Voice Strain?

[nanapops55]

Anyone have voice strain? Seems my voice gets hoarser and hoarser. Doctor says everything feels fine. Feels? It doesn't feel fine when I'm talking.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

When I was undermedicated I found that my voice gradually became hoarse if I was with friends and chatting a lot. The longer I chatted the hoarser it became.

[jools_999]

My voice has definitely cracked and got more hoarse over the last three months

[Hypopotamus]

Yes, I find that it corresponds to how my hypothyroidism is at the time.

[Muffy]

Definitely a sign of hypothyroidism.

[Boohbette17]

Me too nanapops55, got hoarseness... my voice is more of a smoker ever since I became hypothyroid & hashimotos. I too noticed it was worse at the start of getting medicated w/thyroid replacement when my antibodies were crazy high.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

There has been some work towards analysing your voice as a diagnostic tool for hypothyroidism. Seems there are some fairly clear indicative features.

It was even suggested that this would work over the phone.

(There could be some serious ethical/moral issues about doing so without the permission of the voice's owner.)

In summary - yes, certain types of hoarseness are clearly caused by low thyroid hormone. Whether your doctor has the capability of identifying them is another matter.

[Jigsawgirl]

Hi I’ve got hashi but I’m also a speech therapist working in voice. There is a link with thyroid issues and voice disorders. If you are struggling with your voice you should ask your GP to refer you to a Speech Therapist specialising in voice (via ENT - you have to have seen them first). They will be able to support you.

[Ritwa]

Yes!! I sing in 2 choirs and am sometimes unable to control the vocal sounds! My voice can’t be relied on and it’s embarrassing 😂Also my speaking voice sounds gruff and people often ask if I’ve got a cold.

I’m seeing my doc tomorrow and have such a long list of symptoms relating to my hypothyroidism, I know she’ll dismiss most of them and say it’s not related to the condition!

[shaws Administrator in reply to Ritwa]

Ask for a referral to the NHS ENT dept. I have had therapy for voice. It is common to develop voice problems

medicalnewstoday.com/articl...

[Lovecake]

My voice was lower and I couldn’t go more than a few minutes without a sip of water if I was needing to talk/give instructions for work etc.

Since being medicated that has improved greatly.

[HighlandMo]

My voice was very croaky for a while. I used to sing around the house but these dreadful gruff sounds came out. It's better now my other symptoms are too. I'd guess your treatment needs tweaking.

[shaws Administrator]

I've been having problems with voice and attend the ENT dept at the local hospital. There was about ten people at the first appointment I attended. Then there are one-to-one vocal sessions until voice is stronger,.

[dizzy864]

Hi, Yes it's one of my many symptoms of what I believe is being quite severely under medicated. I was given a 25 mcg increase in levo just over a week ago and I hope it will improve.

My voice gets gravelly the longer I talk. Sometimes when I'm tired my voice sounds odd to me although my husband tells me it sounds quite normal to him.

Good luck

[DippyDame]

Yes, when I was undermedicated my voice was very croaky and got worse the more I spoke. My then GP considered referring me to ENT but was persuaded that it was maybe a thyroid issue.

All fine now!

[phobicgirl]

My voice is also very hoarse, waiting list for nhs is long here so went private, he said my results were great despite my cortisol level being high, he said hoarse voice was sign of fatigue!! I give up

[nanapops55]

Thanks for all the responses. Just had my TSH test come in at 2.88. My doctor is quite satisfied and says see you in August. Meanwhile, no change in my voice and still have days where I feel way off. My doctor is not inclined to test the b12, ferritin, vitamin d. Plus my insurance would definetly not approve the vitamin d as that has been tried. So the lab just skips over what the insurance won't approve.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to nanapops55]

Nanapops55

As you are diagnosed hypothyroid an on Levo, the aim of a treated hypo patient generally is for TSH to be 1 or lower with FT4 and FT3 in the upper part of their ranges if that is where you feel well. You are undermedicated and need a dose increase.

I will come back with evidence you can show your GP when I can get to my PC.

Are you in the UK?

