I get very hoarse if I do much talking. I was attributing it to Sjogren's Syndrome because it started before I was on methotrexate. I'm going to ask my rheumy about it on Weds.
Sandy

I had a problem with hoarseness, but discovered it was related to acid reflux. When I got my acid under control, the hoarseness magically disappeared! All that acid was cycling through my throat during the night. Not sure if this effects others this way, but it is something to check.
Hang in there!
Sandy

Hi bigilue, I also have the same problem, but had it before the MTX and I don't think that it's gotten worse since starting it in April. Could be that you're noticing things more now? but I'm also going to ask my rheumy. I have Hashi's and wondered if it could be my thyroids.

Take care!

Zeyda

My mom has this problem and I thought it might be her thyroid...perhaps there is something to this. I'll have to check it out. Thanks for sharing.
Caterina

i've noticed it a lot more lately. in my case it could be a couple of things-sinus, talking too much (i work in a call center!), or possibly my smoking. the really weird part is that i've been drinking a lot of drinks with ice lately, and crunching on the ice. right after i started eating the ice, i started losing my voice! very strange...

hugs,
brat

Others have had the same question on this site. I will tell you my story with my hoarseness. Went to a gastro doc. had the endoscopy and they said it was gerd. After that was treated i still had the same symptoms. I had always been a soloist and now I couldn't reach any notes. Anyway, after an ENT doc checked me out, yadda, yadda, my rheumy tells me RA can affect your vocal chords. So here I am 5 years later, and I still have hoarseness. I too really believe it is from RA.

I echo what Alicia said. I am a vocalist and I had the same problem. After lots of different doctor visits, I found out that your vocal chords are affected by RA. : ( Unfortunately, I can't sing like I used to, especially the high notes!

It makes me so sad thinking about possibly not being able to sing someday. I am a vocalist and if I lost that one true joy, I just don't know what it would do to me.

I know it sounds so dramatic, but I can't even let myself go there.

I've always had a problem with that but it started long before I had RA. Sorry I can't help with more info. *hugs*

Xanadu has got it right. The RA attacks the vocal cords!
I have lost my voice entirely a few times. Treating the RA is usually the answer. I will try to post a link to an article. Google it and you can find lots of views on this.
http://bit.ly/15Gf8R
Also, you can get RA nodules in the throat , too. And that can affect the voice.
Kelly
www.rawarrior.blogspot.com

This great news(being sarcastic). I thought being hoarse was my summer time allergies. I found this...

http://www.webmd.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/guide/rheumatoid-nodules

I've had hoarsness since the onset of my RA, I think from rhinitis and postnasal drip, which worsened when I had a respirator down my throat, insulting my vocal chords. However, RA can affect joints in your throat, called the cricocrytenoid joints in the larynx. And you didn't even know you had them, did you? These joints move by vibration of the the vocal chords and change the tone of your voice.

Your hoarseness could be attributed to a number of things, including MTX, so I'd check with your doctor, if I were you.

Good luck,
Doug

I understand you bot, Xanadu and Songbirdj, singing was what I felt identified me. I know it sounds romanticised but singing was my all, even when no one was around to hear it, only God. But I read something that said "holding on and letting go were like exhaling and inhaling, both of them necessary to go on living. I know that sounded extreme, but when I read this I felt free to find other ways to express myself instead of feeling sorry for myself. Don't get me wrong, I still miss it, but I don't dwell on it anymore. So I am with you girls:)

Apparently you have a small Joint in the back of your Throat and that's where the RA does it's damage. This is what my Friends Rheumy told her. Not sure if it goes away or gets worse.