Vocal fold "edema"

[malo23]

Friends,

I just today got back from the ENT, who "scoped" me at my request. I was diagnosed with mild edema of the vocal folds. Apparently it's not "too serious," as he at first didn't notice it, and since he said he couldn't detect it in my speaking voice, but I've felt for the past couple of weeks that my voice tires more easily than it should, and there is a subtle, but ever-present, feeling of having a sort of sore throat even when I'm not speaking.

The more I read on vocal fold edema online, the scarier it sounds. I once had some moderate vocal cord swelling, but after a few days of vocal rest I was given a clean bill of health. The only suggestion the doctor made this time was "relative" vocal rest for a week. Has anyone ever had this condition before and, if so, was it resolved? How? I'd appreciate any advice anyone with experience might have with this condition, as I don't want to end my career early due to it (and we -- my band -- have more shows coming up soon, which worries me).

By the bye, I do take bi-weekly vocal lessons, and I've been trying to "support with the diaphragm" as much as I can, but apparently my cords are made of rice paper, as I get vocal fatigue even from speaking at a party/bar for an hour or two. It has always been an issue for me. Depressing...

[ronws]

Friends,

I just today got back from the ENT, who "scoped" me at my request. I was diagnosed with mild edema of the vocal folds. Apparently it's not "too serious," as he at first didn't notice it, and since he said he couldn't detect it in my speaking voice, but I've felt for the past couple of weeks that my voice tires more easily than it should, and there is a subtle, but ever-present, feeling of having a sort of sore throat even when I'm not speaking.

The more I read on vocal fold edema online, the scarier it sounds. I once had some moderate vocal cord swelling, but after a few days of vocal rest I was given a clean bill of health. The only suggestion the doctor made this time was "relative" vocal rest for a week. Has anyone ever had this condition before and, if so, was it resolved? How? I'd appreciate any advice anyone with experience might have with this condition, as I don't want to end my career early due to it (and we -- my band -- have more shows coming up soon, which worries me).

By the bye, I do take bi-weekly vocal lessons, and I've been trying to "support with the diaphragm" as much as I can, but apparently my cords are made of rice paper, as I get vocal fatigue even from speaking at a party/bar for an hour or two. It has always been an issue for me. Depressing...

Sounds like a problem. In addition, your login id in spanish, means bad or evil, like malovent. That's two problems to overcome.

 

But, I think the voice will heal. The name, not so much.

 

I am messing with you about the login. But I would wonder what your voice teacher says about this. A lot of people here blindly give the advice "get a coach" and I am still saying it greatly depends on who. You could ruin your voice by going to the wrong coach.

[malo23]

Ha! Thanks for making me (silently) laugh! (Just starting my vocal rest this evening.) "Malo" comes from the first two letters of my first name, and the last two letters of my family name. Just for the record...

I do wonder, too. I like my teacher, but I feel sometimes that he pushes me too much, even after I've told him my voice is fatigued on a particular day, etc. Maybe it's time to reassess the situation/look for someone else who might be more suitable. Either that, or forego lessons altogether and just keep working on breath support, resonance, etc. on my own along with books/videos? Hmm...

Hopefully this will heal soon. I'm having to cancel a singing engagement this weekend, and there's two more coming up later in the week that I'm not yet sure what to do about (my ENT said it was OK to sing if there's no way to cancel, but obviously recommends vocal rest as much as possible right now).

[Sexy Beast]

 

I've been trying to "support with the diaphragm" as much as I can

 

It's not always about more support...

[VideoHere]

When I had my polyp I learned about this one. It's called Reinke's edema, and it's an abnormal swelling of the folds.

 

Besides vocal abuse, two of the biggest causes are reflux and smoking.

[Danielformica]

if its from singing its usually from a coach that keeps telling the student more support go harder harder. thats a no go on the little tiny vocal folds 

[Owen Korzec]

If you want fast recovery, stop worrying (that mentality just makes the body mess everything up even more) and take action. Follow your ENT instructions exactly and don't forget to be your own doctor too, listen very carefully to your body and obey it at an A+ level as well. Not only vocally but holistically

I would recommend searching for a better vocal teacher immediately. DO NOT SELF TRAIN that will just make it worse because if you are doing damage you probably don't know enough to teach yourself correctly through books etc.

