DANG... Think I might have vocal nodules

[D.Starr]

The last week or two I've had a slight cold, usual runny nose, sore throat, coughs and splutters. Been resting the voice, sipping the lemsip and taking lozenges as well as some nurofen.

BUT... I seem to not be able to sing back up in the F4/G4 region, takes a lot of effort and I feel I have to push where as before I felt I didn't need to push before to connect the tone.

No matter how much I try and warm up my voice I feel the strain. As if my cords are inflamed as well as the region around it. Lip bubbles don't erase the problem either. I find the area flips or cracks up A LOT!

As I need to practice heavily for the XFactor TV auditions, I also have a little local talent show on the 14th April.

It suddenly popped into my head... What if I have nodules?

I have no idea how to diagnose them and do not have the money to have them looked at.

I'm probably just being over the top and worrying. It's probably residual cold symptoms thinking about it. I still have mucus in my nose :S need to try and get rid of it.

[Keith]

The last week or two I've had a slight cold, usual runny nose, sore throat, coughs and splutters. Been resting the voice, sipping the lemsip and taking lozenges as well as some nurofen.

BUT... I seem to not be able to sing back up in the F4/G4 region, takes a lot of effort and I feel I have to push where as before I felt I didn't need to push before to connect the tone.

No matter how much I try and warm up my voice I feel the strain. As if my cords are inflamed as well as the region around it. Lip bubbles don't erase the problem either. I find the area flips or cracks up A LOT!

As I need to practice heavily for the XFactor TV auditions, I also have a little local talent show on the 14th April.

It suddenly popped into my head... What if I have nodules?

I have no idea how to diagnose them and do not have the money to have them looked at.

I'm probably just being over the top and worrying. It's probably residual cold symptoms thinking about it. I still have mucus in my nose :S need to try and get rid of it.

There is no way to tell without being scoped. That being said, I have read that people who just start to get a small one can make it go away by not singing at all, or talking to much. Best to get scoped though. Also, I read that using a steamer does amazing things for your voice. If I get just the slightest cold, I have a hard time singing the "4" octave... Maybe just phlegm causing your problems - and according to what I have read, a personal steamer is the best way to combat phlegm as well.

~Keith

[Robert Lunte]

While I am not your doctor and you should get a more qualified opinion, the likelihood that you have nodules is very slim. I have found that students of singing leap forward to huge sweeping assumptions and concerns about vocal nodes for almost nothing. The slightest bubble, burp and scratch makes students conclude they might have vocal nodes... its a joke. Honestly, I don't want to belittle your concern, but having a few days of lack compression on your vocal folds, or struggling on difficult head tones like F & G4s for a few days or a week, does not mean you have vocal nodes.

Relax, you probably don't have vocal nodes! Just get your training calibrated.

[Marcus]

After a major cold just before christmas I had no mix register for more than a month. And I mean NO voice up there at all, it was like a gap in my voice. Head was really breathy and my chest register was all crackly and hoarse. Now everything is back to normal and I'm singing better than ever. Sometimes when you have a cold you loose your voice, and it may take some time to get it back on track.

Try to rest your voice as much as possible. Get enough sleep during nights and try to be easy on talking and singing, and I think your voice will be coming back Try not to worry too much, sometimes all the worrying can create tension.

[D.Starr]

Yeah I think it may just be all this cold. My nose does feel slightly bunged up.

I'm giving this straw exercise another go try and loosen everything up and get that heady resonance I need.

Kinda hard for me to stop talking or keep talking to a minimum as I work in retail. Having to shout down the que when the store is busy really doesn't help. PLUS with my deep love of music I sing all the time. Very hard for me to stop, it is a good thing and inevitably a bad thing.

[VideoHere]

d, i take a different stance on this.

if you have health insurance, it doesn't hurt to have a yearly scope and get piece of mind. besides checking for nodules and/or polyps, the e.n.t., can also see whether the folds are healthy and not inflamed due to laryngeal or acid reflux, which can be without symptoms!!.

if you've got all these great things going on, you cannot afford to do otherwise i.m.h.o......bob

[D.Starr]

With my job currently being in Administration and me being on 10 hours a week, spending £120 on a consultation or even my cords being looked at is something I needn't worry about at the moment.

I have a car, a son and other worries to think about at the moment.

The NHS isn't a great thing in the UK. Pretty rubbish if you ask me :/

[VideoHere]

With my job currently being in Administration and me being on 10 hours a week, spending £120 on a consultation or even my cords being looked at is something I needn't worry about at the moment.

I have a car, a son and other worries to think about at the moment.

The NHS isn't a great thing in the UK. Pretty rubbish if you ask me :/

just remember, excessive, and/or incorrect speaking is something to be aware of as well. nodules and polyps are not always caused by improper singing.

