Speech Therapy

[jan/cape]

My vocal cords and voice have been a train wreck for almost a year. E.N.T. says I have 'calluses' on my vocal cords and ordered 1 week of TOTAL vocal rest in May. I had 80% improvement. He said in order to keep me out of surgery is Speech Therapy.
Well, we had a huge party in June and 2 days later the Speech therapist called to set up an appt. She was horrified by what I sounded like. Said if she could have seen me imediately she would have.
I have had 5 visits to the speech therapist. and apparently the only things I do right is... I don't smoke and I don't do drugs.
I don't even breath correctly
I never imagined that breathing properly would be so much work. I have learned so much and I am improving.
I drink water until it is coming out of my eyeballs! The worst part is giving up caffinated coffee in the morning and those cups of tea in the afternoon.
I never imagined that this type of therapy would be so much work, but I am like a kid when I get praised for doing well. A little sugar goes a long way!

 

[binny]

awwww Im sorry! Thats relaly hard to have to go through that. ( especially the coffee withdrawal )

DD is in Speech therapy too and it has done wonders for her!

Youre right a good therapist is one who gives praise where its due, I dont respond well to Drill Sargent-types

 

[jan/cape]

binny, I told her that I drink all the water I am supposed to because I am afraid of her

 

[binny]

LOL Jan, tell her next time youll be floating to therapy


I drink a lot of water too and I feel your pain


Do you mind if I ask how that happened? That sounds terribly uncomfortable

If you dont want to say just tell me to MYOB lol I will totally understand

 

[jan/cape]

I'm a big mouth! I guess it comes partly from being an extrovert.
10 years ago I had Hodgkin's Disease and received radiation. My throat fell in the field that was being radiated and I had difficulties at that time. After the treatments were over my voice went back to normal. 6 years ago I started working in an elementary school as a sped assit. Voice started to get bat then . E.N. T. gave me some pointers and things were fine until last July.
I was working at a summer program that the school offers. I did so much talking that I started noticing that my voice started sounding gravelly again. Then September came and Iworked with two students that required my voice to be used A Lot. Plus I had to go to all of the specialists like, gym art etc., and I had to do a recess duty. My voice only got a 30 minute break when I went home for lunch. I also work Friday nights and play after that and on Saturdays in a smoling enviroment. So needless to say this was just waiting to happen.
Speech therapist says I project my voice from the wrong place , need to cut a lot of caffine, and oh I love to have white wine when I go out so she limited that too. I have been very, very good! Some of the gals have even started drinking bottled water with me!!
This is the first week that my throat doesn't feel sore after speaking for about 5 minutes.
My new water goal is to drink eight 8 oz. bottles of water. I had to work up to this and some days are easier than others. When we went to St. Louis a few weeks ago I had eleven 8 oz. bottles. I knew where every bathroom was iin that city!!

 

[binny]

wow youve really been through a lot!

Im glad things are on the upswing for you

Sounds like youre making great progress Keep up the good ( hard) work Im sure the results will be worth it!