Why do I lose my voice twice a year?

Since it’s at the same time of the year every year, I’d be thinking about allergies – something environmental that’s in bloom, or something that you are more likly to eat a lot of in those months.

I concur with @MagsRags… allergies are the most likely culprit. Do you have post-nasal drip that is causing you to clear your throat? Or do you feel even a little short of breath?

I suggest seeing an Ear, Nose & Throat specialist (check if they also do allergy testing – many do). They may check your vocal cords with a scope to see just what is causing the laryngitis, and run tests to find out what you may be allergic to.

In the interim (providing that you have no reasons not to – check with your Primary Doctor if you are unsure), you may want to try an over the counter antihistamine. The ones with decongestants must be signed for at the counter. Mucinex/guaifenesin might help if you feel congested, too.

Hot tea with honey and lemon might also soothe it, and try to avoid talking, coughing, and clearing your throat to rest your vocal cords. Feel better soon!

I used to have that happen to me when I was in middle school through high school. I’d sound like a guy going through puberty (and I’m a girl), sometimes I’d lose it completely, and it’d always be in the fall. I think it was my allergies, because it was at a certain time of the year. It doesn’t happen anymore, but I don’t really know what changed that it stopped. Medicine-wise, all I can think of is that I started taking multi-vitamins regularly, and I started going on birth control.

I do the same, and my family celebrates, but I agree that you should see someone about allergies. That is was was/is going on with me. I still lost it this year. It’s not fall yet, so I’m holding out hope that I won’t lose it yet, again!

@cak: Losing your voice at this point is probably more closely related to all the other stresses your body has been going through to put it mildly; I trust that you have mentioned it to your physicians. It is wonderful to have you back participating again! Many, many hugs!!

You could try taking any of those over-the-counter allergy medicines to see if it helps.

Thanks, everyone. I still have no voice (tried the allergy medicine – it didn’t seem to do anything, but then it’s only been a day), which is dissappointing but expected. I don’t believe I have enough money to see a specialist, but I’ll certainly go to a clinic about it sometime before March.