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Intermittent Hoarseness?

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    Intermittent Hoarseness?

    I've had intermittent hoarseness and problems with my voice for the last 10 months now. I've always blamed it on something or other (a cold, my asthma, allergies, etc).

    It's gotten way worse- and I'm a singer. I don't sing "formally" anymore, just for church choir, etc, but I still rely on my voice for solos...and my voice *should* be at its peak still. Not wavering and losing my range and fatiguing like it is.

    I wake up and have no voice. I lose it after using it for a while. And then there is no pattern too. I suspect it is tied to spasticity as it does seem to be worse when my other muscles are not behaving and I'm on constant meds for that. I know how to treat my voice well and I baby it as much as possible.

    Going to my primary on Friday. I guess I'm hoping it is *just* related to me singing my entire life and not this dang disease. I know even that isn't an awesome thing for a singer, but it is better than the alternative. It has taken so much from me already and I'm not even officially diagnosed.

    Anyone else dealing with hoarseness?
    Erin

    doing the Limbo since 2005

    #2
    Don't panic. It doesn't mean it's from MS. Let your doctor decide that. But, yes, I've been hoarse since January 09. It started intermittent but worse when I was tired, hot or stressed. The stress wasn't what anyone else would have even considered stress. All it took was a phone call or a visitor. It usually came on later in the day. As the year progressed it started earlier and earlier in the day Then I started having problems articulating. Now I have about an hour a day-when I get up-to speak clearly. It was the first symptom my PCP took seriously and when he referred me to a neurologist (although it still took an oncologist to suggest this to him).
    DX-October 2010 MS

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      #3
      Hi Photomama!

      I am sorry to hear that you are experiencing this symptom, especially being a singer. My voice was hoarse in the late spring and through the most of the summer. It is much better now and doesn't seem to happen as frequently. I talked with my PCP about it and she sent me to an Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) doctor. He stuck a little camera down my throat through my nose and watched as I said sounds he requested. (He numbed the area. It was a bit uncomfortable, but really didn't hurt.)

      The result is that he thought it was perhaps reflux as it is "quite rare" for it to be MS. However, my gastroenterologist told me that I don't have stomach acid to cause reflux (I take B12 now due to this) and he didn't think that my hoarse voice was due to reflux. I didn't take the time to go back to the ENT again, but will visit about it with my PCP when I see her next month.

      Thus, I believe my hoarse voice is due to MS (even if my docs currently don't.) For me, it is always worse in the evening when I am tired. It also comes out if I get too stressed.

      Google Neil Cavuto with Fox News also has this symptom with his MS.

      So, call you doc and get it checked out. Especially if it is now significantly interfering with your life!

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        #4
        I am also a singer.

        My voice gets hoarse but more often it gets very shaky.

        I hope you get to the bottom of it so you can sing to your full potential, again.
        [insert motivational quote here]

        DX of Lyme Disease May 2010/Still under investigation for body madness

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          #5
          I believe that it can be related to the MS. It was one of the early signs that I noticed but didn't know what it was from.

          I too went to an ENT, and told it was mucous related.

          But my voice is very hoarse and if I attempt to go to the door to 'call' my kids in. You know, yell their names....usually nothing at all comes out, no voice at all. I now blow a whistle.

          My kids think it is very funny!! not so much here.

          Hope you are feeling better soon.
          DX: RRMS Jan 2010 -- LDN: Mar 2010-Dec 2010, Tysabri: Feb 2011 reaction, Gilenya: Aug 2011 reaction, Copaxone: Oct 2011 reaction, Tecfidera: May 2013 reaction

          Comment


            #6
            Hoarseness

            Two years ago I started getting hoarse for short peroids during the day. Gradually it lasted for longer periods of time. Now it is for the full day. I never went through a time where it wasn't there. Now I am at the point where I can barely talk. but I am also having problems with breathing and swallowing optic neuritis. I have an appointment today for the optic neuritis. I mentioned to someone if they would just remove everything from the neck up I would be just fine.

            I know These things are scary but now it is just a way of life. I do hope this improves for you soon. I am praying that yours is short lived. At leawst MS doesn't kill us.

            Lois

            Comment


              #7
              Thanks guys! Yup- going to the primary doc this week. I am sure I will get sent to the ENT (oh joy- another specialist, lol). But I wanted to start with my PCP since we need to get some other things taken care of too.

              I would *love* it if it wasn't MonSter related. Just have one of those bad feelings (I don't get them often!)... I'm familiar with all the singing and overuse related signs and symptoms. But I'd like to get everything ruled out.

              Christmas is coming up and they kind of rely on my voice more than they should. I'd like to rely on it too! :P

              Thanks for your replies. It is nice to not feel so alone. I'm sorry I'm *not* the only one dealing with hoarseness or voice issues though.
              Erin

              doing the Limbo since 2005

              Comment


                #8
                Hoarseness, if it's MS related, is usually caused by problems with the cranial nerves. I have cranial nerve involvement, and I have hoarseness, sometimes worse than other times.

                As somebody mentioned Neil Cavuto has issues with this (he had surgery, then had to keep from talking for weeks...it seemed to help but I think the symptom eventually returned), as does Richard Cohen (Meredith Viera's husband.) I don't think it's a common symptom, but I don't think it's uncommon either

                Comment


                  #9
                  Originally posted by daisy.girl View Post
                  I believe that it can be related to the MS. It was one of the early signs that I noticed but didn't know what it was from.

                  I too went to an ENT, and told it was mucous related.

                  But my voice is very hoarse and if I attempt to go to the door to 'call' my kids in. You know, yell their names....usually nothing at all comes out, no voice at all. I now blow a whistle.

                  My kids think it is very funny!! not so much here.

                  Hope you are feeling better soon.
                  A whistle?! Brilliant! Why didn't I think of that?!
                  [insert motivational quote here]

                  DX of Lyme Disease May 2010/Still under investigation for body madness

                  Comment


                    #10
                    i have had some swallowing problemsrelated to MS, but when i am really fatigued my voice has a gravelly/hoarse quality to it (people often ask if i am getting a cold)- I had things checked by an ENT just to make sure there was no other cause-

                    my nursing background tells me that usually hoarsesness has a simple cause but there are occasionally situations were it is a sign of other conditions such as polyps so it should be checked out as a precaution- its never a good idea to assume that all changes are related to MS

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