Voice problems

[Guest guest]

Hi All

/Marty - all,

I too have a voice problem daily and have for years. I also have been sent

to an ENT and had the camera put down my throat. It didn't hurt a bit. My

ENT actually had the TV screen right in front of me (and my husband) when he

did it. We could both see what he saw. It was somewhat disgusting. It was

red (inflamed) and had phlegm stuck. He explained that it is common with

people that have autoimmune diseases like lupus/stills to have this issue.

He also asked if I had more problems the more I talked in any given day, and

thinking back, the answer was yes. I tended to lose my voice more and more

on the days that I had to talk a lot, to the point of totally losing my

voice for days. Even now, that I am not working, the more that I have to

talk, the more my voice gets stressed. He said that sugar free cough drops

will help with both the dry mouth and the inflammation, but the best thing

to do was to drink a cup of tea with honey and lemon and to stop talking for

a few hours when it is really acting up.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for it. Just being aware of it and being

smart about how much you talk during any given day. Some days I wake up and

know it will be a bad day and just refrain from talking on the phone and

stay away from social situations as much as possible. Not a great answer,

but it does seem to help reduce the constant loss of my voice.

Anyway, at least we aren't alone. (Not that it makes us feel much better

J..)

Hugs to all,

Alli