Singing & Asthma

Hi!

I was recently diagnosed with asthma and my respiratory doctor put me on Symbicort. It's an inhaler. I'm to use it every day, 2 blasts, twice a day. Since it has a steroid in it, I have to rinse my mouth out with water or mouthwash after I use it to avoid getting thrush. I also use albuteral for a rescue inhaler, but I only need that when I have a bad attack (not very often). The Symbicort has made my voice breathy and thin and I'm worried that when my dream studio is finished in a few more weeks (addition to house) I won't be able to sing. I also run out of breath sooner than I used to when speaking and I imagine that will only be worse when singing. I know one thing;It won't sound the same. It might be an improvement but I won't know until I really lay something down. I just know that I've been practicing lately and I don't like how it sounds or feels. Any suggestions? Has anybody else struggled with this issue?

Thanks in advance for any help.
JB

Hi Doc.  Thanks.
 
I guess I didn't mention I've been taking the Symbicort about maybe 2 months now.  I've been doing it as you say.  I take the albuterol ONLY when I'm having an attack.  This happens maybe once a week or once every two weeks, but I keep it with me at all times but only use it if I absolutely have to.  The Symbicort is every day.  Two hits in the AM when I get up and two hits at night before bed.  My throat is not sore nor is my airway but my voice comes out breathy and thinner that it was before I started the medication.  I'm also taking notice that I run out of breath faster so if I'm singing, I must either take deeper breaths or breathe more in between lines.  I can handle this but the thinning of my voice worries me.  I don't have as much control when I sing as I used to just a few months ago. It almost sounds like I'm half whispering now.  This is not its usual characteristic.  It used to be a much more solid tone.
 
JB

Doctors sometimes suggest those suffering from asthma take up a wind instrument.
It gets you breathing... while not focused solely on the symptoms.  
 
Many singers have to work around asthma (Suzanne Vega comes to mind).
I deal with mild asthma (though I don't use inhalers/etc).
I have to remember to breathe where I can (deep breaths if possible).
At first, there were nights it was tough getting thru a four hour show.
Now... it's not a big deal.  
Had to drop the idea of playing Animals by Nickelback.  That song is relentless when trying to breathe!
(Insert your favorite Nickelback joke here.)
 
Being relaxed promotes easy breathing.
Arrive at the gig with plenty of time for setup, have backups, and keep the vibe positive.
 
 

i think symbicort is one of the worst drugs on the market.
 
that said, some folks have no choice but use it...
 
all of those inhalers,
are just going to ruin your voice,
my mother had copd and used several of those types of inhalers,
and it turned her voice into the chipmunks voice..
 
if you are a singer,
and want to continue singing,
i'd find ANYTHING ELSE to try to use

I'm on two shots of Advair a day and I too experience a softening and phlegminess of my voice so I'm not sure switching from symbicort will do you much good. Gargling does help, but the only thing that really helps is to cut to once in the morning, then restrict singing to evenings.  My asthma isn't very bad so I get away with modifying the regimen a bit. It's definitely the meds doing it.