Trying to get my singing voice back

[Sugarcoated]

I had a really awful cold about a month ago, lasted two weeks. Lots of coughing, violent coughing for a few days of it. I knew it would take some time to get back to where my voice was before (as it always does after a cold/laryngitis) but I'm still having issues. I can't "launch" into any belt, powerful delivery or quality head voice singing. My delivery is a bit choppy where it used to be pretty smooth. I know that has quite a bit to do with control but something seems different this time. Any singers here know what I'm talking about? I'm struggling to explain with my untrained "terminology". I googled but not finding an answer to my specific issues.

[OldBaldy1701E]

1. All I can say is the old adage.

"Three days to gestate, five to seven days under the weather, and three months to get rid of the cough!'

You need to allow your chords to rest more. Start slow and build it back. If you go too fast, you might do some permanent damage. On the flip side, do not allow yourself to slack off on the rehab stuff. Just keep it simple and steady. It should come back.

(I hate to say it, but lose the alcohol and the smoking/vaping if you partake of any of those things. Also, avoid long periods in really cold weather for the time being, as this will create massive irritation in your throat.)

[Sugarcoated]

4. Aside from the very occasional hit or glass of wine

I don't partake on regular basis. I guess the thing that's got me nervous is, I've never been this shaky vocally a month out from a cold; I'm worried I've got permanent damage.

[griffi94]

18. It gets worse as you age

Or it did for me anyway.
I ended up needing vocal therapy. Took me over a year to recover and I'm still pretty fragile. I lose my voice easily now and the cough returns.
I recommend vocal therapy.

[Sugarcoated]

20. Yes, it's a whole new ball game now that I'm older

Thanks for the response and advice!

[OldBaldy1701E]

24. Which is why you need to be slow and not over do it.

(I sound like my mother now. Yours too I bet.)

[Lunabell]

2. I used to have a voice.

I was a music major with voice principle once upon a time. Now, because of asthma and respiratory infections that go immediately to my chest and larynx, I can't croak a note.

I used to sing to my wife and her favorite was "Everything's Alright" from Jesus Christ Superstar. Any time things were bad, I would sing it to her. Now, I have to play Yvonne Elliman's version from the 1972 album.

I hope your recovery is swift. But, rest your voice. No loud talking and no whisping either. It irritates the larynx.

[Sugarcoated]

5. That sucks Lunabell, I'm so sorry!

Was it coughing from those chronic ailments that took your ability to sing away?

[Lunabell]

10. I'm not sure.

But, it's been in the last six to eight years. Getting older, and working as a nurse around lots of children, my immune system just took so many respiratory hits. I'm not sure if it was coughing or just chronic inflammation of my larynx. I really miss being able to sing along to the radio in my car, especially at Christmas time. I have my radio set to an oldies station that plays 24/7 Christmas carols.

It's like my art was just ripped away from me. And it's ironic, because my wife is/was an artist. She painted, drew and sculpted. Unfortunately, she got bad carpal tunnels syndrome and fibromyalgia. Both of these problems ripped her art away from her because her hands, she says, are like useless clubs. Luckily, we have some of her paintings in our house.

My advice? Use and appreciate your art and talent.

[Sugarcoated]

15. Heartbreaking to lose something you so love to do

I used to draw, very detailed colored pencil but my eyesight isn't what it used to be. I guess it was the hassle of using a magnifier AND glasses, made me drift from it. Music was my first love anyway, it was just the fear of performing that got in the way but I conquered that. I also love songwriting so, God forbid if my voice goes I still have that.

[Sugarcoated]

3. I should've made this part of my question

Could I have done permanent damage?

[Lunabell]

12. Yes.

Rest your larynx. You absolutely can do permanent damage if it is inflamed.

[Hela]

6. I also have lost my singing voice

It's still there, but tires quickly, and I have good days and bad days. I had vocal nodes all throughout high school and college, and I'm guessing my vocal cords are probably pretty scarred and thickened now, even after speech therapy and voice lessons. I gave up trying to fix it when I was about 23. (I'm now 62).

If you have coverage or can swing it, I'd highly recommend going to an ENT who specializes in vocal problems. You might ask other singers or call the local college music department for recommendations. If it's nodes, you'll need to go on vocal rest for an extended period. And yes, you can do permanent damage, but it's unlikely that it's just from the illness. It might be related to pushing through the illness and overtaxing your vocal cords while you were sick or recovering.

You gotta baby those pipes!

[Sugarcoated]

8. I sang a little right after the cold

rehearsed an original Christmas song a few times with the intention of recording it that week. After the third take my violinist/duo partner agreed that my voice was in no way ready for recording. I rested for a few weeks. Recently I've done some vocal warmups and a bit of singing in the shower. The radio has been playing the top 885 countdown of women songs, songs I adore and have been singing my whole life. I know what I can sing and I'm not even close and it's scaring me. I guess I need a lot more vocal rest. I have an ENT but I think I need to wait till the new year for our new health insurance to kick in.

[Sugarcoated]

9. Very sorry about the vocal challenges that you've had

[Croney]

7. I think it will just take time, and your voice will recover.

Keep trying gently every day, and build up.

