Vocal therapy for nodules?

fro9etb8j5qsl2

Hi guys First off, I'm NOT looking for medical advice mods, I just want to know if any other boardsies have experienced this and how they managed to overcome it

I was diagnosed with nodules a few years ago. The problem wasn't serious enough to warrant surgery (according to the specialist, it's a harsh enough option). So instead, he recommended speech and vocal therapy and sent a referral off to what he reckoned was the best one around. I got a call from this lady a few weeks later to tell me that I was on the waiting list but that it would be at least 6 months before she could see me. Fair enough, I thought, Ill wait it out.

Once I had found out that it was nodules, I had stopped singing (which did upset me alot) and I had started to be a lot more careful about screeching and only became very hoarse after a night out :pac: So I didn't really think about it until recently (a year and a half later) I realised I hadn't had a callback from the voice lady. I rang her office only to discover she had taken off to Australia :rolleyes: And with further research, it seemed that every other vocal therapist in my area had gone with her I contacted my doctor who has told me he will refer me to the hse therapist but the waiting list is a year and a half and I'd have to travel a round trip of 2 hours to the next nearest therapist.

But I really miss singing And I'm sick of not being able to talk for 2 days after a night in a ridiculously loud pub :rolleyes: So I was wondering, has anyone ever had a problem like this? Is there such a thing as an online vocal therapy program? Or will I just have to wait??

Sorry for the long post

Wurly

Just a warning not to give medical advice of any kind on this issue, please. I'll keep the thread open so you can share experiences only.

Wurly

krd

Nodes, or nodules on vocal chords are calluses. Like you get on your finger from writing with a pencil. If you stop singing, shouting, and talk quieter or stop talking they go away.


But, nodes as far as the voice goes, are a lot like Morgellons.

In other words, it's an absolutely bogus medical problem. If you're using your voice for singing, or speaking, you will develop nodes. It's one of the things that will give your voice its characteristics.

It's not a medical problem - it's not even really a problem at all. People who've had operations done, have got themselves into that situation for psychological reasons. All an operation to remove nodes does is scrape the calluses - then you don't talk or speak while the cuts heal......Once you do, the same nodes will grow back.

If you sing, you're voice will get stronger. If you're losing you're voice because of being in loud pubs, you're probably shouting yourself hoarse. If you're smoking, you can blow you're voice too. It's nothing to do with nodules, or nodes.

People usually shout themselves hoarse in pubs, because they've drunk so much, they can't feel their throat hurting - so they keep going. You don't need special voice therapy. Just pay attention to how you speak. If it hurts a little when you raise your voice, or get excited, you're probably straining your voice.

If you sing, your voice will get stronger - if your throat feels sore after singing, you're straining your voice - if you keep singing like that, your throat will grow nodes until it doesn't feel sore. Just like your fingers grow calluses from playing the guitar. If you sing, your voice we be able to be louder with less strain, just by developing the muscles in your throat - and nodes to cover the weak points.

Wurly

krd wrote: »

Nodes, or nodules on vocal chords are calluses. Like you get on your finger from writing with a pencil. If you stop singing, shouting, and talk quieter or stop talking they go away.

Not necessarily. Some people use excessive air in order to talk quieter, resulting in more stress on the cords. So it is not true to say they would just go away. We haven't heard the OP's voice so we are not in a position to comment.

In other words, it's an absolutely bogus medical problem.

Not true. It CAN develop into a medical problem if the condition was to worsen.

It's not a medical problem - it's not even really a problem at all.

I have known people where it was a very real problem. Stop generalising.

People who've had operations done, have got themselves into that situation for psychological reasons.

Again with the generalisations and a ridiculous one at that. It's an opinion you've given, not a fact.

If you sing, you're voice will get stronger.

Even if the person is singing incorrectly???? Do me a favour.

Posts of this nature will result in this thread being locked and warnings being given. You gave some good advice re voice strain which is obviously helpful to the OP. But we cannot generalise or give advice nor dismiss something that could develop into a more serious problem down the line. You have your opinions - great. Please don't state them as fact. Without hearing the OP's voice and knowing exactly how he/she talks/sings, we are not in a position to give a one-size-fits-all solution.

Last warning, folks.

Wurly

krd

Wurly wrote: »

Not necessarily. Some people use excessive air in order to talk quieter, resulting in more stress on the cords. So it is not true to say they would just go away. We haven't heard the OP's voice so we are not in a position to comment.

I know. If someone is talking themselves hoarse, they should pay attention to how they speak. Generally, they'll feel the stress their putting on their chords. Some people don't pay attention, and they get very hoarse. Or even lose their voice.

Not true. It CAN develop into a medical problem if the condition was to worsen.

I think calling it a medical problem, can be a little extreme. It's not life threatening.

They are calluses around the vocal chords. They're not tumours or weird alien growths. They are natural. Everyone has them.

I have known people where it was a very real problem. Stop generalising.

