Voice: When I get a lot of mucus in my... - Lung Conditions C...

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Voice

btown profile image
42 Replies

When I get a lot of mucus in my throat, my family say that my voice changes, does anyone else experience this ? Mentioned it to my consultant and he was quite worried and said this could be serious and has referred me to ENT. Any info would be much appreciated.

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btown profile image
btown
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42 Replies

Hard to say anything here other than just hang on in there until you see the ENT chappie

btown profile image
btown in reply to

Yeah will do, thanks, a bit worrying though.

pergola1 profile image
pergola1

Listen to your consultant. However a lot of mucus will affect your voice - it will become "gravelly" for want of a better word.

btown profile image
btown in reply topergola1

Thanks Pergola will do.

Multiprobs profile image
Multiprobs

Hi btown

My voice has changed completely and almost disappears some times, I was referred to ENT and they said my voice box was in pristine condition and they sent me for a barium swallow test which showed I had a hiatus hernia and acid reflux. I think they are just trying to ensure nothing is missed. It may even be the different inhalers I am taking that are causing the problem as my voice was fine before being given these.

Hope all goes well

Brina1

btown profile image
btown in reply toMultiprobs

Thanks Brina1

squirell profile image
squirell in reply toMultiprobs

I also suffer from this and have a hernia, also have put weight on which aggravates my hernia and acid. im trying to lose weight, as it also effects my lungs am due to see specialist next week for my checkup. no doubt he will inform me as what to do x

btown profile image
btown in reply tosquirell

Thanks Squirrel

My voice changes all the time and is always now more gravelly and deeper than it was.... I get called Mr rather than ms on telephone sometimes! Saw ent re sinusitis ... All ok. Hope for same result for you. X

btown profile image
btown in reply to

Thanks Julie, I am due a scan in Nov ♡

monkey65 profile image
monkey65

I had voice changes. (Much like juliekkay) and assumed it was the inhalers, but got referred to ENT when CT scan showed lump on my thyroid. In the end I had half my thyroid removed because of nodules - (sounds serious but was a simple day case surgery and very small scar). This would probably be a worst case scenario for you, so so see what ENT have to say. Always interesting to see things from the a different doctors perspective - sometimes the doctors do only see one little bit of the body (lungs usually for us) and never look beyond.

btown profile image
btown in reply tomonkey65

Thanks Monkey

Plumbob profile image
Plumbob

Btown as others said wait til your consultant assesses the situation don't stress with needless worry !!

my voice changes but its due to the various inhalers one minute I can be Joe Pasquale the next Churchill from the insurance ads, which makes it hilarious if I try to sing when playing my guitar !!! keep your chin up and keep breathing - Plumbob

btown profile image
btown in reply toPlumbob

Thanks Plumbob, due a scan in Nov.

squirell profile image
squirell in reply toPlumbob

my voice has changed since my Copd 6yrs ago, it has gone higher and now i have joined a choir as this helps with my lungs, strange the way things are different in everyone, although i do get a terrible feeling that i am being strangled in my kneck and throat and a heavy feeling on my upper chest area ..

btown profile image
btown in reply tosquirell

Thanks squirrel, I also get that heavy chest feeling

Lolly2 profile image
Lolly2

My voice has been changing since I was ill. As a Speech Therapist (when I worked) I was horrified. I really miss being able to sing!

It feels as if the mucous gets caught around my vocal cords, and once I spit it up, my voice returns a bit. I have an inhaler, I take oxygen. Like Brina, my voice comes and goes, and I do sound like a man on the phone sometimes.

