Singing: How do you reduce vocal swelling/edema with a cold virus?
I am coming down with a cold two days before I have to sing at a wedding. I am a trained opera singer, so pls understand that I am not 'losing voice' due to any bad techniques. But I need help on how to reduce edema to the vocal folds without risking vocal hemmorhage when I sing.
I have mild laryngitis -- I can technically sing, but my head resonance has gone to crap and my control is lessened due to swelling of the cords. Range is down by a whole step, as I have to start covering on F#4 instead of G#4, and I can't seem to hold the breath very well, presumably because my cords are swollen and can't close all the way.
This is due to a virus:
My mom came down with something very similar on Christmas (of course), but I did not know about it until after I had been around her for a while. She lost her speaking voice a couple of days later, and is still recovering. I have no allergies or respiratory disorders.
Anyone have ideas on how I can heal by Saturday? Or at least sing?
Posted by snide76258
Be very careful. Continuing to sing with this kind of swelling can do real damage.
You need to do the usual things. See a doctor. Rest. Drink lots of fluids. If it doesn't get better, I think you should cancel.
Good luck!
Posted by incandescent_poet
See an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) doctor right now.
Vitamin C speeds healing time, and Ibprofen is an anti-inflammatory, so both might help reduce swelling. I also suck on cough drops with vitamin C, zinc, and echinacea when I'm sick.
Break a leg.
Posted by Ashley
Please, for your own good, cancel.
If you sing at this wedding, you could seriously damage your voice.
The wedding party should understand. Sure they'll be disappointed, but they'll deal. And you really really shouldn't take that risk.
Besides, It's not as thought you'll be at your best.
Posted by puppetman
Wow! Too bad! You need to take some Sudafed (or similar) to dry up the nasal passages, which will help with the stuffy nose and head. Vocaleze (or Vocal-eze) is a new product spray, made out of licorice and herbs and singers swear by it. It is like a coating on the vocal chords. You probably can't get it in two days, however. Good luck!
Posted by musiclady007
Definitely try to see the Doctor ASAP and see if he will be able to give you something to lessen the swelling, If not, I would cancel.
Or perhaps you would be comfortable singing but not going full force....I know , i Know that is not what you want but it may be an option if you are truly set on singing at this wedding. Otherwise I would rest your cords as much as possible.
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