Vocal Nodes

[LoudIrishGirl]

Posted: 7/24/05 at 12:55am

I recently found out that I have a small node on my vocal cords. I was just wondering what the immense wisdom of this board suggests doing to help heal it?

[Popular]

Posted: 7/24/05 at 12:57am

My suggestion is to listen to the immense wisdom of your physician - no offense to any of the board members!

[singingwendy]

Posted: 7/24/05 at 12:57am

Vocal rest. And then lessons to sing correctly so it doesn't happen again. If it's small, chances are it will go away with vocal rest...as long as it hasn't hardened you should be fine. PLEASE don't look to surgery...that should be the absolute last resort.

[StephanietheStar]

Posted: 7/24/05 at 12:58am

yeah..I agree ^^^^

that's waht Julie Andrews had no? I was just listening to her attempt to sing a teeny bit of "the rain in spain" and it made me very sad..that's not fair

[Hairspraydoll]

Posted: 7/24/05 at 1:05am

Small thread jack : How do you know if one has nodes? Does a doctor tell you? Just curious.


I've heard the best thing to do is get lots of vocal rest.

[CostumeMistress]

Posted: 7/24/05 at 1:06am

What one with vocal nodes needs to do is take up a temporary vow of silence, and consult a physician who specialized in treating performers/vocalists.

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/24/05 at 1:07am

You have to get it checked out by a doctor..

Which I will be doing very soon.

[LoudIrishGirl]

Posted: 7/24/05 at 1:10am

Ahh poor ljay!

Got to a ENT doctor. They numb your nose and put a tube/camera down it into your throat to look at your nodes. They have you say "ahh" etc.

I am seeing a voice therapist, but she hasn't really addressed the vocal rest thing, so I thought to ask here. I will definitly ask her about it at my next session.

[StephanietheStar]

Posted: 7/24/05 at 1:13am

How do you suspect you have nodes? like symptoms? and who commonly gets nodes? as in what kind of singers? what do they do wrong?

I'm asking these questions because now my throat hurts lol

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 7/24/05 at 1:15am

Yes, talk to your doctors (and maybe a specialist or two who has dealt specifically with singers with nodes before), but generally speaking, non-serious nodes will go away with total vocal rest -- meaning no speaking, whispering or singing of any kind for a certain period of time (sometimes months). Avoid surgery at all costs (it's what destroyed Julie Andrews voice and she had a highly experienced surgeon).

A friend who was a Broadway performer in a very challenging lead role back in the 80s had this happen to her and it took her several months of vocal rest, but she was able to completely heal and resume the role in less than 6 months. Hopefully it won't take as nearly long for you. But, take this very seriously and if vocal rest is what is prescribed - plus tea, antibiotics and whatever -- follow the doctors' advice very strictly.

Updated On: 7/24/05 at 01:15 AM

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/24/05 at 1:15am

Your voice will sound strained when you sing. And it will hurt when you sing.

And I feel both - so I need to get checked out.

[StephanietheStar]

Posted: 7/24/05 at 1:19am

ahhhh you guys are worrying me!! hmm...my brain is like "do you feel strain when you sing? does it hurt?" I don't remember if I'm making it up but maybe I do!! nooo...

I'm a friggin hypochondriac..who can't spell :)

[singingwendy]

Posted: 7/24/05 at 1:20am

Nodes do not hurt. That is an irritation of the throat. Your vocal cords don't have pain receptors (or so I was told by a doctor who works with singers, and is a singer herself).

Nodes are essentially calluses on your vocal cords from your chords banging together. It's basically a repetetive injury. It prevents the chords from oscillating as they should.

You would notice a change in your singing and speaking ablilty. Part of your range could disappear, or sound very breathy.

Costume Mistress made the most important point...be sure to see a doctor who is used to working with singers. Treatment for nodes (and polyps and other voice related issues) is very different when you depend on your voice for your living. Just think about treating the injury of an athelete vs. the everyday person.

[LoudIrishGirl]

Posted: 7/24/05 at 1:25am

Good point, I think I need to find a different doctor. I mentioned I was an actress/singer and she then assumed I knew a lot of good techniques already. I was like, uuuuhhh...not really, but if you say so.

And she never once mentioned the complete vocal rest, just the 'take it easy.'

[TabooPhan1]

Posted: 7/24/05 at 1:42am

Haha..."Take it eeeeeeeeasy sonny..." oh jeez, I love that show... Who knew the LP would give some good advice?

Stephanie, I'm EXACTLY the same! Anytime someone says something like that, I'll think to myself, "...hmmm...my throat hurts a little...*cough cough*...OH MY GOD!!!"

