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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