Hi Blackorse32. When I was an elementary music educator, I had to sing, move, and talk for at least eight hours daily. I used my voice so much and had one problem after the next with my voice & throat. I taught for two years after my DM diagnosis. I am now retired from teaching. My voice and throat issues have greatly diminished since I no longer need to talk all day. I do think my DM contributed in a big way to voice & throat issues.

You might want to discuss with your doctor some ways to deal with voice & throat especially if you must talk or sing all day. I did use sugarless cough drops that helped a lot. I also drank a lot of water when necessary. If you teach kiddos, it is a good idea to plan your lessons carefully and consider planning different student interactions with the lesson that will allow you to rest your voice.

When talking or singing, breathe in and allow the chest to expand outward. The diaphragm will automatically move down to allow air to expand in the lungs. If you lay down and put a book on your stomach, breathe in and the book should go up. Breathe out (exhale) and the book should move down. When you have trouble talking, think about taking in enough air to "move the book out." If you have enough air behind your words then it will be easier to speak and easier on your vocal cords.

I know many people will have good suggestions on helping with the voice. Good luck!

Because of a paralyzed vocal cord, I have constant issues with my voice and throat. It worsened before my PM diagnosis, however. Something that helps my voice is to avoid sugary items. Sugar seems to seize up my throat, making it almost impossible to hear me, and it makes my throat sore. As trpt1 mentioned, I also drink water to help the throat stay more hydrated. Best wishes to you for finding the source of your problems.

My voice gets stressed and tired and hoarse when i am not doing as well but when i am under good control, it comes back and i am fine.
Hope it does not last long. Singing is the best speech therapy i found, for swallowing issues and strength of voice.
Sending you all the best,
Shawna

My voice becomes very weak when I've been on my feet too long, or am otherwise tired. Often I don't know it until my husband comes home and I begin talking. Often my voice lets me know it's time to take a rest. I don't have pain in my throat though.

Hi Blackhorse. I had problems with my voice and sore throat before diagnosis. When I first started treatment. My voice would come and go and I could almost judge the strength of the disease by my voice. Fourteen months into treatment I no longer have any voice or throat problems. Don't know what treatment you are still on or when you last had lab work but maybe a good idea to check it out with your doctor. Autumm

I get really hoarse as the day goes on and feel like I'm straining to speak. Sometimes I notice drool out one side of my mouth, just comes out of nowhere and I have no control over it.

Thanks everyone for your responses. I drink plenty of water, but lately it just doesn't matter. I'm on 10 mg of prednisone,150 mg of azathioprine,and my labs are about the same as the last time I had them done. My doctor is good at calling me to check to see how I'm doing if my labs are a little off. So at this point I don't know what to do especialy with the pain because nothing I've tried have worked. Thanks everyone.

Hi Blackhorse. Check with your doctor. He can look at your throat and just check it out. Autumm