch to more of that mix/belt.

Now - when I'm singing them on these open vowels they're coming out feeling just as strong and as easily as they used to, albeit in a different placement. The thing is when I try to sing Ab4 and above in my more pure mix, it starts becoming unstable and unreliable though which is strange.

As for the vowels - the biggest issue is the EEE sound, and even the modified "iiiihhhhh" --- think "where you long to BEEEEE" in *The Music of the Night* which in order to be comfortable needs to be a "to BAAAAAAAAAAAY" and again moving out of that mix into belting territory - anything that isn't more wide and open is a gamble for the rest of my voice. Even "uhhhhhhh" is a struggle, as is "ooooooh".

Now to clarify this doesn't apply to falsetto or any other part of my voice, where everything is as it should be. It is just once we hit Ab4 and above.

Basically it seems my ability to sing using my legit theatre technique into the upper register is impacted, whereas the more pop/modern stuff is intact although moving out of the mix and with vowel modification on certain words.

It has been this way since I began working on the higher stuff after the surgery, there are times I can get those other vowel sounds in those higher notes but it is very inconsistent and not too often.

Can anybody give me any insight into what may be happening here, and if it may change? Is this just part of the healing process that'll improve with time or is this what my new voice is and I'll need to adapt? My speech therapist didn't have much insight when I last met and tried to explain the issue.

I am extremely grateful for the voice I now have, this is more out of curiosity than complaining. I'll happily accept this voice after what it was like prior.

Thanks!

when i scream, i know you feel static kind of feeling in your throat, but when i scream, it feels like theres some crackly feeling at the top of my throat and im wondering if thats healthy or not? i raise my larynx a bit when i scream and it feels like that kinda causes the crackly feeling but im just wondering if the feeling is safe for my vocal cords or not ty
I'm posting here cuz Reddit recommended me to😭

this is a silly reddit post so that i can maybe gain hope, and maybe anyone has gone through the same experience. (please no shame, i have enough)

i smoked weed for about a year and a half, and quit around 3-4 months ago and rarely smoke now, and my lung capacity is quite reduced to how it used to be. i used to be able to belt and sing for a long period of time, but i just get winded easily now. i got roped/addicted into it by people i knew as they claimed it wasn't addictive and would only damage my lungs if i did it for years. for a year i felt nothing, and then suddenly my lungs sort of gave out on me, and it became much harder to breathe deep breaths, and sing for several bars at a time without taking a bunch of pauses for air. i mainly do musical theatre, and something i found out i really want to pursue about 9 months into smoking. i know my actions were very stupid, and i'm really trying to heal my lungs for not just singing, but for my health in general. is there any good chance i'll get close to how it used to be, or will it be difficult forever?

i feel horrible about my past actions and wish i could take back it all as it wasn't worth it, and i just hope that i can sing how i used to soon or ever, hopefully in the next 2 years.

Hi there,

Apologies for the long post but I wanted to share my experience with anyone that might be experiencing the same.

I (33F) had a tonsillectomy combined with soft palate tightening for snoring, and ended up with prolonged voice changes and nasal regurgitation and I'm not around day 22 post op. Sharing in case anyone else goes through this

I wanted to share my timeline because my experience was very different from the horror stories I read — normal pain, but way more functional issues. This was my first surgery ever. I am based in the Netherlands so my experience might be different to other parts of the world.

Day 0 (Surgery Day Friday, 19 June)

Went to the hospital at 13:40 and surgery was scheduled for 15:00 but got delayed by an hour. Woke up in recovery in the afternoon around 17:00 and the first thing I noticed was that I could not talk at all. I had to request a clipboard and paper and had to write everything down (didn't have access to my phone yet in recovery).

Throat and uvula were very swollen and sore.

The nurse gave me oxycodone 5mg but when I tried swallowing it with some water, the water immediately shot up through my nose and it spewed everywhere.

Finally got to my room in medium care around 18:00 (there were some issues since the normal ward was full so they had to keep me in medium care for the night) and got my phone back around 18:20. My fiancé was freaking out and on the way to the hospital since he didn't know about the 1 hour delay, the hospital didn't call him and he thought something was really wrong or that there were complications.

