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From:  "Shawna" <allegro@e...>
"Shawna" <allegro@e...>
Date:  Wed Jul 4, 2001  7:46 am
Subject:  Any other singers with PCOS?


Heya- occasional poster, mostly lurker here..

I've been singing most of my life, though only started to train in
college (I'm 30 now) I started up again last year with a wonderful
teacher, in hopes of producing some sort of career for myself,
hopefully doing smallish regional things here.

One of the things that has hindered my career options, and the reason
I haven't more avidly pursued more elaborate goals is that I have an
endocrine system disorder called Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. There are
lots of theories as to the root causes of it (they're focusing mostly
on stress and insulin problems right now) but the main symptoms are
weight gain, infertility and hyperandrogenism. This illness really
started taking off when I was in my last two years of college. I took
3 years off from singing, started singing with choruses for a while,
and then when I returned to lessons last year, I found that the light
coloratura voice I'd come to be familiar with was now being described
as a baby dramatic (!) I realize age has something to do with it, but
I'm positive my illness has had an effect as well. For one, I'm about
70 lbs heavier than I was in my junior year (though the weight has
stabilized with recent treatment.) I've always been a big girl (my
ribcage is about 46 inches around, and I have very broad shoulders
and a wide pelvis) but I know I've also gained some fat from the
insulin problems, and some muscle from carrying around the extra fat.
In addition, I have abnormally high levels of both estrogen and
testosterone. (I cry at telephone commercials and can't be pried from
the tv during football season ;) )

I'm curious as to whether anyone else here has this illness, or
perhaps whether any medical folks here might have done some work with
singers who have it? As I'm going through treatment for the illness,
I'm wondering what effects to expect on my voice. I've only barely
started adjusting to the idea of singing big screamin' arias instead
of the pretty little stuff I was familiar with, and I'm hoping I
don't have to re-adjust yet again. My doctors know nothing about
singing, and my lovely teacher knows little about endocrine effects
on the voice. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
-Shawna




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13029 Re: Any other singers with PCOS? Greypins@a...   Wed  7/4/2001   3 KB

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