[nanapops55 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Not in UK. I had a feeling I was undermedicated. On 50 mcg's of Levothyroxine. I'm in the USA.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to nanapops55]

The evidence is from a top UK endo and also a UK NHS hospital, so I'm not sure if your doctors will be willing to accept this but it's worth a try.

Dr Toft, past president of the British Thyroid Association and leading endocrinologist, states in Pulse Magazine (the magazine for doctors):

"The appropriate dose of levothyroxine is that which restores euthyroidism and serum TSH to the lower part of the reference range - 0.2-0.5mU/l. In this case, free thyroxine is likely to be in the upper part of its reference range or even slightly elevated – 18-22pmol/l. Most patients will feel well in that circumstance. But some need a higher dose of levothyroxine to suppress serum TSH and then the serum-free T4 concentration will be elevated at around 24-28pmol/l. This 'exogenous subclinical hyperthyroidism' is not dangerous as long as serum T3 is unequivocally normal – that is, serum total around T3 1.7nmol/l (reference range 1.0-2.2nmol/l).*"

*He recently confirmed, during a public meeting, that this applies to Free T3 as well as Total T3. You can obtain a copy of the article by emailing Dionne at

[e-mail]

print it and highlight question 6 to show your doctor.

Also from NHS Leeds Teaching Hospitals:

pathology.leedsth.nhs.uk/pa...

Thyroxine Replacement Therapy in Primary Hypothyroidism

TSH Level .......... This Indicates

0.2 - 2.0miu/L .......... Sufficient Replacement

> 2.0 miu/L .......... Likely under Replacement

I hope the information can help you persuade your doctor to increase your Levo.

[nanapops55 in reply to SeasideSusie]

THanks SeasideSusie. It's worth a try.

[Heloise in reply to nanapops55]

Hi nana, I'm also in the U.S., also took Levo. You are definitely undermedicated at 50 mcgs. You thyroid hormone controls smooth muscle (which includes your throat muscles) and I don't think any amount of therapy will overcome that only more hormone. I hope you will avoid gluten or dairy or anything that impedes your hormone from working. Your most important test result is probably free T3 but U.S. doctors are almost as negligent as the ones in the UK and want to ignore it. This gives a better idea of whether your levo is working correctly.

You have a lot of muscle in your body and they are all affected because we are talking about the whole nervous system. Be aware of your vitamin D level which ultimately affects all other hormones because it is a prohormone so try to get it up into the upper level.

[Georgie120]

Hi Nanapoos

I had a hoarse voice for a few months(sounded like a 60 a day smoker, not attractive lol) Also felt like i had a golf ball stuck in my throat. Had scans etc. But when my Levo was upped it disappeared.

Hope you get it sorted soon

[Katurajo1]

I notice that when I’m cold my voice gets very rough. If I’m outdoors or in a cold restaurant for a while I can guarantee it’ll be gravely when I talk.

[LMor]

Mine has been on and off since August last year. I’ve had a thyroid us (all ok apart from the obvious hashimoto signs, shrinking thyroid) Been seen by Ent and have voice therapy arranged as he says I have Muscular Tension Dysphonia. I’m not sure I feel it’s necessary to have voice therapy so it would be interesting to hear from anyone who has had it. 😀

[paul211 in reply to LMor]

Hello I have muscular tension dysphonia 2 years spent a year going to speech therapy teach you technique I found dident work voice starts of ok after couple of words crap again what they teach you is to breathe from the gut not from the chest but keeping that up in daily life work is a task but no harm in you trying speech therapy may help you dident me good luck

[mountainice]

I too get a croaky voice but this happens before a B12 injection is due. I think this is also a B12 deficiency symptom.

[Hidden]

I’m same as SeasideSusie , if I talk for a long time my voice will go. But nothing wrong with me according to GP....

[Marz]

Can you easily gargle ? If not then practising daily may help the Vagus nerve and hopefully the voice. You check out about the Vagus nerve on-line - lots of interesting reading and could be helpful. Practising the Uijay breath as in yoga could work too

[Hidden]

Over several years, before having any idea my thyroid was on the blink, my voice got progressively worse - especially singing. On highish notes that I used to be able to reach easily, my voice would just stop. Not even a squeak would come out. My speaking voice got gruffer and less strong as well. Thyroxine treatment has helped but still only sometimes - it's impossible to predict.