[ronws]

With my job currently being in Administration and me being on 10 hours a week, spending £120 on a consultation or even my cords being looked at is something I needn't worry about at the moment.

I have a car, a son and other worries to think about at the moment.

The NHS isn't a great thing in the UK. Pretty rubbish if you ask me :/

I've heard as much from others. And yet our government is trying to copy NHS. But I digress.

Sometimes folds can get swollen. Either through misuse, such as was my case, or through suffering something, such as a cold or allergies. You get a scratchy low end and a whistle-y high and not really anything in between. It goes away with rest and then return with light singing, at first, to re-gain coordination.

[MB20]

With my job currently being in Administration and me being on 10 hours a week, spending £120 on a consultation or even my cords being looked at is something I needn't worry about at the moment.

I have a car, a son and other worries to think about at the moment.

The NHS isn't a great thing in the UK. Pretty rubbish if you ask me :/

are you from the UK? during the last 2 years I've had 3 scopes, a series of speech therapy and an adenoidectomy thanks to the NHS. I don't know how much that would cost in other countries but from what I've seen I'm guessing quite a bit! a lot of people really don't appreciate how lucky we are to have a National Health Service in my opinion..!

[D.Starr]

Yeah I'm from the UK. Just don't think I could afford it at the moment.

I had a card that gave me free medicals for a year because of my son being born but that ran out last year.

[MB20]

I am obviously not familiar with your situation, but from my experience I went through my doctor who was able to refer me for all of the above treatments. I don't understand why you would need to pay for a consultation..?

[D.Starr]

My doctor wouldn't refer me

Had a look at a few local people and they all had prices for consultations and things.

I seriously just think it's this cold and excess mucus.

[D.Starr]

Went out and bought a facial/nasal steamer and some Olbas oil.

After a good 30 mins steam my nasal passage feels clear and my throat doesn't feel restricted and full of mucus.

I can smoothly lip bubble and siren without any breaks or strains.

Now back to straightening this voice out.

[D.Starr]

Thought I would drop this in here seen as it doesn't really need a new thread.

I felt very little strain in this A4-ish note I hit mid way through, though I do think it could do with some clean up.

Just wanted to know your opinions on it. Do keep in mind I'm just coming out of a little bout of cold.

https://www.box.com/s/7e325ae4001ed91a9d32

EDIT

Did another for a quick test

https://www.box.com/s/fa4cd334cb5f4d37e7c7

[Quincy]

I liked it! Sounds like you're back in the saddle!

[Keith]

Thought I would drop this in here seen as it doesn't really need a new thread.

I felt very little strain in this A4-ish note I hit mid way through, though I do think it could do with some clean up.

Just wanted to know your opinions on it. Do keep in mind I'm just coming out of a little bout of cold.

https://www.box.com/s/7e325ae4001ed91a9d32

That sounded friggin great dude! Is there anything or any style you can't sing?

~Keith

[D.Starr]

I liked it! Sounds like you're back in the saddle!

Still feeling a little hoarse, but working at it. Thanks man.

That sounded friggin great dude! Is there anything or any style you can't sing?

~Keith

Haha I wish, still finding a few things hard to get but I think I know what I need to work on.

Need to get back in 4 pillars and twang just a little more.

Thanks :)

[Keith]

I got a steamer the other day and am wondering, how long does it take to get all the junk off my cords? I can sing chest great, but as soon as I bridge, I feel all sorts of junk vibrating around and I'm not adducting worth a crap.. I'm gonna make this a new thread, but I though I'd post it here also cause you use a steamer also.

[VideoHere]

keith, which one did you get, the mabis?

[Keith]

keith, which one did you get, the mabis?

I got the Vicks one cause I could buy it in a store...

[VideoHere]

steaming is great for the vocal folds or direct the steam into your nostrils. but as far as getting rid of phelgm..i don't believe so.

[D.Starr]

Yeah I will post another sample next week.

Im come so far in the last 3 months. Gone from struggling with D4/E4 to getting all way up to G4/A4

[D.Starr]

He's really impressed with how far I have come since starting with him in December.

He's said my voice at the moment is the best it's been in a while.

I've been doing hissing exercise for breathing and every since I started back in December I've been able to hiss for 40+ seconds and sustain various notes for over 15+ seconds.

I think it was Rob's Skype lesson that helped me realize I twanged too much and helped me find the placement and resonance for the notes above F4.

[ronws]

Hey D, it sounds like you are doing better and just had a momentary thing that scared you.

Sometimes, I think, too much mucus or phlegm can create the effect of a nodule. For example, on days when my sinuses are draining, it can make my voice sound cracky until I I clear it. Seriously, the overtones sound lower. Then I clear my throat, And my voice bounces back up where it should be.