Managed to eat some apple sauce later that evening For the rest of the night I could barely swallow, only tiny sips. Slept through the night

Meds: - Oxycodone 5mg (twice that evening) - Paracetamol 1000mg up to 4 times a day - Diclofenac up to 3 times a day

Day 1 (Saturday - 20 June)

Woke up in hospital, got some more painkillers and something to eat (Applesauce) and drink and was discharged around lunch time.

The ENT never showed up for a follow up, instead the nurse had to call him to be able to discharge me.

No follow up appointment was scheduled (not needed according to him).

There was some issues surrounding pain relief at home. According to my notes from the hospital he prescribed oxycodone 5 mg (25 tablets), 1000mg paracetamol x 4 times a day and diclofenac x 3 times a day (8 tablets), but told the nurse no opioid will be given to me for home use and I'll have to manage with paracetamol and ibuprofen.

I was a bit bummed but OK.

Got home and had a call from the hospital pharmacy around 16:00 to ask when I would be picking up my meds. Was very confused but went back and he actually did prescribe the above mentioned meds so I was happy but also annoyed.

Still unable to speak and still had issues drinking water. Ate apple sauce.

Pain was bearable during the day but insane in the morning when waking up after everything was dry. I ordered a humidifier that day.

I was surprised by the effectiveness of the paracetamol. It never did anything for me before (I suffer from headaches and migraines) but it was pretty effective at keeping the pain at bay during the day. I interspersed it with the diclofenac to give me effective coverage all day.

Meds: - Oxycodone 5mg (only when needed for breakthrough pain or before sleep) - Paracetamol 1000mg up to 4 times a day - Diclofenac up to 3 times a day - Macrogol (to help with constipation from the opioids)

Days 2–3

Pain was moderate, not unbearable

Swallowing was the main issue, especially liquids. I still had nasal regurgitation with every sip I took so I had to take frequent tiny sips.

Thick mucus + saliva constantly, but was unable to spit it out. I noticed the edge of my tongue being really wavy and covered in tiny blisters (probably caused by acidic foods like apple sauce) and tongue covered in a brown sticky mucus layer

Still unable to talk at all.

Slept propped up on too pillows and humidifier arrived and made a difference (only used it at night)

Food: Liquids, very soft stuff (Applesauce and cooled down sweet potato soup and fruit smoothies), fruit ice lollies.

I noticed that I could not have dairy due to increased mucus production and apple juice and fruit ice lollies were too acidic and caused acid reflux. Had to keep gaviscon by my bedside just in case

I also noticed I could not tolerate cold drinks to switched to room temperature water and tea with honey and that was way better.

Drinking was slow and annoying.

I really struggled with swallowing my paracetamol pills (the round ones) so actually ground them up into a powder and mixed them into apple sauce. They are extremely bitter and I cannot recommend it.

Meds: - Oxycodone 5mg (only when needed for breakthrough pain or before sleep) - Paracetamol 1000mg up to 4 times a day - Diclofenac up to 3 times a day - Macrogol (to help with constipation from the opioids) - Gaviscon for acid reflux

Days 4–6 (Worst Phase for Me)

This was probably my “peak” but still not insane pain (6 - 7/10).

More like deep soreness + burning pain in the tongue, not sharp pain. Mornings were still the worst right after waking up.

Developed only light ear pain on day 5 and 6.

No bleeding and didn't notice scabs falling off, more like dissolving more and more every day. The internal stitches of my soft palate procedure also started dissolving.

Still insane amount of mucus though and developed a spasm in my lower right jaw(TMJ) , preventing me from opening my mouth fully for the next 5 or 6 days.

Biggest issue: Eating became really difficult. I developed Texture sensitivity (even mushy food felt wrong) and struggled eating apple sauce or sweet potato mash like I could the previous days. I just could not swallow it. Mainly lived off fruit smoothies and ice pops.

Other issues: Extreme Constipation from meds. Even with the Macrogol I have not had a bowel movement for 5 days so went to the pharmacy to get some help. They gave me Microlax (to be used rectally) and that made all the difference in the world. She also sold me a packet of oval / elongated paracetamol tablets that were easier to swallow and I was so happy.

Woke up twice in that period in the middle of the night with insane nausea. Don't know what caused it (I assume the mucus and acid reflux). Managed to not throw up and somehow lessened the nausea by sitting up and drinking some water but it was really uncomfortable.

