Asthma croaky voice

[lovelife00]

I'm 45 female not overweight. I'm asthmatic - mostly controlled. I take 200 Forstair 4 puffs daily. Antihistamine & just started Omeprazole 1 tab daily. 6 months ago I lost my voice but after taking antibiotics and Pred it came back. It feels as if I have mucus around my voice box but I cannot shift it. I've just finished 5 days of Pred and i'm on day 3 of Amoxicillin. Day 3 of Omeprazole as dr thinks reflux/acid may be affecting my vocal chords. My voice is still like chewbacca. I don't smoke. Don't have animals. Fairly fit. I just want my voice back. Any tips/advice would be greatly appreciated. (I use a spacer and always rinse my mouth out). Thank you x

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador]

Hi

Sorry to hear you’ve not been very well. Have you looked into vocal cord dysfunction/inducible laryngeal obstruction (vcd/ilo)? Just an idea to see if it explains your symptoms and how you are feeling. Cause if it is that then it can be helped with physio exercise! Also is there any chance you have post nasal drip? That may explain the mucus feeling (and I think is usually helped by a nasal spray).

Not much help but hopefully some ideas for you to research and see if it’s applicable to then take to your GP!

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador in reply to EmmaF91]

Also meant to say, it may well be reflux. That can cause vocal changes. If it goves you issue at night etc (heart burn/indigestion etc) you may want to try sleeping on an incline. Then it’s about what and when you eat if it’s a reflux thing. But see how the omeprazole works. If it helps then you know you’re on the right path. If it does the complete opposite, speak to your GP as it’s possibly reflux but you have issues with the med (omeprazole GIVES me reflux 😅). If it makes no difference then your GP will look into different things and possibly refer onwards

[Matman]

I too get very frequent hoarse voice.

I’m periodically on max dose Fostair (200/6 four pufffs daily) plus use ventolin inhaler from time to time.

Hoarse Voice (and or Vocal cord dysfunction) are one of several GP-Surgery-triggered ‘red flag events, that involved a fast-track, two week hospital referral for Patient Tests’. Believe such referral can entail either ENT Department (Throat Check) and / or a Respiratory Dept Chest Check, possibly including X-ray / CT. (Not sure if you’ve seen a Respiratory or ENT Consultant).

Spacers very good providing used with ‘all’ inhalers you are prescribed.

Do you ‘throat / mouth rinse‘ both before and after use of every inhaler? (Note, The ‘before’ ‘rinse’ is as important as the ‘after‘ rinse (so my pharmacist informs me) as inhaler ingredients interact with ‘ever present‘ microbes living in our throat and mouth - unless you temporarily rinse them away before using inhaler). Tiny Pinch of salt in a large glass of warm water for the rinsing / gargling, is normally fairly safe, but - if using plain unsalted water on its own - you probably need to rinse for longer before and after inhaler use. (Too much salt can dry throat / mouth, and be counterproductive, so - if using - then only ‘tiny pinch‘ well stirred into warm water).

Hoarseness may also be reduced by staying fully hydrated so - after any mouth rinsing (and at other times to) maybe top-up your fluids. As we age, it seems we get fewer-to-zero signals from the brain informing us that our current hydration levels are inadequate, this can give rise to the mistaken impression that we don’t need a drink. Accordingly, need to remember to have a couple more drinks daily to compensate.

When asked, my Respiratory Clinic Pharmacists said Hoarseness not uncommon among respiratory suffers.

[Trimley]

I too have this problem, and am on the same medication as you. Recently had sinus surgery and am using steroid nasal spray and anti histamines. I've had checks at ENT and no problems with my throat found. I do a nasal wash every day and also use a spacer but cannot get a difinitive answer as to why it happens. Guess I'll just to have to keep struggling to make myself understood.

[lovelife00 in reply to Trimley]

Hi, Thanks so much for getting in touch. Do you mind me asking why you had sinus surgery? I often feel liquid running down my throat. Other kind people who have responded suggested nasal drip. Is this something you have?

[Trimley in reply to lovelife00]

I had sinusitis several times and scan showed that sinus passages were blocked. Operation cleared them up but side effect is nasal polyp which is treated with the nasal spray and anti histamine. Hope this helps.

[LylaRose]

Hi there I know I'm a bit late to the conversation. I have this problem too. Have asthma, take Flixotide 125 4 puffs daily through aerochamber, then rinse. Also on omeprazole and beconase long term. Was checked by camera to my vocal cords 2 years ago, no issues found except strain. Had speech therapy last year which did help. But now I've been squawking for ages. I think it's down to reflux, tension and stress - been having those in spadefuls lately. Sometimes Gaviscon Advance helps (leave at least 2 hours between it and Omeprazole). I have known it to relieve a horrid tight squawky chest in a few hours. Might be worth raising with your doctor.