Hoarse visit (6 weeks plus) linked to RA?

[Sunshinereturns]

I have a hoarse voice with no pain or sore throat. It seems to be here to stay. I’m a teacher so do project my voice but have never had this in my previous 20 years of being a teacher. Could it be linked to RA (one year post-diagnosed)?

[14bubbles]

I can't help with whether it's linked to RA but I have periods of a hoarse voice sometimes lasting for more than a month, I have done for a few years now, RA was diagnosed 8 years ago so I guess it's possible it's linked. Mine usually start with a bit of a sore throat but go on for a long time afterwards. I also work in education so it's also possible it's down to projecting my voice but don't really know wwhy it happens, have seen gp about it but they can't offer much in way of cause or treatment so I've just learned to accept it. Not sure that reply is much help to you!

[Deeb1764]

I get a lot of hoarse throat or 0800 number voice my hubby calls it. Only started once I went on RA meds and I also get very dry and choke a lot. Been told part of RA and fibro life.

[Mmrr in reply to Deeb1764]

😂

[JenniferW]

I recommend you go to the doctor with this, a fading voice can be a symptom of several things, some serious, though rare. Don't just assume that it's down to RA.

I get croakiness from an underactive thyroid myself, unfortunately one autoimmune condition can be followed by others. Best to get it checked out.

[Green230461]

Speak to your GP. This could be simple to sort out! As a teacher of 36 years my voice was important to me remember that your voice is as important as a footballer’s legs or a tennis player’s arm. So explain how vital it is to you. Also remember good old whiskey- warm water,honey and lemon helps a tired voice and lovely pineapple helps a sore throat- natural pain killer.

Let us know how you get on 💐

[Sheila_G]

I Have periods of hoarseness and have always put it down to my underactive thyroid.

[Runrig01]

I have ankylosing spondylitis, and when my jaw flares I often get laryngitis. However it always lasts 9-10 weeks. Each time my GP sends me to ENT via the urgent 2 week pathway to rule out cancer after I’ve suffered 3 weeks. I usually have a nasal endoscope passed. It has always just shown a chronic inflammation, which they tell me is linked to my AS. My sinuses are the same and when I’ve had a scope looking at them, they say the same. I’m on a long term steroid nasal spray to keep the inflammation under control. Definitely see your GP to get anything sinister rules out. This article explains what you can expect of a gp when you have hoarseness

patient.info/doctor/hoarsen...

[LondonLinda]

a couple of years ago, after suffering with RA for 20+ years, I started to have a very dry throat at night and during the day, I had an extremely croaky voice. I also felt my throat was swollen on one side. Finally resolved by RA Consultant, by taking my two Omeprazole 20mg tablets at night as opposed to one each morning and evening. And taking a desert spoon of Gaviscon Advanced before I go to bed. Definitely improved the voice but not cured. If I talk too long, I do again become a little croaky, unfortunately not sexy 😏

[Moomin8]

I had the same thing before I was diagnosed - I teach too. I went for tests and it turned out I had a nodule. I went for voice therapy sessions, where they gave me exercises to do which eventually reduced the nodule enough to not cause me anymore bother; I'm assuming that it's disappeared now 🤷🏻‍♀️

The exercises included: playing humming through) a kazoo or straw, making yawning noises and learning to talk loudly from my chest instead of forcing my voice through my throat - she made me shout out of her window! It took quite a while to work, but work it did.

Voice care tips: youtu.be/0cBpIhqOBU0(Not working as expected?)

youtu.be/Zsov0NquvUk(Not working as expected?)

'Yawning is a very good technique for relaxing the muscles in the throat. As the name suggests, you yawn on an in-breath and softly release a sigh on an out-breath.'

I imagine that if I'd been diagnosed with positive RA beforehand, I may not have followed the path of voice therapy. I think that I would have just have been told it's just a part of RA.

Definitely get things checked out - we are not medical people on here. Hope all goes well 🙂

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to Moomin8]

I worked with someone (another teacher) who had a similar problem and ended up seeing a speech therapist for exercises. They told her that her problem was caused by her trying to say too much on one breath - running out of breath and still talking.

I’d still speak to your doctor about it though.

[Melly99]

I also developed a hoarse voice earlier this year. Diagnosed with RA in December last year, aged 64. I realised that I was starting to get gastroesophageal reflux. I had never had this before, but am a dietitian and knew the symptoms. Once the reflux was treated with medication, the hoarse voice disappeared and my voice has been back to normal for several months and hopefully this issue never returns. I give lots of presentations and it can be very debilitating. Best wishes, I hope you find a solution.

[Moomin8 in reply to Melly99]

That reminds me - a short time after speech therapy, I was diagnosed with a hiatus hernia. I'm sure that didn't help.

[oldtimer2]

I have developed a tendency towards having a hoarse voice since starting adalumimab and the accompaning extra catrrh that I produce with it. It happens more if I'm doing several lectures in a week, so it may be irritating the vocal chords. Drinking plenty of fluids, resting the voice when you can, and taking advice on how to project your voice without strain maight all help.

[madme1]

I do have a very dry mouth especially overnight and this can lead to dry cracked sore throat. I sometimes have a dry cough with it as well. When this happens i have 2 teaspoons of honey at night before bed. I believe honey has some antibacterial properties and it does help ease the throat and stop the cough. Obviously being a teacher does put a lot of strain on the vocal cords. I was a nursery nurse practitioner for 15 years. I used to take throat pastilles with me and if my throat was extremely dry there are other pastilles you can get. I also found changes in the weather and indoor temperatures affected my throat dry heat as well especially radiators. Hence the fact I now have water containers on them. I found when it was cold outside placing a scarf around the base of my nose and throat also helped keep in moisture.

[Bhasvic64]

Yes I too get hoarsy! Occasionaly mostly in the mornings was worse when we had to wear masks all the time. I live abroad a lot of the time,we still have to wear masks in any medical situation of course, plastic screens so communication can be extremely difficult, but I realise there a lot of others much worse off. Take care.

[AgedCrone]

Have you mentioned your voice to your rheumy…..a hoarse voice can be associated with Sjögrens …but I don’t think there is any particular treatment recommended …..but do ask…..I should imagine keeping well hydrated might help.I do get a gravelly voice for a few days every now & then….but I had it long before I had RA….ent doctor put it down to sinus problems.

[Sunshinereturns]

Thank you so much. I don’t know what I would do without this forum - every time I have a worry, lots of people offer help. Much appreciated, I’ll contact my GP.