And I have known people who've lost the ability to sing, or changed the way they talk, and it's been purely psychological. Many voice problems are psychological - or there is a neurological causes. Lisps, stammers, that kind of thing.

Again with the generalisations and a ridiculous one at that. It's an opinion you've given, not a fact.

No. Whether nodes are a good or bad thing is a matter of opinion. Tina Turner wouldn't sound like Tina Turner if someone went in and filed down her nodes. That is a fact. Nodes contribute to the characteristics of a singers voice. That is a fact.

Even if the person is singing incorrectly???? Do me a favour.

It depends on what you mean by singing correctly. If you want to sing with a really pure tone like Dido, the last thing you want is big fat nodes.

The idea that there is only one form of singing correctly; operatic. Is wrong. If everyone sang like they were in a West End musical the world would be a less colourful place.

Posts of this nature will result in this thread being locked and warnings being given. You gave some good advice re voice strain which is obviously helpful to the OP. But we cannot generalise or give advice nor dismiss something that could develop into a more serious problem down the line.

The op gave plenty of information. She went to a vocal therapist. It's unlikely that this vocal therapist was a qualified doctor. They said the saw nodes - but that it didn't warrant surgery. In the meantime - years - the op's voice has not deteriorated.

I would say that vocal therapist has unnecessarily alarmed the op.

If they had a serious problem - they would know about it by now.

You have your opinions - great. Please don't state them as fact. Without hearing the OP's voice and knowing exactly how he/she talks/sings, we are not in a position to give a one-size-fits-all solution.

Node are calluses - that is a statement of fact. They're not cancers, they're not life threatening - everyone has them.

They might be problem for a singer if they originally sounded like Marianne Faithful 1967, but because of nodes, they now sound like Marianne Faithful 1977....and they want or need, to sound like MF 1967.

I think Tom Waits' voice sounds a lot better now than in the 70s. His nodes must be like mahogany.

Wurly

Thanks for your post and for the clarifications, krd.

Medical problems don't have to be life threatening....:) If they were, personally i'd have been dead a long time ago.;)

Disappear

I also love singing and sang in a rock band for approx fifteen years plus write my own ballad type songs. I got nodules and my GP referred me to the best consultant in the country. Waited six months to see him. He said he didn't know if surgery would help. he also said that I would always have problems and will always be plagued with sore throats. On the upside, he said, it's not cancer. Didn't cheer me up.
I tried to sing but couldn't hold notes for long and couldn't sing as strong or as long as I used to. One day I was listening to Leonard Cohen "The anthem". "Ring the bells that still can ring, forget your perfect offering, there is a crack in everything, thats how the light gets in". So I started to sing with whatever bells still worked and my voice got stronger and better that before. I find that when my throat gets sore I'm normally drinking too much coffee, so cut down. Hope this helps.

Ga_Ga_Fan

krd wrote: »

I know. If someone is talking themselves hoarse, they should pay attention to how they speak. Generally, they'll feel the stress their putting on their chords. Some people don't pay attention, and they get very hoarse. Or even lose their voice.



I think calling it a medical problem, can be a little extreme. It's not life threatening.

They are calluses around the vocal chords. They're not tumours or weird alien growths. They are natural. Everyone has them.



And I have known people who've lost the ability to sing, or changed the way they talk, and it's been purely psychological. Many voice problems are psychological - or there is a neurological causes. Lisps, stammers, that kind of thing.



No. Whether nodes are a good or bad thing is a matter of opinion. Tina Turner wouldn't sound like Tina Turner if someone went in and filed down her nodes. That is a fact. Nodes contribute to the characteristics of a singers voice. That is a fact.



It depends on what you mean by singing correctly. If you want to sing with a really pure tone like Dido, the last thing you want is big fat nodes.

The idea that there is only one form of singing correctly; operatic. Is wrong. If everyone sang like they were in a West End musical the world would be a less colourful place.




The op gave plenty of information. She went to a vocal therapist. It's unlikely that this vocal therapist was a qualified doctor. They said the saw nodes - but that it didn't warrant surgery. In the meantime - years - the op's voice has not deteriorated.

I would say that vocal therapist has unnecessarily alarmed the op.

If they had a serious problem - they would know about it by now.



Node are calluses - that is a statement of fact. They're not cancers, they're not life threatening - everyone has them.

They might be problem for a singer if they originally sounded like Marianne Faithful 1967, but because of nodes, they now sound like Marianne Faithful 1977....and they want or need, to sound like MF 1967.

I think Tom Waits' voice sounds a lot better now than in the 70s. His nodes must be like mahogany.

Just to clarify,"lisps" and stammers are not voice problems...a "lisp" is an articulation difficulty and a stammer is a speech difficulty. They're not voice problems.

Vvb

Hi mrspostman,

I really would like to know the progress of your voice as my voice is hoarse more than a year now due to too much talking with kids i am a singer but cant sing & would love some suggestions from you on this one.. much appreciated.

VVB