Help! I've lost my voice!

[Aswatrowinkenbo]

Posted: 2/14/10 at 3:11am

I'm getting over a cold and now my voice is nearly gone. It sounds very hoarse and feels strained whenever I try to talk so I should be trying to keep that to a minimum. I've got a college audition on the 20th so I'm a little concerned.

The best thing for me is to probably just rest it, but I work at Build-a-Bear where I am required to talk to children all day. The higher tone sure isn't helping me at all.

I've been drinking a lot a water and tea and keep Ricolas in my mouth at work. Does anyone have any other suggestions?

[JP2]

Posted: 2/14/10 at 3:18am

College AUDITION?

[Aswatrowinkenbo]

Posted: 2/14/10 at 3:23am

Yep for Ithaca

[Eris0303]

Posted: 2/14/10 at 3:23am

I think you'll find most customers will be very understanding. I recall a time when I was still in retail and was at the tail end of a cold. My voice was very hoarse and customers were very understanding. One even offered to by me some tea because she felt so bad for me. Or you can ask your manager to give you a task that doesn't require dealing with customers until you're 100% better. Like stock or cleaning. There is always something to be done that doesn't require talking.

Medically I think you're doing everything okay. Fluids are what I would recommend.

[Aswatrowinkenbo]

Posted: 2/14/10 at 3:37am

I wish my managers were more sympathetic. They know about my audition and that my voice is in terrible shape, and they still say I need to talk to every customer...

[Eris0303]

Posted: 2/14/10 at 4:30am

So there's no task in the back that you can do? Shipment? Stock? Nothing?

[Aswatrowinkenbo]

Posted: 2/14/10 at 5:27am

It's a small store so the only reason you're in the back is to quicly bring something out to the front. I wouldn't mind not telling people to buy things since I'm a cheap person myself ($40 for a dressed up stuffed animal is ridiculous), but I'm sure my managers wouldn't be too happy about that either.

I've asked them to put me somewhere where I don't have to talk as much. I'm most commonly at a loud stuffing machine that I need to speak over while filling up a toy. Instead of being at it for 4 hours, I was there for 2. I'm supposed to have a conversation with the customer for the entire process.

I'm tempted to just call in sick tomorrow so I can give my voice a day of rest.
Updated On: 2/14/10 at 05:27 AM

[singtopher]

Posted: 2/14/10 at 10:24am

Rest your voice. One day of missed work will not kill your back account.

The only remedy I know for laryngitis involves alcohol and I assume your underage. If your folks approve, i'd be happy to let you know. It also involves fish oil, so don't get excited about it.

As a more drastic measure you can get a cortisone shot, but they are not the best for you. As a LAST RESORT, If you must sing you can chew on a aspirin right before you sing (just cheap generic stuff. You don't want to deal with the sugar coating). That will instantly take down the swelling of your vocal chords, but it is not good for your voice long term. It's just plain not good for you, period. Only for an emergency.

[AwesomeDanny]

Posted: 2/14/10 at 11:14am

The best thing to do when you're sick is obviously take a sick day. Not only is it better for you, but you also don't want to get children sick.

[Aswatrowinkenbo]

Posted: 2/14/10 at 12:04pm

Good news! My voice is better today than it has been over the past couple days, but I'm taking the day off anyways.

Thanks for the suggestions! I'm still up for more if anyone has any.

[LilMiZBroADwaY23]

Posted: 2/14/10 at 12:22pm

Invest in Throat Coat tea, and also Singer's Saving Grace spray.

I had no voice and had to be the lead in a play, and also be the soprano soloist in Schubert's Mass in G, used these two things for a couple of days along with vocal rest, and voila. It was back and in GREAT shape.

Singer's Saving Grace is literally the worst tasting thing on the planet, but it gets the job done.

Posted: 2/14/10 at 8:54pm

Working at Build-a=Bear isn't a job, it's a calling. I hope you are able to get into that college and get out of there- you obviously do not deserve to be a midwife to all those beloved animals.