[LAHs]

Yes, here too. I use to get laryngitis(sp? ) for weeks years before my thyroid problem was diagnosed. Since my Thyroidectomy and I finally got on the correct dose of the correct meds I have not had a voice problem - although my larynx got clobbered during my operation so my voice never returned to its normal strength condition. It's OK, but I can no longer sing (I'm talking about in the car and around the house - not in a choir (lol)) and I used to sing a lot.

[Sweetpea1157]

Hi nanapops, sorry to hear about your voice problem , am also in the same shoes , my voice has been hoarse for a few months now , seen an ENT , they said nothing sinnister is going on , they also done ultrasound scan of the neck , now when this was done i clearly had lumps and swelling in left of neck , i say clearly because they could be seen with the naked eye , i noticed them , my partner saw them , even friends and people in just converse with now and again saw them , they even commented on my voice , asking if I had a cold , but what did the radiologist say .... " I can't see anything " . I feel my voice is not getting any better , my voice quietens , at times am straining to speak , and when I do manage to speak it feels like im having to strain the sounds from my chest , not my voice box , I know that must sound stupid , but it's the only way I can describe it , sorry . There are many things going on with my body right now and have been going on over a year now , each time I explain symptoms to gp and ask if it's my thyroid playing up or my auto immune disease playing up , it's always a big fat " NO , they wouldn't cause those symptoms " it's only being on here that is keeping me sane , the people here are so helpful , I hope you find the answers you seek and get better soon , take care ☺

[nanapops55 in reply to Sweetpea1157]

Boy you just sound like I am feeling. I have other issues that preclude this thyroid surprise. Which is probably why so many of the symptoms have been ignored. Not just by my doctor's but myself included. I have an ileostomy from my 3rd round of colon cancer. There has been many changes in my life from the ileostomy. Nothing I thought I couldn't handle. Diet changes, hydration importance, absorption issues, skin issues. Six months ago things started happening. Voice strain, exhaustion, aches and pains, weight gain, cold intolerance. I constantly felt like I was about to have the flu or a bad cold. I honestly never complained to my doctors as I felt like I was just getting old. February I had a mini colonoscopy. I don't have a colon so just a check of the rectum. That was the beginning of this thyroid journey. My blood pressure was sky high. Through the whole ordeal. THis led to sudden panic attacks that happened all weekend. I had to wait to Monday to go see my gp to address the blood pressure issue. Worst weekend of my life. Honestly felt like I was going to die. And almost called for an ambulance a few times over the weekend. GP took blood work and that was when I got this diagnosis. Problem is she seems to only think about the numbers. And only the TSH as my t3 and t4 fell into the normal range when they were tested. Since the day of that trip to the doctor I have been put on blood pressure med's. Have anxiety pills for my bad days. And the levo. My doctor gets highly offended when I learn about things on my own. Seriously doubt she will take anything I learn here seriously. She just wants to see the numbers in range. I have to wait until August to address everything again. Meanwhile it's frustrating and depressing feeling crummy and not being able to do anything about it.

[Sweetpea1157 in reply to nanapops55]

Hi nanapops, i am so sorry to hear you are suffering so badly , and I can relate to the way you are feeling , I've suffered from hypothyroidism and graves for many years now , but i only found this site around 6 months ago . I have learned so much here and the help offered to me here has taught me a lot more than what ive been told by medical profession ( which is basically nothing ) was just left to get on with it . Some of the stories that I have read here , about what the good people have been put through here makes my hair stand up on end , and it is Sooooooo terrible that most of the people here have had to rely on self medicating privately and having to diagnose themselves because the medical profession just shrugs you off as a hysterical hypochondriac , i truly think the NHS is in an appalling state .

