I haven't had a singing lesson in ages financially and healthwise, it just hasn't been worth it.

Part of the reason why singing hasn't been on the cards is that it just seems to give me a sore throat so fast at the moment.

A few years back I had to sing in a concert when, to be honest, I should have been at home sucking strepsils; I don't feel that my voice has been the same since I have been to the doctor in the meantime, and she has noticed nothing wrong, so I have no reason to believe I did serious damage, but definitely something has been "off" since then.

I had singing lessons about a year and a half ago with a lady who lives in my town, she was brilliant and I really felt I was learning, but when my health started to go downhill I couldn't justify the cost, and although she was great at helping me use my voice she didn't seem to really understand my concerns when health+singing combined to cause discomfort. She did try, but I get the impression that dealing with people whose voices weren't working right, as opposed to helping people with functional voices to use them well, wasn't her forte. Having heard others who she trained I've every reason to believe she is very good at training voices, but convalescing them maybe not

The throat thing started to improve, but then just came back when my health started going down the toilet. Eventually I also had to give up singing in choir too - being leaned on by a whole bunch of sops who lack confidence was bad enough when I was healthy!

I'd be very happy to have lessons with her if I was 100%, but when singing (and not singing hard, either) a few hymns in church on a Sunday leaves me with a sore throat then something isn't right, surely?

I know, I know, there's a limit to how you can help over the 'net... but any ideas here?

It may be that I just have to be (argh!) patient, that dreaded word, and hope that when my health finally takes a turn for the better that things with my voice will also improve and it will be worthwhile taking lessons again, but if there is a possibility of something I can do to enable me to enjoy singing in the meantime, or just to help even a little, that would be really good...

... in hope!

Did your doctor perform a laryngoscopy? If not, she cannot possibly say whether there is damage or not and she does not know your voice as you do to be able to make a judgement by sound alone or peering at your tonsils!
Before engaging another singing teacher, I would advise asking to be referred just to put your mind at rest. Then any singing teacher can be sure they are starting with a blank canvas, so to speak. I would doubt that your experience from a few years back would have caused permanent damage, such that could not be resolved through resting the voice (and I'm talking about speaking as well as singing). But years of singing with a less than good technique just might have exacerbated any problem that was there.
So my advice is, have a lanygoscopy and ask the larygologist who he/she recommends as a singing teacher to help poorly voices. They can usually come up with one. I know an ex-singing teacher of mine used to be recommended by one.
It's dangerous taking advice over the net - you really need lessons with a real human being whom you can trust, and who can guide you on your course to recovery. None of us can actually safely help without hearing and seeing you in person.
Good luck.

Yes, very good advice as ever, from AnnC.

As can trained and qualified voice teachers.

i completely agree with what has been said and would strongly recommend seeing a specialist.

another thing not mentioned yet is the psychological side of things: it may well be that your voice is completely healthy, but the past experience has set off a vicious cycle of tension and anxiety every time you sing. this is not as uncommon as you might think, but it requires a teacher who is experienced in the field of solving performance issues and getting rid of muscular tension.

progress in these cases will often be very slow as psychological blocks are sometimes hard to get rid off, but it's definitely worth it.

Thanks guys, I kind of thought that would be the case (needing more specialist advice) but thought it was worth asking, also it confirms my thought that at the moment it's not worth having lessons without checking whether something else it at work. Maybe not what I wanted to hear but what I expected.

Cheers folks.

Hi Sarah !

I'd echo the advice of seeking help from a ENT doctor - even if it's just to set your mind at rest.

Once you know the outcome of that, you can decide how to proceed.

As usual I'd avise proceeding with a teacher who teaches using medically supported and properly researched techniques, rather than any other way - it's the safest way to avoid further vocal problems.