I had yet another appointment today, as I try to unravel the mystery of the lost voice. This is three doctors, one speech therapist, and still counting . . . .

I’ve had thyroid trouble ever since I was diagnosed with diabetes. At the time, I refused medication because the doctor said it could correct on its own. It did. The problem is that I’ve had many flare-ups since then, but they have not shown up in the blood-work. I would start gaining weight, losing my hair, having trouble sleeping, etc. but the doctors keep telling me I’m fine. This time, I lost my voice. I was traumatized; even so, I waited four months before I went to the doctor. Maybe that’s why I lost my voice. God decided it was time to take care of this, now, and (literally) God knows that was the only thing that could get me on it!

So right now it’s looking like I lost my voice because:
1. As confirmed last month, I’m having an attack of thyroiditis. As usual, this did not show up in the blood-work, but my PC ordered an ultrasound that blessedly revealed the problem so that it could be treated. The treatment has only just begun (six weeks ago), but it’s a little better so far. The thyroid is located in your throat, right in front of the vocal nerve. An enlarged thyroid can press on the nerve, which of course is not good. An enlarged thyroid also fills up your throat. It can make it difficult to breathe, swallow, and of course completely changes the feel of speaking and singing.
2. I probably have an asymptomatic acid reflux. I still need to be tested, but it’s very likely, and highly treatable. Acid reflux inflames your vocal cords.
3. My cords are slightly bowed on attack (the moment you start the sound); they aren’t getting a really good, tight contact. This could be due to the natural tendency to compensate when I lost my voice. The speech therapist I saw today gave me an easy exercise I could do to condition my vocal cords to make solid contact on attack, one that involves manipulating a completely natural reflex in a very simple manner. Really cool.

So far, that’s the story. I’m hopeful that this will work out. Of course what I really wanted was one big easy answer, but I’ll take a whole bunch of little pieces too, as long as I can get enough of them to finish the puzzle!