I am also trying to get my singing voice back after decades of little use. I feel like a piano which has broken keys at a certain range. I sing, and then reach the ker-klunk-ker-klunk level.

Every morning at 9am on my oldies station, they play Kate Smith singing God Bless America. Not my favorite song but I belt it out until I reach ker-klunk-ker-klunk-SCREECH.

[Sugarcoated]

11. Slow and steady

A mindset I have to accept. Good description of how it feels, the broken keys of a piano. You must have a pretty amazing ability if you can handle God Bless America!

[Lunabell]

14. I disagree with this information.

Don't try to warm up even gently every day. From what I have read, you need to rest your larynx, not even whispering is ok if you are to heal completely. Warm teas are good, but rest, rest, rest your voice. Don't force it, just rest and give it time. If you have Christmas music plans, you should probably try to rehearse in your mind. I'm so sorry. I feel your pain and frustration.

[Sugarcoated]

19. Yes, that's what vocal experts say

I'll have to sit out an "open chair" spot this Saturday. It'd only be one song but I'd have to practice so...not happening. No gigs scheduled. Was hoping to record in January but that has to be shelved for now. Thanks

[ProfessorGAC]

26. That's Good Advice

Particularly during or shortly after the acute phase.
Once all inflammation has ceased, the only way to regain control of the small muscles is to use them
But, as others have said, in moderation. Low volume, don't go for the highest or lowest notes, and so on.
But, during the period when things are still inflamed, using the voice as little as possible is a really good plan.

[Croney]

17. Thanks... For 79, I'm strong with certain notes!

[Ocelot II]

13. It will probably come back on its own in time, but you might want to consult

a specialist ENT doc who deals with singers and actors, and maybe a voice teacher. I got some kind of crud like that about 10 years ago (now I think it might have been RSV, though it wasn't tested - they just said I had some kind of virus) that made me cough relentlessly and also gave me laryngitis that lasted about six weeks. I could barely speak, let alone sing; and when I recovered enough to be able to make any sounds at all, I could only sing baritone, even tenor was too high (I'm a soprano), and make some very high-pitched squeaking noises. It was more than two months before my voice was back to normal (I do classical and choral, not pop). Do not try to "belt" or sing forcefully until you have completely recovered, because what's happened is that your vocal cords are irritated and swollen and you will make the problem worse. And be sure any singing you do is fully supported with your diaphragm; don't try to just squeak the sound out with your larynx.

[Sugarcoated]

16. That makes sense. I've heard many singing and vocal coaches

on YouTube say this. I have a very good ENT recommended by a singing teacher, the go to for singers and actors in the Philly area. That experience sounds pretty scary, yikes...you can't help the worry, 'what if it's permanent?'

Just an aside: Barbara Streisand singing "People Who Need People" ... bringing me to tears...

[Ocelot II]

21. This time of year it's tempting to want to sing a lot; there are so many occasions for music.

Under the circumstances, though, you should probably not sing at all until your ENT gives you some advice. You'll probably be fine, but for now don't push it.

[Sugarcoated]

22. It really is

and it seems like I'm sick every December...

Thanks for the sage advice, much appreciated ❤️❤️❤️

[2naSalit]

23. I agree with...

Pretty much everything everyone else said.

I am dealing with my aging voice and not sure how much longer I have. Had a couple respiratory things in the past year and in 2021, I stopped singing entirely for a year due to covid and my housing situation.

So I have taken breaks several times and I find it takes longer and requires much more care in selecting my exercise plan each time. I have a strange break in one spot, F (second octave) to be exact, that I can only catch when I have enough air to make it happen at mid volume. I have learned to work around it but it's there.

Never had any physical or health issues other than the regular ENT viral stuff but I have found that my posture is a culprit sometimes. There are days when I can't keep my lower back in line which reduces my air capacity and control and that's a thing because some styles of singing require some power, I can get the power but for only half the time I need. Like a reed instrument, if there isn't the properly controlled flow of air, the notes will not materialize.

I don't think I want to perform live any more as I am not confident I could pull off a full length performance anymore. It's been so long since I have that I really wonder.

I started getting therapeutic massages and they really help with the control and capacity problems.

I think you should take a hiatus from performance until you have resolved the issue, if you work out, only do it a couple times a week, only work your mid range until you feel like you can start stretching out in both directions, save working your high range for last. Stagger it in phases, work mid range then slowly add in the low range and eventually start locating your upper range. It matters that you do that.

Once upon a time I spent a decade of my life as a part time classical vocalist, other times other genres here and there. Do what you can to have a healthy diet and get good rest, relax your body and slowly rebuild to performance level.

Good luck.

[ProfessorGAC]

25. In 2021, I Got A Bad Cold

A couple weeks before Christmas. (It was a cold, for sure. Tested negative for COVID & lacked other flu symptoms. )
I had a sore throat for 8 to 10 HOURS, though the cold lasted 10 days.
It took THREE months to get more than half my range back, and a couple more months before I had my range again, such as it is at 66 (now 67.)
Yep, 5 months for me to be able to sing well again.
Not posting this to discourage you, but to let you know I feel your pain.