Hi Kim and/or Pete:
Too bad you can't search the old Vocalist archives - there's a ton of
suggestions. We even went through all this recently, but when you're
suffering that's no help, is it? Here are my favorite things to do:
REST - tell the children what your problem is and elicit cooperation with
blatant bribes. Try not to whisper - it is stressful to your voice. Get
actual sleep if you can. Spend a nice long time in the shower and give
yourself a relaxing steaming. Hire a babysitter or barter with a friend for
babysitting so you can have some complete quiet and restful time. But don't
play loud tapes of past performances while you're resting. Just let yourself
be quiet and still.
Get a good back rub from your loved one. Even a sweet sloppy touch from your
little ones will help cue stressed muscles to relax. My 4 year old loves to
give me neck rubs when I have a migraine and it really does help a bit. Plus
it lets them assume the role of Mommy's Healer and get a little protective
of you. Also gently touch and massage your neck and shoulders as best you
can as often as you can. It gives you a little message to relax tender
places.
Gargle with salt water, sea salt is best. I use 1/2 tsp per 8 oz of comfy
warm water. Others add all sorts of stuff from cayenne to turmeric.
Also rinse your nose, either with a bulb syringe of the same solution above
or with a commercial saline nasal spray like "Ocean"
Drink all day long, but avoid caffeine and extremes of temperature in your
beverages. I like honey in really weak decaf tea. Sit with your bottle or
mug of hot tea and inhale the sweet steam - somehow the little ritual of
choosing to breathe it in deeply helps me to relax and you will heal faster
if you relax.
Accept that your voice either will or will not be ready on Friday. The panic
of focusing on your deadline will lock up your cords tighter than a drum and
it's hard to heal in the grip of despair. If you can't sing, the world will
not end. Others before you have been sick and had to cancel or to sing
differently. Mentally review your program and think about different ways to
do sections that might not be there for you on Friday. Since you're doing
more popular music you have more leeway in your interpretation. Also accept
that if you sing as planned and your voice has not healed, you might damage
your voice. You mentioned having a heavy schedule ahead. Missing this first
one might give you the rest you need to do the rest of your schedule.
Sometimes just telling yourself it's ok if you miss this one takes the
pressure off and allows you to heal in time after all.
Take an anti-inflammatory OTC drug.
Good luck to you! I certainly know the feeling. Once I had convinced myself
I could sing for a friend's wedding even though I had pneumonia. I didn't
want to let them down (DUH!). I had gently warmed up all day, humming and
squeaking and could make it through all the songs. I had just about resolved
to call them and say it was back on, when my loving, supportive husband came
home and told me I sounded like Bobcat Goldthwaite. It's usually not worth
it to sing in pain.
Best wishes,
Laura Sharp
-----Original Message-----
From: Kim and Pete Brier [mailto:ictnolimits@f...]
This is new to me so if I am out of line or doing anything wrong, please
forgive me. I am wanting to pick a few "More Experienced" brains about
home remedies.
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