acid reflux and singing

[TinyDancer]

Posted: 11/11/05 at 12:02pm

I've heard in the past few years more and more singers saying they have this affliction, Acid Reflux. It sounds like a nightmare for a singer (knock wood i've managed to escape it somehow), but-

I've often wondered, has 'acid reflux' been a singer's malady for decades under a different name? I have been a singer for many years and only recently started hearing about 'acid reflux' from my friends and coworkers as a chronic problem. We've all been singing from the diaphragm for centuries so, why the sudden insurgence of this particular disease?

Clearly to call it 'heart burn' is an insult to those who suffer from it (from what i've gathered?).

I certainly believe it exists, but i find it hard to believe it has just surfaced in the past 5 years or so.

Such as 'noxema' was an original cure for 'ex(c)ema' but then switched to makeup remover because it was better for sales- is there some 'older remedy' for this disease by a different name that would save people from having to take all these medications (which in most cases seem to make things worse)?

Acid reflux.
Ancient malady under another name, or recent pharmaceutical boon at the sake of singers.

discuss if you like, please.

tinydancer

[uncageg]

Posted: 11/11/05 at 12:15pm

I have it and it is not fun. It usually hits after meals. Best thing to do is not lay down after eating. If I eat something I think may bring it on, I take 2 or 3 Gaviscon after a meal with a tall glass of water. My doctor suggested that and it works. A lot of the medications for it are very expensive.

And thanks for the reminder....I need to pack my Gaviscon for my New York trip tomorrow!

Updated On: 11/11/05 at 12:15 PM

[freelancer]

Posted: 11/11/05 at 12:18pm

I have it, and it's never affected my singing.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 11/11/05 at 12:19pm

The only person I've heard use it as an excuse was Ashlee Simpson after she was caught lip-syncing.

[LittleFish8386]

Posted: 11/11/05 at 12:39pm

I have it as well, and it doesn't usually effect your singing. Like all things, if you take care of yourself before singing and eat the foods that are right, you shouldn't have a problem. I take the medication with the dancing stomach--the name is escaping me now.

[pndmnd]

Posted: 11/11/05 at 12:41pm

I have it, and it's never affected my voice, but sometimes it's uncomfortable when I sing, especially if I ate too large of a meal. I do have a friend, though, who never felt any pain from it, but was having vocal problems. They thought she had nodes, and then found out that it was actually reflux (which was a much happier diagnosis).

I think it's probably been around for a while. Mine is probably pretty mild--more like heart burn. I know my mom and grandma have always had heart burn problems (it pretty much runs in my family). I think that it's become more noticeable since the pharmacutical companies have started advertising the medications for it (I think that of a lot of illnesses). I also think it might have to do with the types of foods we eat now, as well as the size of our meals. We (as a generalization of North American's) eat very large portion sizes, and they tend to be greasy and fatty foods. We also drink a LOT of caffeine, carbonation, and alcohol (all things that can contribute to heart burn/reflux). So, that's my take on it.

[makenzimarciano]

Posted: 11/11/05 at 12:44pm

I have it, and it doesn't really affect my singing unless it's really bad, and then it throws the high end of my chest voice off...if that's the case, I just have to spend a bit longer warming up. I happen to take Nexium for it and it keeps it under control most of the time. I think Ashlee Simpson is full of it. While she may have it, if it's bad enough to ruin her singing then chances are it's progressed to Barrett's Esophagus, which is a pre-cancerous condition that untreated reflux can lead to.

[pndmnd]

Posted: 11/11/05 at 12:50pm

Start of thread jack.

I think Ashley Simpson's vocal problems have more to do with bad technique (aka yelling) than acid reflux.

End of thread jack.

[AndiV]

Posted: 11/11/05 at 2:48pm

love this topic! i, too, have reflux. i think the name and diagnosis is fairly new. at least all the new meds are. i've had it since i was a child (was tested for an ulcer at 4 years old!) and was taking pepcid (perscription) for a "nervous stomach" as soon as i could swallow pills.

i guess i'm different than most here. it affects everything for me. my singing voice, yes, but also my speaking voice and it aggrivates my sinuses--you can reflux into your sinuses at night...causes cronic infections, etc... when it's bad, my speaking voice is hoarse and scratchy adn it takes all i have to sing big songs. foods affect it...anything citrus affects it...even too little sleep can make it worse.

here is some information on how it can be misdiagnosed, etc...

http://www.newyorksinuscenter.com/nysc_diagnosis_treatment.html

as far as ashlee simpson goes...i think that it could affect you to the point of losing your voice, especially on big belting songs...but in the matter of a few hours to go from "a great soundcheck/rehearsal" to not being able to sing? give me a break!

[zepka102]

Posted: 11/11/05 at 2:55pm

pndmnd, you're too kind to ashlee... she just can't sing

Posted: 11/11/05 at 3:39pm

I'm a singer and have suffered with acid reflux for a few years. It definitely affects my singing. I absolutely believe Ashley Simpson. I think with her, it's a combination of reflux and the need for better technique. When I first went to a throat doctor about it, I was told I had the reddest throat they'd ever seen. I was given antibiotics to avoid infection, and they helped a great deal. I was on the antibiotics for longer than usual - 17 days. I've kept it under control with various medications, but just two days ago I've developed some symptoms again: The feeling that you have a lump in your throat; the need to clear your throat constantly (which can lead to more irritation); etc. Coincidentally, I've done more singing over the past two weeks than I have for a long time. At the same time, I've recently been very aggravated about something and can actually feel a "burning" feeling. It's all related: the emotions, the sinuses, the throat, the stomach, the esophagus. Help! I hope I've sparkled up your day.

[Barihunk]

Posted: 11/11/05 at 4:47pm

To say you have reflux and that it doesn't affect your singing means to me that you probably do not have acid reflux. In true cases of acid relux the acid kicks back on to the vocal cords causing them to swell. I have yet to meet a singer who can sing well on constantly swollen cords.

As to acid reflux's wider recognition I personally do think it is has been fueled by pharmaceutical companies. I have many singer friends who have been diagnosed with it and put on medication when they haven't had so much as simple heartburn. I know a prominent ENT who was prescribing Prilosec like candy. I think it has always been around but as our culture has increased its consumption of trigger substances like alcohol, caffeine, spicy foods and the like, cases of it are wider spread. Personally, I try to manage my reflux by avoiding triggers, sleeping on an incline, and excercising regularly. Some days it works, some days it just doesn't.

[xrent_headx]

Posted: 11/11/05 at 6:07pm

i get acid reflux all the time! i was at school and i had it while i was in vocal class...and i had to sing, it only hurt a little bit when ever i brothe in . i hate it so much

[adamgreer]

Posted: 11/11/05 at 6:18pm

Maya Days had it so bad she had to have an innovative surgical procedure to correct the problem. The article (which is a couple of years old) is linked below.

http://www.mayadays.com/articles/nydaily.htm

[billyrubin]

Posted: 11/11/05 at 9:20pm

Prilosec (over the counter)or Nexium (by prescription), once a day will cure the acid reflux problem in most people. Takes about 3 months to kick in. After that, you can drink battery acid without getting heartburn
Although I read a Wall St Journal article recently that suggested one could be at risk of alkaline reflux into the esophagus from long term use of the meds.

[Elphaba]

Posted: 11/11/05 at 9:51pm

exactly.....I take Prilosec every morning........and since it works well, most medical plans will not cover Nexium.

A Prilosec a day, keeps the AF away!

[xrent_headx]

Posted: 11/11/05 at 10:55pm

Wow ! this sounds so complicated , but i would do anything to get rid of these pains. it hurts!