Say the planets align and you have figured out all the technical hurdles in the rep you currently have.   Let’s also suppose that you are  in great vocal shape, and the dramatic elements of your repertoire are clicking in to place as well.  Top it all off with some flattering audition attire, and you have a recipe for success.  

Then…the dreaded allergy plague strikes in all its glory and all of your training and hard work are rendered useless, instantaneously.

You sound like a fog horn in your lessons and coaching, and when you introduce yourself someone asks if you are a Bass…you are not. 

“But I’m not allergic to anything,” you say.  Famous last words.  Here are a few things to keep in mind when dealing with allergies.  

• You can develop allergies at any point in your lifetime, even to things to which you have previously not been allergic.
• You may have mild allergies which won’t register on a standard allergy test, but which can make your singing life miserable. 
• When you change climates, you often discover things to which you are allergic that you have never encountered before. 
• Allergy symptoms often overlap with GERD or Acid Reflux symptoms.  Often singers suffer from both at the same time.
• You don’t have to take medication to effectively deal with allergies.
• Even if you are truly not allergic to anything, you may suffer from Nonallergic Rhinitis.
• Allergy symptoms can change on a daily basis, making it difficult to know when to take medication.
• Some allergists suggest that it takes a full 2 weeks of having the allergy medicine in your system (especially the pill form) to feel the positive effects of the medication. 
• You can take an allergy pill and allergy nose spray at the same time because they do different things.

Take a look at the following chart and take note of how many symptoms overlap between these three categories.  No wonder it is hard to accurately diagnose what you are feeling and what to do about it. 

Ok, let’s rewind for a minute.  What ARE allergies anyway?

Allergies:  The immune system’s response to a foreign substance.  It’s that simple.  The body is trying to get rid of something that it thinks shouldn’t be there.   

What can you do?  

Nasal Wash:

Follow the link here for my preferred method of sinus wash. What does this do?  Washes out all the allergens, mucus and other degree than may collect in your nasal passages and cause trouble.  The version I suggest here on the website contains a filter, so you won’t have to warm up or boil the water first before you use it.  Or, buy distilled or purified water to mix in.  It’s also small enough that it travels well. Some of you may be used to a Nettie pot, but I prefer this hands down for aa variety of reasons. 

Make sure to add the small packet of salt and baking soda to create a saline solution.  DO NOT USE PLAIN WATER.  You will die, or you’ll feel like you’re about to die for a few minutes anyway.  The saline packets that come with the nasal rinses contain USP grade sodium chloride and sodium bicarbonate. You can rinse every day, multiple times if you need to.  It helps to get rid of the things creating more mucus. 

If you want to take the nasal wash to the next level, use Alkalol, not Alcohol, please don’t put that in your nose, I will not be responsible for that, or anything else you do with your nose for that matter.  This solution packs a punch and will irrigate your sinuses in ways you never thought possible.  It’s very effective.  If you deal with acid reflux, be careful, sometimes it can run down the back of your throat in the post nasal drip and because there’s so much good stuff in there, it might agitate things a little, but even the most sensitive of singers has found this to be useful with the right dose.

Nasal Spray:

I recommend Fluticasone or Flonase.  Always go generic, it’s the exact same stuff and so much cheaper.  You can actually buy this at Costco or any other drug store. Costco has the best prices I’ve seen, so it’s worth the trip in my opinion. This nasal spray is excellent for drying up the post nasal drip that plagues so many singers and agitates the cords.  Sometimes the mucus on the folds is like rubber cement, sticky and coating what feels like the entire mechanism.  Other times, the phlegm is “chunkier” and comes off easier, like at the end of a cold when you may have productive wet coughs.  Boy, doesn’t that sound attractive?  

This nasal spray will help to dry those passages out a bit, cutting off the offensive material at the source.  Many singers who have mild allergies find that this really does the trick for them, and those with more severe allergies use this in tandem with another medication to find relief.  You can experiment with different dosages, but usually 1-2 sprays nightly or once at night, once in the morning will do the trick.  Talk to your allergist and ENT through.  

