Nasal surgery and singing
 

(Wasn't sure where to put this so apologies if this isn't the right forum)

My doctor just diagnosed me with a fairly serious case of nasal polyps, and he's scheduled surgery for me to have them removed. Let me make this really clear... I can't and don't sing, except when sitting at home playing my guitar, or out at my weekly folksingers group. I have a very nasally sounding voice. I always sound like I've got a cold. I hate the sound of my voice.

This got me to wondering if my *inability* to sing will change once the surgery's completed? Has anyone ever had nasal surgery and noticed a change in their voice/tone/abilities?

Karen,
I had the same thing about 15 years ago. Are you going for the laser surgery or the old fashioned knife?

It did not change my voice at all. In my case, that was too bad, as any change would have been better!. :D
I hope you fair better than I did in that respect, but I suspect it won't change anything.

Hmm...did a nose job come free with the Gibson ? :lol:
Seriously, I would think that it should help your vocals in terms of quality, but I don't think it would improve pitch. If I close my nose and sing it definitely sounds nasally to me.

It's just the laser surgery, but I've got a bad case of them, I guess, so he said to expect I'll be in the chair for awhile. I'll be able to breathe better, but was hoping there'd be side benefits... like not sounding so nasally when I sing. Or maybe being able to sing like Barbra Streisand! :D

Thanks for the feedback, Steve :)

Hi Bern! Okay, I've recognized every one of your avatars, up til now! Who's that guy? :)

A portrait of Ian Anderson from the Aqualung album.

Funny thing, Gilliangirl after the spell checker becomes Gillygirl. You might want to consider...no, I like Gilliangirl. :)

... eyeing little girls with bad intent... that's RIGHT! Boy, I haven't seen that picture in 30+ years!

Gillygirl is a recognized word in spellchecker? That's a hoot!

When I was a teen, I began getting sinus infections which would last for months and totally block my sinuses, making me sound "nasal". I used to laugh when P.E. instructors told me to breath in through the nose and out through the mouth - I mean, no-one can do that, right? You can't get any volume through the nose!

Surprise.

After a particularly bad sinus infection closed off a sinus completely for six months, I had a few procedures: a re-section of the turbinates (the folds of skin inside the nasal passages), straightening of a deviated septum, and a "Caldwell luc" (opening the closed lower sinus with an incision through the mouth). I can tell you that they re-section of the turbinates radically changed my life, for the better. I rarely get sinus infections. I had pretty much given up on singing. After the surgery, I could sing with less effort and have a pretty resonant voice.
Now I can get just about the same volume intake through my nose as I get through my mouth. Marvy.

My surgery was in-patient, using a knife, and took two weeks to recover from, but completely worth it!

Bob

Thanks for the information, Bob. I've had sinus infections my whole life, a deviated septum, and now these nasal polyps. I suspect that when I get in to see the specialist, he/she may suggest correction of more than just the polyps. I struggle most days to breathe, let alone sing. Maybe there's hope for me afterall :D

Glad your story had such a positive outcome. Hopefully mine will, too :)

Hmmm, interesting thread. As someone who has constant nasal drippage, and cloggage, I also laugh at the "breathe in through the nose" directions. I have used the nose strips when I cycle and that really helps me breathe. I wonder if I should use them when I sing?

Hope all works well, Gilly...., no wait, Gilliangirl.

I've used those nose strips for both running and cycling and they sure help. Expensive little things, tho'! I did try one once to see if I could sing any better and it did seem to help. May have just been in my head, tho' (no pun intended :D )

I've had septum work, turbinates, and finally the laser deal. The most improvement was the laser. I could breathe better and sleep better too. Having a nice clear nose/sinus does help the tone a bit. It won't really change your voice but it may help the tone a little.

i think it might mildly help..i dunno...

well good luck w/ the surgery :)




kevin

Wow, Karen! I hope all goes well with the surgery.

I'm sure it will go fine!

Now we'll share two things: Gibby & surgery in '06!! :)

Good luck with your surgery. I had similar problems - a deviated septum,nasal polyps and some necrotic tissue removed a few years back. Glad I had it done a lot fewer sinus infections. However it didnt improve my singing one bit. I still have the same ole Bob Dylan meets Tom Petty with a head cold voice. What is interesting to me is as a child of 5 or so(maybe younger) I stuffed some of my moms beads up my nose(still not sure why maybe nothing better to do that day). She didnt know what happened until I started having nose bleeds and smelling bad. Then years latter I had nasal surgery when they found a masss in my nose and dead tissue. Told everyone still had beads up my nose and hoped they had became pearls. Coincidence-I think not :) Patrick