Posts by gentletrucker15

Grace Lewis6 said:we're on the exact same page... I'm heading in for some vocal therapy sessions at the ENT clinic over at Mayo Clinic in just a few days.

I'll let you know how it goes 😁

and like Megan Smith2 said, stop whispering! Seriously, just stay quiet for a couple of days if you can, because whispering actually puts way more strain on your vocal cords than just talking normally.😉

That sounds great, definitely hit me up with your thoughts once you're done. Also, shoot me a DM and tell me how you even got started with this—do I need my primary care doctor to write a referral, or is there some other way to get in?

How are you actually dealing with the hoarseness? Besides the calcium, lozenges, and... the silence, which is pretty much impossible for me 🙂

Megan Smith2 said:Look, just go see a speech pathologist who actually specializes in voice disorders. You might even need an ENT if you've messed up your voice so bad you developed vocal nodules or something along those lines. Basically, they'll give you a ton of exercises and tips on how to take care of your voice. Honestly, professional singers deal with these exact issues all the time. If you aren't seeing a pro, the only thing you can really control is staying hydrated when you're talking for long stretches so your vocal cords don't dry out, quitting smoking if you do, and not shouting. Also, if you're hoarse, DO NOT WHISPER because that doesn't actually save your voice... but in my opinion, a speech pathologist is your best bet since you might have some faulty mechanics causing hyperkinetic dysphonia.

Thanks a lot for the reply. I'm definitely gonna take that advice to heart!

Like the title says, I need to know if there's a way to actually strengthen my vocal cords and how to go about it. My job basically requires me to talk constantly for hours on end, and I always end up losing my voice, plus this hoarseness drags on for weeks. Is there a way to dodge this entirely, or can I actually build up some vocal stamina?

Pityriasis rosea isn't nearly as scary as it looks 🙂 Thanks for all the input guys!

Samuel Morgan40 said:Have you ever gone through allergy testing specifically for chlorine?
I’m not entirely sure why we would just rule that out completely, right?

From what I can tell, though—and this is just my take—it looks like contact dermatitis. It could be an allergic reaction, or maybe just simple irritation.
Honestly, showering multiple times a day isn't helping at all; it'll probably just create this endless loop where things actually end up getting worse.
You should definitely see a dermatologist—and in the meantime, I'd suggest staying away from pools and avoiding any harsh shampoos or cosmetics (like heavily scented lotions or perfumes) that might aggravate it, even if we aren't 100% certain yet.

Nah, I haven't, but I was hitting the pools all summer and nothing happened. Maybe they're dumping extra chemicals into the indoor ones.

Anyway, it sucks... I've got a few more small spots popping up. I can't get to a dermatologist for another week because I'm stuck at school. I'll try to sort out a referral and head to a clinic here in Washington, D.C. if that's an option.

If anyone else has an idea what this could be or has dealt with this, please weigh in...

I noticed this red patch on my back after hitting the hot springs. It started fading out on its own, but then I went back in the pool and now it’s spread out and looks a bit raised. The edges are bright red while the center is lighter. It gets itchy every now and then.

Any idea what I'm looking at here? You can rule out an infection or a chlorine allergy.

I've dealt with similar spots before if I happened to shower multiple times a day for some reason, but those usually cleared up in a day or two. This time, it's been three weeks straight. I have a feeling the water is triggering it, but I still haven't figured out what it actually is or how to fix it because it looks terrible and I'm worried about it spreading further.