I sincerely hope that you will find something here on this site that will help you on your journey through this difficult time and hope you start feeling better real soon . Take good care nanapops ☺

[Hidden in reply to nanapops55]

Hi nanapop - with your history of cancer you have to be careful. The lining of the skin runs through your mouth throat and digestive tract. I know your doctor does not want you to be over anxious, but if you need reassurance with an ENT check go to another doctor as you need a second opinion for your own health. It took four years for a melanoma to be diagnosed. If this had no been removed in time, I would not be here today. You are the patient, but you may have to be firm and say why you need extra checks. I had to be firm with the oncology department, as they wanted me to be referred to the skin department, though if you have a melanoma you are meant to be in the system for five years. As you grow older your priority lessens in the health queue so think of your family - they need you so - do what you think is right to give you choices in your own health care.

[rossilin600 in reply to Sweetpea1157]

I think you may have Disphonia I am being treated for this with voice 3xervises

[Hidden]

Are you having to talk a lot through the day through your job? Have you had any chest or lung issues, from infections? Have you lost your voice all together after a cold or infection?

Detecting underlying health problems and even emotional problems is important as well as well as your thyroid checks. Hoarseness can be caused by polyps, which may need removal. Advice to check your chest and lungs, for respiratory problems, including asthma

and a peak flow meter to test your lung function may be added tests which may help in diagnosis. Other environmental factors such as drinking, smoking, or chemicals. ammonia, or cleaning fluids, may irritate your lungs chest and throat. Your ENT department may help you with the further tests you need. If you have an ultrasound test of your thyroid, this might be pressing on your wind pipe which will again affect your throat. Do hope you have the tests you need, so ask for a referral to the ENT department

to check properly what is wrong.

[Sweetpea1157 in reply to Hidden]

Hi hawii 60, sorry taken so long to get back to you , but am still trying to recover from hospital stay and my eye sight has worsened since the hospital episode , i have seen an ENT specialist , there is nothing sinister going on, she done all the relative scans and is referring me to speech therapy, good ideas that your putting forward , thankyou for that , but have not had any chest infections or colds recently and I don't smoke , so not sure what could be causing this , as said to rossilin600, i am currently waiting for an appointment with speech therapist , so fingers and toes crossed , it helps . Hope all is well at your end , take care ☺

[Hidden in reply to Sweetpea1157]

Hi Sweetpea - sometimes if I visit the dentist, I can develop a type of infection which is

is a bacterial infection. The glands swell up, under the jaw and round the neck.

Other reasons are thyroiditis which can resole on it's own. Ent infections may affect your breathing and your voice control. I have had pneumonia more than five times and it can be difficult to walk or talk. If you want a test for possible asthma, you can ask the nurse, who will give you a peak flow meter where you write down the peak flow level throughout the day. If the peak flow meter is difficult so you cannot raise your breathing expiration beyond a certain level, then this may be sign of lung function.

Am glad you are having speech therapy - but be aware - that you have to look for other reasons for your breathing and voice difficulties - so don't be surprised if you may need other checks done.

[Sweetpea1157 in reply to Hidden]

Hi hawii60, thanks for getting back to me , will look into getting those checks done , thanks again , take care ☺

[rossilin600]

Yes I am now being treated at hospital with Disphonia not sure on spelling. I have hashimoto hypothyroid but they cannot read TSH levels due to pituitatry problems. Some days my voice is sooo hoarse

[Sweetpea1157 in reply to rossilin600]

Hi rossilin600, thankyou for replying , that is interesting about the Disphonia , will look into that , sorry to hear your having same problem with voice , it can be very frustrating, especially when you are trying to have a good chat, I am presently waiting for appointment with speech therapist , is it worth me mentioning the possibility of Disphonia to them ?? If you don't mind me asking what exercises did they give you for your voice ?? Also am sorry to hear you are having problems with the pituitary gland , hope you manage to get help and sorted with that . The hashi's has definitely got a lot to answer for , am still trying to recover from a flare up aswell .hope you get better soon , take good care ☺

[Cariad123]

By the end of the day l am crocking and sound like l smoke . My bloods are good NDT ) but feel shattered late afternoon so don’t know what’s going on tried , splitting but found difficult to plan an empty stomach really didn’t make a difference over time as my body got used to the upsurge of T3 so take my grains first thing now

[MONALISAWILLIAMS]

I am having the same problems when I try to talk or sing sometimes