Question:
I am 17-year-old male. I’ve been given loads of different medication for my nose as I am constantly blocked in the morning and throughout the day. The last resort is Sinus Surgery. I’ve heard mixed reviews on what this does to a singer’s voice. Some say it actually improves your resonance and clarity? Is this true? My voice broke just as I turned from 15 to 16, but it’s still changing. I still have cracks when I sing in my head voice and my speaking voice sounds weird as well. I don’t know if this is to do with the infection I have. I used to be able to sing very high and now tend to go to high falsetto rather than keeping a head voice. What do you think?
Answer:
When you have a medical problem you really have to go with medical advice. The single most important thing about surgery is that any tubing does not damage your vocal folds. If surgery stops the infections, that would undoubtedly help your singing and improve your overall health, but I can understand you would like to find an easier, gentler solution.
Do you know what is causing the infections? Is there any way to support your immune system? You might ask about supplements — my doctor recommends vitamin D. Do you have allergies? Have you tried eliminating dairy and other mucous causing foods from your diet? Is there any kind of mold or poor circulation of air in your environment? Is it too humid or not humid enough? Do you have feather pillows or duvet? Try hypoallergenic bedding. Apparently Caruso traveled with his own mattress! You have to be kind of like a scientist: notice the details of your life and experiment with changing them one at a time so you can determine their influence on your system.
You might try using a sinus rinse (a simple saline solution) with a neti pot as well as kapalabhati breathing from the yoga traditions. If you do a google search you can get free instructions for both. Steaming can help too. Overtone chanting is also great for clearing the sinuses. Of course, staying hydrated is important, as is adequate rest. Perhaps if you can keep the sinuses clear with these practices you will be less prone to infection.
AND I end as I began — when you have a medical problem you have to work with doctors. You can always go for a second opinion, a third opinion and so on. Listen to your intuition and make a solid decision based on what you learn is true.