One improvement: the swelling of my soft palate / uvula changed around day 6 to I was able to drink normally again for a few days without liquid coming out my nose.

Still could not talk at all.

Meds: - Oxycodone 5mg (only before sleep or in the middle of the night for breakthrough pain ) - Paracetamol 1000mg up to 4 times a day - Ibuprofen 400mg up to 3 times a day (I only had 8 diclofenac and then switched to Ibuprofen) - Macrogol (to help with constipation from the opioids) - Microlax - Gaviscon for acid reflux

Days 7–8

Pain didn’t spike like people describe

But I developed Pain at the base of my tongue (right side). Still had Jaw discomfort and could not open my mouth properly

Main issue during that time is that I developed extremely stinky bad breath, so bad that I would stink up a room and fiancé could not be in the same room as me even though I brushed my teeth three times a day since the surgery.

Nothing about that could be done except avoiding each other and being patient with the healing process.

Still avoided dairy, only ate soft foods and soups, no cold drinks just room temperature. Ice packs on the face helped with the swelling

Meds: - Oxycodone 5mg (only before sleep or in the middle of the night for breakthrough pain ) - Paracetamol 1000mg up to 4 times a day - Ibuprofen 400mg up to 3 times a day (I only had 8 diclofenac and then switched to Ibuprofen) - Gaviscon for acid reflux

Days 9–12

Gradual improvement of the pain. Stopped with the oxycodone so of the initial 25 pills I had I only used 11, so still have 14 left.

White patches/scabs shrinking

Nasal regurgitation / liquid coming out of my nose returned and is still ongoing. 😭

Still had no voice until day 10. It started returning very slowly and gradually from day 11 but my my voice weak and unclear and nasally.

Started eat soft "normal foods" from day 11. Had a bit of pad Thai and some cashew beef pieces and it was heaven.

I was also only initially "booked off" for 10 days but could not speak by then so I took another whole week to recover. I work in Customer service in a call centre environment so without my voice I cannot work.

Meds: - Paracetamol 1000mg up to 4 times a day - Ibuprofen 400mg up to 3 times a day

Days 12–15

Physically I started feeling “fine”

Cleaned the house a bit, did some gardening, went for short walks and cycles.

BUT: Left side of the throat still swollen, Stitch still visible near uvula and Right side more open.

Jaw pain went away and the extreme bad breath too 🥳

Biggest issue: Voice not working properly at all. Couldn’t speak clearly, very muffled and like talking through cotton wool. Voice tired very quickly

Also:Nasal regurgitation still happening (liquids going up into nose)

Stopped taking pain meds.

Days 16–18

Pain mostly gone except deep tongue pain, and pain when sticking out my tongue

Could eat normally again.

Went back to work on day 17 but asked my employer for accommodations to be put on email work for the whole week. I still cannot hold a normal conversation, my voice tires easily after 5 to 10 minutes, still mumble and speak nasally.

At this point I realised: Recovery is not about pain anymore. It’s about function (voice, swallowing, nasal regurgitation)

Days 18–21 (Now)

Pain: very low to non existent, scabs all gone

Eating normally again. I noticed drinking carbonated drinks like coca cola is a bit easier for me to drink because due to the carbonation I have to think how to swallow it so slow down and not try and take big sips like I normally would've. Trust me having anything carbonated come out through your nose is insanely uncomfortable.

But the main problems are still with my voice being weak, nasally and fatiguing very quickly.

Tongue pain still there occasionally and Swallowing still slightly off.

Uvula still not properly closing → so still have liquid coming up my nose every time I drink. It's so frustrating to not be able to take big sips.

I feel physically fine, but cannot function normally socially or work-wise (calls).

I really hope that my voices improves enough over the weekend to be able to work normally again on Monday but I'm unsure it will.

I obviously did not expect to lose my voice for 14 days and it was not something I came across during my research. I assume it was mainly caused due to the procedure on my soft palate and subsequent swelling and not caused by the tonsillectomy itself.

What Surprised Me Most about this whole experience that Pain was not the worst part. The real struggle was the Voice loss and not being able to communicate properly

If you’re reading horror stories about pain — that wasn’t my experience.

But be prepared for something people don’t talk about enough:

You might feel fine long before you can actually live normally again.

Thank you and take care.

