does anyone know anything about singers and tonsillectomies?

[mopinko]

no, not looking for medical advise. kiddo is scheduled for surgery already but-
15 yo daughter has an abscess of some sort on her tonsil. saw an ent who says, only thing to do is take them out. it is not that big, but causing the kid to cough till she pukes, and cough all night.

so, she is the main voice in her section of the choir at school. teacher adores her. and she is very upset that we are not taking her to someone who specializes in treating singers. says she could lose the top of her range. ent says- that is a myth, but promises to look into it.

anyone have any personal experience here?
i do sympathize with the teacher. high school choir director sounds about as attractive a job as bug wrangler. she did give us a name, but not sure if i want to go there. they are out in the burbs, about 1:30 hr drive, times back and forth and consult and surgery and recheck plus whatever can go wrong in between.

what would you do?

[Why Syzygy]

1. All I can suggest is :google:

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Acting-Plays-Singing-695/tonsillectomy.htm
After six weeks of a really-awful recovery – I was finally able to practice again. Various things were better and easier; nothing was harmed or diminished. I went back to my singing jobs fully confident that I would never have to endure that wretched pain again.

There is only one reason I was able to resume singing again so quickly after the healing process – I know how to practice. I know how to workout the entire breadth of my vocal register before rehearsing any of my repertoire. As a professional vocal coach I pass the same methodology on to my clients.

http://www.musicforte.com/forums/post-13417.html

http://www.google.com/search?q=tonsillectomy+singer&sourceid=navclient-ff&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1B3GGGL_enUS245US246

Mine came out when I was four, so my experience is moot.

[Venceremos]

2. My sister was a soprano in her high school choir

She had to have her tonsils out and it didn't have any negative impact on her voice. She avoided it for months because she was worried a tonsillectomy would hurt her voice. In hindsight after she had the procedure, she said all the sore throats and infections were what really had a negative effect on her voice.

[kid a]

3. daughter had tonsils out - she is a singer/songwriter

her voice did not change after the surgery.
However, we went to several ENTs to get second opinions in her case.
I suggest you do that.

[Warpy]

4. The tonsils aren't connected to the vocal cords

but you still want as little scarring as possible so the resonance won't be affected.

Here's a story of a singer who had it done: http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/spotlighthealth/2002-12-13-groban-tonsil_x.htm

I'd get a second opinion, though. Some pediatricians feel that frequent infections are a sign the tonsils are doing their job. Others feel that removing them will stop the infections completely.

A second opinion will either confirm the need for tonsillectomy or offer an alternative.

[grasswire]

5. a quick google indicates the teacher is right

When a vocalist needs a tonsillectomy, great care is taken to preserve underlying musculature of the tonsilar bed.

If your daughter has a superior talent, maybe you oughta make the effort to find out more.

[Abq_Sarah]

6. My sister

Is a singer and she had a tonsillectomy as a teenager. It took a while for her to get her voice back 100% but some of that was pain and some of it fear. Now this was back in the 1970's and I'm sure they refined heir technique at least some in the last 30+ years.

[mopinko]

7. i'm gonna give this one more kick

we are taking her to get a second opinion from a doc that has a voice clinic. so they do everything from stuttering to warts to whatever.

i am trying to decide what i think about the fact that they are breaking what i thought was an ironclad rule, that docs that treat adults don't treat anyone under 18. i am tempted to see it as refreshing. i know how some of these turf battles work, and the safety of the patient is not usually the first concern.
it will be a major pain in the ass, as this place is out in the burbs, and will be an excruciating drive.
but, if she has a voice worth taking care of, i guess that is what you have to do. she is everything that a baby of the family is supposed to be. adorable, smart, sweet, trustworthy. i find it hard to say no to her about anything.
anyway, she is really fired up about the choir. if she works hard at it, at least she might get some scholarships.

so, kicking just to see if there is anyone here that has any experience with this stuff.

[Why Syzygy]

9. Let us know

how it goes! :hi:

[SidDithers]

8. I was a much better singer after the tonsils came out...

Now, I'm merely awful. :)

Sid

[mopinko]

10. i have no idea where she gets it.

when they were little they not only wouldn't let me sing with them, they wouldn't let me hum.

[SidDithers]

11. I don't mean to make light of a serious situation...

I hope everything works out, and she's back to singing her brains out with no complications :hi:

Sid

[mopinko]

12. making light

is my primary coping skill.