How Do I Get My Voice Back?

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 2/21/07 at 10:49am

Due to bronchitis, my voice is completely gone. I went on vocal rest and did not speak at all for most of yesterday and I'm contemplating whether or not to go to my acting class this morning (Because when you act, you usually have to...you know...use your voice). I've been drinking hot tea all day yesterday and will continue to do so today.

Is there anything else I could do?

[kec]

Posted: 2/21/07 at 10:53am

Tea with honey to soothe the throat and rest. You have to give it time to recover.

[sidjones09]

Posted: 2/21/07 at 10:55am

Vocal rest, rest, and more rest! Hot water and honey. Avoid tea if you can, and if you have to talk, talk with your normal speaking voice. Don't try to whisper. Not good.

You should go to your acting class. Even if you can't act, I'm sure you'll learn a lot just by being there, and trying to act even in your physical state won't kill you. It may teach you something, or maybe the class. But if you can possibly just observe it might be better for you and your voice.

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 2/21/07 at 10:59am

Yesterday, I was able to communicate via white-board. I think I will do that again today.

[ahmelie]

Posted: 2/21/07 at 11:28am

I just keep drinking this (disgusting) herbal throat comfort tea and show up for everything, but let who ever I'm working with know how I'm feeling. For example, if I'm sick and I'm working on oh... let's say "Everybody Loves Louis" we'll work on the legnth of the notes and keeping the peice to have a conversation feel to it, rather than work on pitch or anything like that.

Feel better!

[LoringsGuy]

Posted: 2/21/07 at 11:37am

Having suffered numerous bouts of laryngitis, I cannot stress enough the importance of vocal rest. The best thing you can do is drink lots of water, sleep, and avoid talking if at all possible. Someone commented on using your normal speaking voice instead of trying to whisper. YES, it is true, whispering actually places more stress on your vocal cords than just speaking normally.
One last thing: don't expect that your voice will spring right back after a day or two of vocal rest. It usually takes a few days before you'll have some semblence of a voice again, and sometimes even weeks before you're truly back to "normal." The important thing is not to push it, or try to sing through it, or you may cause some permanent damage.

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 2/21/07 at 12:16pm

Then another day of being-a-mime it is!

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 2/21/07 at 12:16pm

Thank you all very very much. This is new for me, I've never just completely lost my voice before.

[2373]

Posted: 2/21/07 at 12:24pm

no tea...it dries you out.

hot water and honey!!

I hope you feel better.. Just relax and take it easy.

xoxo

[lildogs]

Posted: 2/21/07 at 12:54pm

Rest is really the only thing that works-drinking a lot of liquids is good too, but nothing beats rest--sleep actually...

[robbiej]

Posted: 2/21/07 at 1:09pm

I've had to do vocally challenging shows with a torn-to-shreds voice before and it's not easy.

Aside from drinking water and resting and not whispering, the best thing you can do for yourself is to invest $40 in the Vics/Kaz personal steamer. Steam for 20 mintues in the morning, 20 in the afternoon and 20 at night. If you absolutely must get through a show (or even just a scene), do a supported vocal warmup (Linklater and the like) for a good long time. Go very gently. Start with just the getting in touch with the breath and slowly move towards sound. It may sound almost counterintuitive to actually make sound, but a proper, supported warmup will do wonders!

[Jazzysuite82]

Posted: 2/21/07 at 2:35pm

I echo what's been said. I would say be VERY careful when using voal folds at all. If you don't HAVE to do anything vocally don't.

Losing one's voice (Laryngitis)sucks. You can drink lots of liquids and do minimal vocal therapy things (no more than 5 mins) and you can sleep. All that is good but it's not a cure. Why you should do all these good things hasn't been touched on here so I'll mention this. What you have is swollen vocal chords. They get puffy and in their enlarged state can't vibrate...hence laryngitis. Keep in mind that a male's vocal folds are about the size of a nickel. ANY speech is putting stress on them. Would you run a marathon with a swollen knee? NO. Would you go for a jog with a swollen ankle? NO. At least I hope not! Your voice is the same take care of it and wait it out. You'll be glad you did.

P.S.I wouldn't spend $40 on a steamer unless you have it to spend and really want one. You can get the same effect sitting in a steamy shower/bathroom or boiling some water, taking it off the flam and inhaling the steam with a towel over your face and the pot.

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 2/21/07 at 3:09pm

I've also heard that if I mix honey and lemon juice, that's pretty good for the voice as well.

[dramaqueen2]

Posted: 2/21/07 at 5:53pm

throat coat does wonders. also, try singer's saving grace.
definitely. feel better!

[brainpolice23]

Posted: 2/21/07 at 6:35pm

walk it off.

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 2/21/07 at 7:59pm

is honey good or not? i've heard conflicting things.

[fairygodmother]

Posted: 2/21/07 at 8:08pm

you can combine them all with lemon juice, hot water and honey, always does the trick for me. plus gallons of water, steaming, and rest, like everyone else said. and yep, don't whisper.

to get the folds working a little, gentle humming and sirening only. quietly! but only if you have to try and get them moving.

[nodaybut2day1205]

Posted: 2/21/07 at 8:38pm

Sleep as much as you possibly can....and if you have a vaporizer, you should put it on while you sleep, especially if you have your heat on (it dries out the air).

[soulman83]

Posted: 2/21/07 at 11:00pm

yeah i got laryngitis about a month ago and i would say i finished recovering about a week ago. it was very stressful and it takes a lot of time, especially when you are a singer. Not being about to sing for a month was awful. It will come though.

Everyone gave wonderful suggestions so just give it time and follow what people are saying.

[Bdwy24]

Posted: 2/21/07 at 11:45pm

Z-Pack (Antibiotic) and Steroids. That's if you need it back in one day. if not just rest.

[iliketheater]

Posted: 2/21/07 at 11:51pm

Everything that everyone has said
REST
WATER
tea
throat coat
lemon
honey

& I'll add ginger

[Switz78]

Posted: 2/22/07 at 12:13am

a big glass of 1/3 apple cider vinegar and 2/3 oj drink quickly
I've seen this work several times on ppl who could not speak 5 minutes before a curtain and by the time their first scene came were fine. You still need to rest your voice after but it could help to get thru a class or a show or whatever.