Singer on warfarin

[Heidi511]

Ten months after my AVR, I auditioned and joined a band as a singer. Just after I accepted the position, I caught a cold with a horrendous cough. I lost my voice for 3 whole days (to a singer, this is big). After a multitude of antibiotics, antihistamines, and steroids, my voice did not recover. I saw a laryngologist, and he said I had homorrhaged my left vocal chord. I asked if warfarin was a contributor to the hemorrhage - he wasn't sure. I researched the subject and found a couple of sites that said not to sing "full out" (which is what you do when you perform) while you are on Coumadin or warfarin. I'm on it for life. Can I never sing again?

 

[catwoman]

Heidi:
I'll bet that Al Lodwick has some info on the subject and will post a response.

Food for thought: If a singer on Coumadin can't sing "full out," would that mean that sports fans on Coumadin should tape their mouths when they go to sporting events?

 

[geebee]

Heidi,

Welcome to our family - I am glad you found us.

I think we have a couple of singers/performers here so I will let them answer. However, I will say I am one of those around the house singers. I love musicals and will sing along (sometimes all out) so, if I get going, it will be for a couple of hours.

I am sure that is not nearly the same as someone who actually performs but I have never had any problems. No pain, sore throats, bleeding, etc. I have never heard of this as a coumadin issue but I am sure Al Lodwick (our pharmacist member) will check in on this eventually.

In the meantime, check out his coumadin website:

http://www.warfarinfo.com

Good luck and I will say a couple of prayers for you.

 

[Emma]

?!

?!

Surely not?! I have a 5 year old on warfarin and if a 5 year old doesn't sing/YELL 'all out' constantly then who does?! Never had any vocal chord incidents yet.

Would be interested to know if its possible though, cos if it is I have no doubt Chloe will manage it at some point! lol

Emma
xxx

 

[Ross]

Sounds like another urban legend to me. Lord knows we hear enough of them around here.

 

[Karlynn]

Hi!,
I'm also a singer. I don't sing in a band that performs many times a week, but I do sing in a band for the church I am music director at. I practice daily for about 1/2 hour. I have a 3 hour rehearsal one day a week and sing, for almost 2 hours on Sunday. I've done this for 11 years, have been on Coumadin for 13 years. I agree with Ross, I think the No Singing Full Out With Coumadin is an urban legend. Believe me, I can sing full out.

My guess is that there are many contributors to your problem. If you've stepped up singing time and rehearsal, you probably already have been putting a strain on your vocal chords. The cold came along and made it worse. If you were taking decongestants, that probably dried out your chords more. Not working gradually back into your voice after a cold can wreck havoc on your chords. If these things caused irritation, then (just like nose bleeds) you will have a greater chance of bleeding because of the Coumadin, but the main damage was most likely there due to the cold and other factors and the bleeding was a byproduct.

I'm sure your doctor has given you directions on how to proceed. Drink lots of water, work back into your voice slowly once you have been told you can sing again (don't know if he told you to lay off). Make sure you work on getting rid of the tension points (jaw, neck, forehead, shoulder tensions etc. all put strain on the chords) while singing.

I really try to nip any cold in the bud before it takes route. I take a really good multivitamin and haven't had a major cold in several years. I had them all the time before I started vitamins. If I feel a cold coming on it's Zicam to the rescue.

Best wishes in getting your pipes back.

 

[Nancy]

Joe had severe laryngitis after his last cold, and went to the ENT doctor. It was just inflammation of his vocal cords. Doctor told him to get a product called Alkalol which is a gargle.

He said that many singers use it before performing.

It was cheap enough and an old remedy. It's a behind the counter "over the counter" thing. Have to ask the pharmacist if they have it.

 

[JimL]

I agree with Karlynn about the urban legend. Using your voice to its full extent very shortly after surgery is not good, but ten months and more, no problem.
I recently preached in a large church, and they insisted I wear their portable mike (I detest the things), so I did, but I never turned it on. They said they had no trouble hearing me. They may have wished I'd stopped earlier, but they didn't say that..

 

[Marguerite53]

Hooray!!

Hooray!!

Heidi. SO GLAD that you've decided to stop in. Hope you can find some answers here.

Marguerite

 

[McCln]

I sing full out quite often and never have any problems. Urban legend is correct and just do as has been suggested, medicated and slowly work your voice back. I started back to singing at six months after surgery, no problems as of yet. Good luck and keep us updated. And welcome to the site. Come as often as you want to.

 

[Heidi511]

Thanks everyone!

Thanks everyone!

Thank you for your kind words and welcomes to the Forum. Some great advice, too! La la la la la!

 

[Barry]

The only voice restrictions related to Coumadin that I have ever heard about is that there is exceptionally strong evidence that women on Coumadin should never say anything critical of a man.

 

[Karlynn]

The only voice restrictions related to Coumadin that I have ever heard about is that there is exceptionally strong evidence that women on Coumadin should never say anything critical of a man.

I would have bled out by now!

 

[Guest]

I have never heard of any studies or even case reports on this.

Urban legends rank below case reports in the heirarchy of studies.

I think that Karlynn's reports is about as good as you are going to get.

 

[Guest]

What about cheering at cat shows?

 

[Karlynn]

What about cheering at cat shows?

I would think that's okay, as long as you aren't also meowing and growling too!

 

[gadgetman]

The first thing I thought about when I saw the title of your thread was "are you afraid someone is going to throw a beer bottle or glass at you while on stage? " Or maybe you sing in some rough places .

Anyway, as usual you are getting good advice from our "family". Hope you can get back to rocking the halls soon.

May God Bless,

Danny

 

[Guest]

If I were singing, I'd need a chain link cage around and over me to keep the beer bottles out and I don't even take warfarin.

 

[Karlynn]

To go along with the Singing Full Out While On Coumadin, I'd like to add Playing Guitar Full Out While On Coumadin. Been playing the guitar a lot lately, trying to brush up my skills. Playing became very painful tonight. The index finger on my left hand (my chording hand) must have had a litte blood vessel burst under the callous I have from playing guitar. OUCH!!!!! But now I have an excuse for the mistakes I'm sure I'll make tomorrow and Sunday while playing piano for Good Friday and Easter services.

Since I sing and play primarily in church, communion cups are about as dangerous as it gets for me.

 

[Guest]

When I worked in retail pharmacy, I filled a prescription for Valium for a woman whenever she had to sing a solo in church.

I always wondered if Jesus really wanted her for a sunbeam that badly!

I know you will do well Karlynn.