Left side of throat feels.. wierd

bharc26

Hello,

I've been singing for a couple of years and I'm also in the metal/screaming scene.
I started feeling something on the left side of my throat, like something was "stuck"
So I went to the doctors and they told me that it could be and airway-infection (don't know the english word for it) but he could not feel or see anything, sure, I was a bit swollen because I had a cold right there and then.

Weeks went by and I have had the same feeling for about 3 months, so I went to an ENT.
I explained everything and said what kind of music I sing and so on.. he checked my neck, felt and rubbed etc.
He said that nothing was out of the ordinary.
He scoped my throat and checked my vocal cords/folds, he said that it looked fine, more than fine actually.. it looked great! My cords closed perfectly when I talked and I also got to make some sounds I do in the metal scene and he told me that nothing was being damaged and such.

I still feel the thing in my throat and I'm scared to get back to singing cause I constantly have this on my mind. The ENT said that he didn't know what It was, he could not find anything, but then he said that It could all just be in my head? Since I've been dealing with a lot of stress and anxiety (panic-attacks) lately.

Have you guys had the same experience or feeling?
What did you do about it?
Any tips on what I can do to make it feel better?
Is it possible that this is all just in my head?

Appreciate ALL the answers.
I really love singing and I'm kinda torturing myself for not singing.. (yes, I've been "silent" for over 3 months now although I have a job where I talk a lot, everyday)

Best Regards
Arvid

Artickus

Hey, Arvid. If the doctors say that there is nothing there it is most likely to be that way, especially if you have good medicine in your country. The vocal mechanism consists of a lot of muscles and neurological connections, so it could easily be something in "your head", depending on the signals your brain produces. If you did the endoscopic research of your folds and CT (computer tomography) and there is nothing there it's 99% that your voice is healthy and this just the things in your head and your mind is playing tricks on you, that is rly possible. Fo instance when something "was in my throat" (that is how I felt it) after a visit to a doctor it appeared to be a "Vocal fold paresis"(was not even sure I can sing again) and I have overcome the issue with a big struggle and help of doctors(I made a thread where you can read about it and see the endoscope video), but unless the medical research shows there is no trouble it is most likely to be so. I wish you all the best, but never avoid a good medical research could save you some time and money. Wish you all the best, hope it works well for you.

highmtn

It's good that you have been going to see qualified medical specialists about your condition. That should always be the first step when you are concerned about possible damage to your voice.

It would be one thing if they had seen some indications of damage on your cords. You can take some comfort in knowing that you DON'T have nodes or polyps, and that's good to know. The possibility of a bronchial infection is worrisome, but again, your doctors would be the ones to tell you what to do if that is the case.

It's interesting that you say you felt something "stuck" on the left side.

You may have heard Ken refer to getting "caught on the cord". Sometimes, if we are singing up near our limits, we will feel a little mechanical "click" of the mechanisms that set and hold the tension of the cords. That can sometimes get pulled out of place and feels unpleasant and a little scary. If you lay off pulling so hard and tight on your cords, that sensation will go away. If you keep overtensioning your cords, you will perpetuate that condition.

We grow our voices through resiliency in the cords, not by stretching them beyond their useful limits. They have to stay limber and stretchy, not like a tight piece of leather.

My question to you would be: When you were at the ENT, being scoped, did you make your voice do the "getting stuck" thing? That would be what they need to see and hear you do. If you didn't demonstrate it for them, then they can only guess. If you tell them "this is when it happens" then they can say "OH, I see it now!" or "I don't see anything wrong".

If you are feeling something, then you should seek further medical advice. If you can demonstrate the actual thing that is worrying you, they should be able to tell you what it is that you are concerned about and how to avoid causing it to happen.

I hope you can get some good explanations about what is really happening with your voice, and that you can get back to enjoying using your voice. Do be careful about extreme singing. You may be carrying things a little too far with your voice. In all things vocal, seek balance.

Bob