Hoarse | Arthritis Information

Anyone else hoarse all the time? It doesn't hurt, but it's annoying. I'm not sure whether or not it's related to RA. I've read it could be. I've been like this way before my dx, for years.

When I meet new people, they say, "oh, do you have a cold?" Nope. Allergies? Nope. But I just sound gravelly all the time...

Katie,

For the two years before my diagnosis I stayed hoarse most of the time. For the first time in my life numerous people began commenting on my "raspy" or "hoarse" voice. My voice would crack if I tried to speak at certain volumes - for instance almost everytime I tried to order through a drive through; I sounded like a 12 year old boy. Once I was diagnosed with RA and started reading up on it, I found out that RA can effect the voice. I still don't know if it has anything to do with my RA but my voice seems to be better since I've started treatment. I don't crack any more when I try to order my food!

^ RA can attack the muscles and cartelidge around the voice box, and can deepen the voice, especially in women. I reckon that if that was happening, you'd be in quite a lot of pain.

Perhaps it has to do with a dry mouth/swollen lymph nodes? I got quite a scare the other morning when my mouth was so swollen I couldn't swallow my meds! _popupControl(); I consider myself in medicated remission and I still suffer with the same voice hoarseness and cracking. I also suffer from allergies and wonder if post nasal drip is affecting by voice box. Keep saying I need to have this checked out at an ENT but, quite frankly, I feel I see enough doctors. It's comforting to know I'm not the only one...my voice is hoarse and raspy in the morning. I was having trouble getting morning meds down, until I started drinking water before and after taking meds. It also can be sjogren's causing the dryness. Mention it to your rd and see what he/she thinks.I hope I am wrong but I know two people this happened too and they had thyroid probs, one had Hashimoto's and the other had overactive thyroid. Best of luck, I hope it is nothing too worrying. hugs Janie. Well I do have hypothyroidism (which is common with RA sufferers) and I am being treated for it. My rheumy didn't seem to think it was that. I had him recheck my thyroid levels and they were ok.

My hoarse/raspy throat ended up being GERD. Be sure to mention it to your Dr.

Take care

Hmmm...thanks for the input.

Many doctors have been SURE that I have a thyroid problem, but then full panel will always come back looking beautiful. My dad does take synthroid though, although not a lot.

He and my sister also have GERD. But, I've been on Aciphex (because of taking an NSAID every day) (which works really well, by the way).

My (outdoor) allergies are bad at times, I guess, but they don't really bug me all that much and I'm even raspy when I feel great.

I was going about my day this morning, said hello to a co-worker, who, based upon my voice (and more my appearance) said "Wow, you look REALLY tired!" Don't you love that? Ugh.

Katie,

I suffered from hoarseness during the first couple of years I was diagnosed with RA and my rheumy and ENT doctor both stated it was due to RA. Their are actually joints in the throat that become inflamed please read this article:

arthritis.about.com/od/arthritislearnthebasics/f/hoarsevoice.htm