I had a speaker in a wheelchair come to my school and tell us how he found out from a tingling feeling in his toe that he became part of a 1% group that goes paralyzed from the waist down... of course, the next day I "felt" a tingling in my toe...haha... I'm the biggest dork...

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/24/05 at 2:04am

All I got to do is sing a few notes - and my throat starts too hurt. And I sound strained.

So I'm going to try to find an ENT Doctor near me. Updated On: 7/24/05 at 02:04 AM

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 7/24/05 at 2:10am

singingwendy...vocal nodes do hurt....and like hell when you sing. I had them, and vocal rest was all I wanted because talking and singing were painful. There is usually a pressure in your throat from the nodes banging together and sometimes there can be a feeling almost like a scrape in your throat. However, the best indication is, like you said, the loss of part of your range, and a very airy sound.

LoudIrishGirl you need not worry about this too much, as I'm sure if you rest your voice, they will go away. When I had nodes, I was on complete vocal rest for two weeks, then I started working with a teacher who was teaching me exercises to help the nodes go away, and about a month a half later, I was find again, and continuing lessons as normal. It may take you more or less time, but I'm sure they'll go away. If you can find a singing teacher to help you learn safe singing...one who knows how to work with students with vocal injuries, you will be best off.

[LoudIrishGirl]

Posted: 7/24/05 at 2:19am

I have a good voice teacher, but I just haven't seen him since I got doctors confirmation that I had a node.

But thanks everybody for you advice! (and continued input is always welcome! lol)

[StephanietheStar]

Posted: 7/24/05 at 2:33am

taboophan1!! I feel your pain..it's nonstop!! lol...I wonder why we do that?!

Posted: 7/24/05 at 2:37am

when people say "safe singing" what do they mean? i've been take voice lessons with the same person for about 7 years, and i have never had problems with nodes, so i guess she's teaching me properly. but just so i can sleep tonight, can anyone tell me what "singing properly" or "safe singing" is? and maybe give examples? thanks!!!

[touchmeinthemorning]

Posted: 7/24/05 at 2:51am

This is from someone who has had to deal with a lot of vocal issues because of a physiological condition I have on my cords...so i've dealt with/talked to a LOT of ENT's:

Basic rule of thumb: if it hurts, you shouldn't be doing it...cause it's your body telling you to stop. That's why it hurts when we cut ourselves...so we don't cut ourselves more...and that's why singing incorrectly hurts...cause it's unhealthy.

With that said, it is hard (in some shows/styles, impossible) to do 8 shows a week and not have some minor vocal strain...however, the trick is to know your body well enough to know how it heals. Pay attention to your voice and it will teach you.

In addition, vocal nodes are SERIOUS business. Vocal rest is the best thing you can do...FULL VOCAL REST (especially not whispering...which puts as much vocal strain on your chords as yelling)...and follow the advice of an ENT who deals with singers...many ENT's don't get the whole singing thing...whiich is why it is good to seek out those that do.

Finally, learn a technique that keeps you in good condition, and don't feel badly about turning down gigs that you know you can't handle vocally...those of us who are young often think we can sing forever without a problem...but it just ain't true...know your limits, know your voice, and know when to shut up.

[Doogie]

Posted: 7/24/05 at 2:55am

Margo-

I'm not sure I buy that surgery were all that damaged her cords. Andrews was well into her 60's at the time, and the nodes themselves could have done her in. Also, while yes her doctors were very good, the general consensus among voice professionals she saw is that she should leave "Victor/Victoria" and work with a speech therapist to recover. Unfortunately, Andrews, as I understand it, wanted to stay in the show, and needed the quick fix of surgery. Not a good thing.

[TabooPhan1]

Posted: 7/24/05 at 3:21am

Doogie, at the same time you can't help feeling bad. What a legend. If you think about it, it was really her devotion and passion for the part that kind of made her blind to the danger of the surgery. As for the "well into her sixties", I don't think that would have much to do with it. We've seen many stars well beyond their sixties come back and have no trouble. I'm not being argumentative, just showing a different perspective.

[PaperLantern]

Posted: 7/24/05 at 3:58am

All this is silly. Simple prayer and vitamins get rid of notes. Lickity split.

[kooky]

Posted: 7/24/05 at 10:34am

I'm afraid it's not that simple some vitamins and prayers- - - although they can't
hurt - - - vocal rest and voice lessons are at the top of the list. Having had nodes
pamper yourself and take care, they can come back. Good Luck, this seems
to be an occupational hazzard.