I (24F) have had nodules for ~ 9 months. the doctor says they are small but they won't go away and they make my speaking voice tired & my singing voice hoarse, breathy, and unpredictiable. I sing semi-professionally and work a day job online- they've made it really hard to sing and perform.

The nodules initially got smaller the first 3 months (when I took a break from singing a few weeks), but have since not resolved any further.

I've done speech therapy (15+ sessions) and I feel like my technique is much better- I've totally changed my speaking and singing; doing SOVTs; posture; breath control; everything... But my nodules won't go away. My doctors are suggesting surgery. I'm also trying speech therapy with someone new.

I asked my doctors if just not singing for a while would help but they said it wouldn't help at all.

But I don't see why relative not singing for few weeks would not help? Isn't the issue that when I sing, the nodules are hitting against each other, and therefore not able to resolve? I understand the concern about going back to my old habits, but that's why I went/go to speech therapy.

I'm not able to go on total voice rest because of my job, but would relative voice rest (not singing/reducing speaking) help? Just avoiding singing? I'll do anything to avoid surgery- I just want to be able to sing well again :( .

I’ve lurked for a while, but I need to speak (no pun intended).

Im a 35 year old man. I run 2 businesses, and I’m a sales director for a big multinational. 2 years ago, under intense stress (new baby, some trauma, work, etc), MTD appeared.

I have been scoped, diagnosed, and sought out some treatment, which didn’t work.

I can genuinely say this is ruining my life. I became modestly successful because of my ability to build rapport, and my eloquence. It’s blatantly obvious that I’m not capable of doing that now. I used to present at conferences, and I can’t even hold a conversation with a new hire anymore without my throat closing.

I sound like I’m terrified and nervous ALL OF THE TIME.

I’m done. Honestly. I feel like disappearing into the woods. 2 years of this with no improvement. It was better 18 months ago - then it was situational. It’s now constant. I have a constant feeling of strain in my neck.

Sorry - I know this is negative. I’m just done. Im heartbroken and fed up to my back teeth.

Hi folks!

So I am four months post-op from my blue light laser ablation of a left vocal fold pseudocyst and cauterizing blood vessels on both sides from hemorrhage.

First want to say I am thrilled with the results. My timbre is strong, smooth, and resonant beyond words. My falsetto is better than it has ever been my entire life - and during the injury it wasn't accessible, so thats a miracle.

Here's the only snag, and it is that past a certain point in my range I am unable to comfortably sing the higher notes unless they are on more open vowels.

Relevant info: I'm a male - prior to injury, I was able to sing up to a Bb4 reliably in mix and a mix/belt - tried to avoid the belting in that top part too much though. I could graze notes higher occasionally but I wouldn't do them live onstage so I didn't count those. Falsetto is not relevant here.

Now post surgery, everything is exactly as it was up to a G4, but then when we go above that things get wonky. I can only sing above G4 comfortably on specific, more open vowels - and I have to move out of the mix I used to use and switch to more of that mix/belt.

Now - when I'm singing them on these open vowels they're coming out feeling just as strong and as easily as they used to, albeit in a different placement. The thing is when I try to sing Ab4 and above in my more pure mix, it starts becoming unstable and unreliable though which is strange.

As for the vowels - the biggest issue is the EEE sound, and even the modified "iiiihhhhh" --- think "where you long to BEEEEE" in The Music of the Night which in order to be comfortable needs to be a "to BAAAAAAAAAAAY" and again moving out of that mix into belting territory - anything that isn't more wide and open is a gamble for the rest of my voice. Even "uhhhhhhh" is a struggle, as is "ooooooh".

Now to clarify this doesn't apply to falsetto or any other part of my voice, where everything is as it should be. It is just once we hit Ab4 and above.

Basically it seems my ability to sing using my legit theatre technique into the upper register is impacted, whereas the more pop/modern stuff is intact although moving out of the mix and with vowel modification on certain words.

It has been this way since I began working on the higher stuff after the surgery, there are times I can get those other vowel sounds in those higher notes but it is very inconsistent and not too often.

Can anybody give me any insight into what may be happening here, and if it may change? Is this just part of the healing process that'll improve with time or is this what my new voice is and I'll need to adapt? My speech therapist didn't have much insight when I last met and tried to explain the issue.

I am extremely grateful for the voice I now have, this is more out of curiosity than complaining. I'll happily accept this voice after what it was like prior.

Thanks!

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