VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

HeatherMasters · Posted: Sat Nov 21, 2015 11:46 am Post subject: Desperate Times call for...

Been battling the sinus infection from hell for over 2 months now. Hubs is out of town so I decided to get serious. Been downing whole heads of garlic, drinking special hippie herbal teas, as well as Apple Cider Vinegar trying to kick this. I've got multiple stipend deadlines from ACX due and being sick is not an option. So as I am trying not to go out, due to the fact that I reek to high heaven, I got to wondering,

What desperate measures have you taken to protect/heal your voice? I'd love to hear an anecdote or two... Smile

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Heather

www.heathermastersvo.com

Shiromi · Posted: Sat Nov 21, 2015 1:18 pm Post subject:

Lately to avoid a cold, every time i've been feeling a little "off" i've put a drop or two of hydrogen peroxide in my ears and also gargled with it. Weirdly that's helped.

I had a pretty bad sinus infection last year while recording a couple of audiobooks, and what actually helped me (after the antibiotics did nothing) was the Flonase my doc prescribed.

Hope you feel better!

Fran McClellan · Posted: Sat Nov 21, 2015 7:39 pm Post subject:

A few months ago I woke up all stuffed up...nasal passages completely swollen. Of course I had a really big session that day Undecided

. I did nasal irrigation, stood over a pan with boiling water, ginger, and cayenne pepper, jumping jacks, and ran in place right before heading into the booth. Cleared everything up for a few hours (which was plenty long enough to get through the session without a hitch Laugh

)
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"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans." - John Lennon

Deirdre · Posted: Sat Nov 21, 2015 8:55 pm Post subject:

I don't know what to do about an infection that's in place already.

But stuffy stuff is call for Afrin nose spray, damn the addictive qualities.
HOWEVER! throw away the bottle (saline, too!!) when the cold is done. I think I recently gave myself a cold I previously had with a bottle of nose spray I had handy.
And there's real Sudafed. Drives me nuts, but works to clear the nose.

Nasal irrigation works well when I've getting seasonal allergies.
And I wash my hands like a maniac whenever I travel— with the exception of that self-inoculation mentioned above, I have done a pretty good job of avoiding dreadful diseases.
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WillMWatt · Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2015 5:11 am Post subject:

Two words - Neti Pot.

Never in a thousand years did I honestly think that I would be shoving a little ceramic kettle up my schnoz, but hey! Works wonders!

Mike Harrison · Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2015 6:04 am Post subject:

Heather, are you certain... did a doctor (preferably an Ear, Nose, Throat specialist) diagnose a sinus infection? I ask that with long experience. Many times, what feels like it might be an infection is actually just horrible, chronic sinusitis, which is the swelling and/or inflammation of the sinuses (chronic, meaning it persists for long periods).

Sinus issues can stem from several things. In my case, two things: a deviated septum (the strip of cartilage that separates your two nostrils). It's very common. When the septum in not straight, it makes one nostril narrower than the other, restricting airflow which, in turn, makes sinuses on that side more susceptible to problems. My situation was exacerbated because of severe dehydration, which further narrowed my nasal passages.

I'd had ongoing, nasty nasal/sinus issues for a number of years; several times per year. I began correcting my hydration problem in November 2013, and in May of 2015 I had surgery to correct the deviated septum. I have not had ANY sinus issues since.

The website of the Mayo Clinic is one of only several websites I trust for reliable, accurate health information. Others are that of the American Association of Family Physicians, the National Institutes of Health and any website of a well-known university (websites ending in .edu). For information about drugs: Drugs.com (read their About page to learn where their information comes from).

But first, go right to what the Mayo Clinic has to say about chronic sinusitis:

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chronic-sinusitis/basics/definition/con-20022039

I sincerely wish you the speediest of recoveries!
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Mike
Male Voice Over Talent
I have taken leave of my sensors.

Karyn OBryant · Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2015 10:24 am Post subject:

Here's how I mitigate sinus issues:
1. Hydrate hydrate hydrate hydrate
2. NeilMed irrigation daily
3. Claritin tablet daily
4. Flonase daily
5. Olbas inhaler (as needed)
6. Breathe-Right strips (as needed)
7. Saline spray (as needed)
8. Afrin spray (only when nothing else works - this is the nuclear option)

My dastardly deviated septum and horrible allergies are hard things to overcome.
Hopefully you don't have an infection -- if you do, it might be best to go see a doctor to get that cleared up.
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HeatherMasters · Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2015 11:37 am Post subject:

You all are amazing! I am taking at least one suggestion from each of your posts and building an arsenal to launch Operation Plague Pulverization. Smile

Mike Harrison · Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2015 1:22 pm Post subject:

Glad to hear you're going to pursue things further with an ENT, Heather. And, yes, a nasal septum can indeed become deviated following an injury.
_________________
Mike
Male Voice Over Talent
I have taken leave of my sensors.