Don't worry unduly Btown! I hope your ENT specialist will be able to reassure you. - Lolly.

btown profile image
btown in reply toLolly2

Thanks lolly, thats just what happens, feels like mucus stuck in my throat ♡

squirell profile image
squirell in reply toLolly2

I know it sounds simple but try not to use dairy milk change to soya as dairy milk tends to stick i done this years ago and discovered its actually better for you x

btown profile image
btown in reply tosquirell

Thanks Squirrel, I will try soya.

squirell profile image
squirell in reply tobtown

it can take a while to get used to go for the un- sweetened then you can add sugar if you need. as i dont take sugar in tea. good luck xx

btown profile image
btown in reply tosquirell

OK will do and thanks again Squirrel ♡♡

squirell profile image
squirell in reply tobtown

your welcome love hope it helps xx

qbjb profile image
qbjb

Seretide mucked up my singing ... :(

Fern369 profile image
Fern369

Inhalers for Asthma or COPD or Bronchiectasis can alter your voice and cause mucus build up at the back of throat. Try gargling with water after using them ( if you do that is)

btown profile image
btown in reply toFern369

Thanks Fern I will try that next time I use my inhaler.

squirell profile image
squirell in reply toFern369

When you use your inhalers get a clear glass and rinse and gargle and spit it into the clear glass and you will see why you have problems with your voice, its so important to rinse and gargle afterx

helingmic profile image
helingmic

I htink the mucus just covers your vocal chords, that's why you have a change in sound. Not to worry, clear the mucus and voice will come back to normal. Have a song!

btown profile image
btown in reply tohelingmic

Thanks helingmic, I will try but my wife says I have an awful voice !

helingmic profile image
helingmic in reply tobtown

Garden or bathroom! Free yourself!!!

btown profile image
btown in reply tohelingmic

Probably the garage !

helingmic profile image
helingmic in reply tobtown

I love it! Careful the bats nesting there might suddenly fly away shrieking, "Oh no! This is a new ultra sound, cannot bear it!" :-)

btown profile image
btown in reply tohelingmic

My voice is so bad I was thinking of someone else's garage !

jenss profile image
jenss

Hi Btown, I think you have some great reassuring advice. I can only confirm what others have said: my voice also changed and I felt I had a lump in my throat: I had ultrasound to check thyroid etc and was put on medication to treat acid reflux and my voice has greatly improved. I also saw ENT because of a feeling of mucous stuck on the vocal cords and post nasal drip: ENT confirmed voice box looks fine but a lot of mucous there dripping from sinuses. So I am now on a daily nasal spray (Avamys) and my voice has much improved and PND has reduced. I find gargling with very warm water helps to shift the mucous. Best wishes, keep wellxxx

btown profile image
btown in reply tojenss

Thanks Jen, I will just have to wait to see what they say after my scan. Will try the warm water gargling though TA ♡

helingmic profile image
helingmic in reply tobtown

In the morning, after my nebuliser, I do some exercises. One of them is to get my hands to the ceiling and my head backward. The second is to get my hand in front of me, I clasp them and let them going down as I bend forward; I stay in that position a bit while breathing. This brings the nasal drip up in the throat, and I go and cough it up.

btown profile image
btown in reply tojenss

Thanks Jenss

Kazww profile image
Kazww in reply tojenss

What were you put on for acid reflux please? X

jenss profile image
jenss in reply toKazww

Hi Kazww,

I was put onto a PPI type medication: Nexium. However, my dr insisted on a gastroscopy first. At the time I did not realise that once you start on a PPI type drug it is near impossible to get off them. There are medications other than PPI type drugs that can be prescribed. I just want to add the PPI type drugs seem to be working very well to suppress access acid production in the stomach and there are a lot of suggestions of the role of excess stomach acid in causing lung and breathing problems, cancer etc so it is something to tackle if you have it. Best wishesxxx

This happens to me all the time. I mentioned it to my consultant and her advice was to drink more water and nebulize with saline. Took her advice and now I'm running off to the loo every five minutes. You just can't win. ;-)

btown profile image
btown in reply to

Thanks poemsgalore, I will try it for a wee while ha ♡

squirell profile image
squirell

This is natural to anyone, who mas mucus due to infection of cold, I stopped using Dairy milk and now drink Soya only and it has made a big difference to me. Also i joined a choir as I felt that due to my voice change singing helps to expand my lungs, its the best thing I ever did, and no i cant really sing but its fun x

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