The best vocal coaches to help you through this right now are the folks who have personally overcame vocal health problems or have helped students through it.

[Danielformica]

well owen I know plenty of self trained singers that kill it. If you are smart enough to really listen self training is definitely achievable. How ever if you get stuck find a good teacher that can demonstrate what it is you want to learn. 

[Owen Korzec]

I agree but if the OP is hurting his voice then he has probably already ingrained bad technique habits that he'll needed a new teacher to help him correct.

You definitely can learn on your own in incredible ways but when in the middle of vocal health problems, I personally wouldn't take that chance when I can find and ask an expert for help.

I feel like the folks doing great self taught are the ones with the most "clean slate" voices and they have never been trained incorrectly before. As soon as some teacher leads you down the wrong path you have to train just as much to undo it.

[malo23]

Thanks for the advice, all. I started lessons with this instructor after I developed some inflammation in the cords, which took a bit of time to heal (and then for me to get my voice back after vocal rest). Now, I've got this, so I'm not too happy about it.

Though I like my current instructor's flexibility in terms of training different styles (my first teacher would only have me sing in Italian, for instance, though I am essentially a rock singer -- I don't use grit, by the way, or scream, though I am a high tenor), I do feel that he pushes me too hard at times, even after telling him my voice is tired on a certain day because of gigs I've sung, after-parties I've had to speak at (at high volume, as those events always are), etc.

So, after I've gotten through this period of vocal rest, I suppose I should start taking lessons from someone else. The problem is finding someone good (I live in Japan, by the bye, and though language isn't a major issue for me, I am basically taking shots in the dark, since most of my musician friends who are singers don't take or, apparently, need lessons).

[ronws]

Let me preface that I am not saying that you must not stretch or develope some muscular tonicity and coordination to improve in singing. But I do say this, as many instructors have said so (and I am not a singer of teaching or a voice coach,) if what you are doing is resulting in damage or diminished ability, then it is wrong. 

 

Personally, I don't think a singing or training session should result in fatigue or finish with fatigue. I have sang "Child in Time" twice in a row, just because I felt like it. But if I had done it "wrong," I would have barely gotten through once.

 

So, whatever your teacher has you doing that is causing you to deteriorate, and then push you past that deterioration, I think is wrong.

 

On the other hand, the teachers here, most noticably Robert, and others, too, have students who do NOT walk away from practice or a lesson beat and worn. Normally, I would say a lot depends on the student but when your session WITH the teacher has you fragged and thrashed before the end, something must be wrong and it cannot be blamed on you because the teacher is right there to correct you. That was the whole point of going to a teacher.

 

It might not be the nice thing to say but maybe you should find a different teacher. And one that can appreciate your inclination toward rock music, which can be sung in a healthy way.

[malo23]

I just made an appointment for early March with another vocal school/teacher. Hopefully it will feel "right" this time. For now, though, it's back to my monk-like silence for at least another few days (our guitarist is going to sing in my place this Sunday -- it was only a two-song set, so I don't feel too terrible about it; the problem is the bigger gigs coming up next week...).

[ronws]

I just made an appointment for early March with another vocal school/teacher. Hopefully it will feel "right" this time. For now, though, it's back to my monk-like silence for at least another few days (our guitarist is going to sing in my place this Sunday -- it was only a two-song set, so I don't feel too terrible about it; the problem is the bigger gigs coming up next week...).

 

Sounds like you are doing things right and good luck with you.

[Gneetapp]

I agree but if the OP is hurting his voice then he has probably already ingrained bad technique habits that he'll needed a new teacher to help him correct.

You definitely can learn on your own in incredible ways but when in the middle of vocal health problems, I personally wouldn't take that chance when I can find and ask an expert for help.

I feel like the folks doing great self taught are the ones with the most "clean slate" voices and they have never been trained incorrectly before. As soon as some teacher leads you down the wrong path you have to train just as much to undo it.

Hi Owen, I have to agree with you on the first 2 statements, but I just got to disagree on the third one. Even though I took several weekly lessons (about one year) with two different vocal coaches, I still have to consider myself self taught, because those coaches just kept me going louder and louder, almost blowing my head off with support. So, I learned how to cross my bridge (F4-A#4) changing the resonance, and shaping my throat (vowels?), and I used to be a yeller/screamer/chest puller/pusher. In fact, I still am a loud singer, but it is now under control.