Well, we finally have an answer to my three-month-long hoarse voice. I have vocal nodules, and yes – acid reflux.
I had the visit to the ENT today, and it was quick and horrible. The doctor was incredibly nice, and we chatted pleasantly as I tried to ignore that he was putting a lighted probe into my throat, ears and *jibblie* nose. That was embarrassing enough, but then came the time for the endoscope (tiny camera on a long tube). I confessed to him that I was worried that I would throw up due to gagging, and he assured me, “No, you won’t.” He showed me how he swabbed the tip of the scope with anesthesia and I wouldn’t feel a thing. Then, after assessing that my left nostril would be a better route, he put a camera on a tube in there. BLEAH!!!! *jibblie jibblie jibblie* It actually wasn’t so bad until it actually was in my throat, and I could feel it when I swallowed.
“I can feel it!” I said worriedly.
“No, you can’t” he calmly replied.
Thanks to his Jedi mind tricks I was able to go through the process – “Breathe deep. Say a high-pitched ‘e’. Say a low-pitched ‘a’. Cluck like a chicken.” (Ha. Just seeing if you’re paying attention.)
And then it was over. Less than a minute of trauma, and then he handed me a tissue to wipe the ‘anesthesia’ from my nose. I have some small nodules, probably from trying to talk past the original laryngitis, which was probably caused by the acid reflux. So, it’s limited talking, keep taking stomach medicine and sleeping on an incline for another month, and if that doesn’t work, I have to see a speech therapist. Seriously – that’s not a joke. Apparently I’ve been talkin’ wrong for 39 years. Drat his Jedi mind powers…..
Hehe… I kept envsioning an ent looking in your throat.
You: “I’ll throw up!”
Ent: “Hroom, hum, hoom. No you, hroom, won’t”
I wonder how many other noses that scope had been in before yours? 😉 (Just wanted to give you something else to freak you out.)
I was hoping you would post the video of the scoping. That would have been really cool.
I have internal organ pictures that the surgeon took when I was having my gall bladder removed. They’re really cool. I should post them, huh?
Jibblie!
I have had that endoscope procedure done; mine went down the throat all the way to my tummy! And just so you know, I love omeprazole and take it daily. It saves me lots of suffering -- at least on the tummy side of life. Hope things get better!
Does this include dietary changes? Perhaps Lloyd will have to do more of the cooking???
Thatta willa notta worka, assa I onlya cookka the spicy Italiana fooddas.
I hope you feel better soon Lauren!
I have a high tolerance for anesthesia so they always have to give me a little more than the usual dose. I’ve had to say “I can feel that” many times. At 1st they don’t believe me, then they test me by probing with something very sharp, then a get the big A+ put on my chart, which stands for drug her ’til she shuts up.
Oh I am so sorry Lauren. Vocal nodes are not fun. When I was singing full time I had to go in and get that done too. It was not very fun.
I hope you get better.
Here is a list of famous people that have had vocal nodules:
Luciano Pavarotti
Freddie Mercury pianist and lead singer of QueenJulie Andrews
Whitney Houston
Sarah Brightman developed nodules after her Harem world tour in 2004
Bette Midler developed nodules in 2006-2007.
Natalie Dessay, a famous operatic lyric-coloratura
Justin Timberlake had surgery to remove vocal nodules in 2005.
Goo Goo Dolls’ lead singer Johnny Rzeznik
Steve Augeri of the band Journey
Joss Stone
Mariah Carey
Idina Menzel developed vocal nodules after performing in Wicked for over a year.
Former Village People lead singer Victor Willis Elton John
Madonna came down with vocal nodules and had to stop her tour.
Joni Mitchell suffered with vocal nodules in the 90s.
Broadway legend Patti LuPone suffered with vocal
Kerry Butler, star of Broadway hits such as Hairspray (musical) and Beauty and the Beast (musical)
Miley Cyrus, star of Hannah Montana Klaus Meine of Scorpions
M. Shadows of Avenged Sevenfold
Ian Gillan
Nathan Lane
Eliza Carthy
Rod Stewart
Tony Vincent
Bill Gasau, Lloyd, Brad and Beth’s high school choir director.
(Just adding to the list. That’s a remarkable list by the way kiwe.)
…and Karla’s.
Maybe they are contagious!
Yet one more thing Miley Cyrus and I have in common.
Hey Lauren, I have something I want to email to you. Could you email me please.
i have had the same thing sence i was 7!
im now 17!
embarassing!