To: VOCALIST <vocalist>
Date sent: Fri, 4 Feb 2000 19:18:15 -0000
Subject: Re: Throat & nose problems
Send reply to: VOCALIST <vocalist>

> My other question is about my nose. Apparently I have a deviated
> septum. The doctor told me it would probably have a positive effect
> on my singing if I underwent surgery to fix this. Is this true?

Hello

I was very, very pleased for Singer Suki who had positive results from her septum
surgery. Her post set me to rethink a recent offer from an ENT surgeon I saw to operate
on my septum. I have thought long and hard and I personally have decided against
surgery. The more crooked than the average crooked nature of the left side of my nasal
passage has given me a lot of grief over the years and continues to bother me with
headaches and phantom toothache on my left side, not to mention some problems
singing. My perennial allergic rhinitis sets itself in very much on my left side.

My own way of fighting this problem is to make myself as aware as possible of the
causes of my symptoms and to fight the individual symptoms one by one. For example, I
realise that my nasal passages do not keep themselves lubricated as do 'normal' nasal
passages - this leads to irritation and blockage. Daily steam inhalation is a great relief for
that symptom, as is occasional throat and nasal irrigation with a warm saline solution.
Being aware of house dust mites and other allergens and how to cut them down also
helps.

All in all, I am not happy to have a deviated septum and the difficulties that go with it, but
I would not be happy to have surgey. I am happy that I can sing to a sort of reasonable
extent if I look after myself and my hearing is very good if I keep up my regime of caring
for my nasal passages. I would rather not have to spend a lot of effort in keeping myself
clear, but at the end of the day I know that there are many people worse off than me and
that an occasional wash-out with salty water is not the worst thing I could have to go
through. Ultimately, I know that nobody can give me any 100% assurance that there
would not be any negative effects on my hearing/singing/saxophone playing after
surgery, so my decision is definitely to 'live with the devil I know'.

I hope that whatever you decide works out well for you and that your singing goes from
strenght to strength.

Regards,

John



John Cheshire
AKA A Baritone....... Who, little me?