Allergy Pill:

If you take a pill, you are typically familiar with the three most popular allergy pills, Claratin, Zyrtek, or Allegra.  Let’s examine each one. 

Claratin:  Effective, but too drying for most singers. Many can’t sing well while taking this because you eliminate some of that natural lubrication the vocal folds need to operate well. 

Zyrtek:  More friendly for a number of singers, but many still experience too much drying.  Some complain of irregular heart beat as well, so that’s nothing to mess with. 

Allegra: This is by far the most used allergy medication of the hundreds of singers I’ve talked to.  If you do go this route, don’t be afraid to experiment with half a pill or  a quarter pill.  

I recommend taking the pill at night, so that you experience the strongest drying effect while you sleep, and the effects will last through the morning and afternoon but won’t be detrimental in case you’ve taken too strong a dose.  

You must hydrate like crazy while taking these pills, which shouldn’t be too hard as a singer.  If you are not peeing clear, you are not drinking enough. 

I also recommend avoiding anything with a “D” next to it, meaning decongestant. Decongestants are great for breathing, but not for singing.  It sends all that gunk from your nose in full force down towards your folds.  Remember, the epiglottis will normally block the passage of food and liquid to the vocal folds, but they can still become agitated and stolen as a result of allergies and the medications you are taking.  So, best course of action, stay away from decongestants, unless you simply can’t breathe and therefore, can’t sleep. 

Allergy Serum/Shots:

There is another form of treatment which consists of a custom made serum to help you find long-term relief from your particular list of allergens.  

The shots are given over the course of a few months, every week. You can’t miss a shot, you have to be there for every treatment until the treatments are done.  Allergists may adjust the dosage of allergens based on how your body reacts.  

Some have found that the immune system is so strengthened by these custom-tailored allergy treatments, that the immune system is able to completely rid them of allergy woes, but that’s not always the case.

The shots can be very expensive, and if you’r on the road a lot, it can be almost impossible to get all the treatments unless your doctor has a plan for  getting them while traveling. 

Certainly an option to consider with your allergist. 

Other Suggestions For Relief

Here are some other things you can do to find relief from allergies, especially as a traveling singer.  

• Use pillow protectors.  You can travel with them. Just make sure you label them so the hotel doesn’t take them when they clean your room. Those of you with dust allergies, this makes a difference. Find the kind I use here, but feel free to experiment to see what works best for you. 
• Shower at night and in the morning.  Especially if you’ve been outside at all, showering at night helps you to get all of that “stuff” off of your body and out of your hair before sleeping.  It’s worth the extra few minutes. 
• Apple Cider Vinegar:  I know what you’re thinking:  “I’m not that desperate.”  Hear me out though.  This pungent little elixir (pun intended) can help thin out and clear off that mucus without any medication.  In fact, it’s what I use with a nasal spray instead of taking a pill, and it’s easier to find over seas than a medication.   Use it sparingly because it packs a punch, and make sure to dilute it with water as it can cause laryngeal spasms in some if you drink it straight.  I’ve done that too.  It’s not for the weak.  Start with a small dose, a teaspoon, and increase as necessary.  You should feel the mucus thinning effects within 20 to 30 minutes, but  beware, if you take too much, you’ll also feel that for most of the day as well.  It’s also good for gut health and a whole host of other afflictions. 
• If dust is one of the things that sets your allergies off, sleeping with a face mark is not a bad idea.  I’ve tested about 4 different masks over the last few years, and the one on this page is my favorite so far.  I’d love to hear what some of your favorites are. This one has a replaceable filter and and fits tight enough to keep dust out but not so tight that you’ll think someone is trying to kill you in your sleep. 
• Smart Water.  I was major skeptic  about this until a few years ago when my ENT recommended that I try it to cut through the crippling amounts of junk I am trying to sing through on a regular basis.  I tried it, and after only a few days, I could feel a difference.  I also think it tastes better and I can drink more of it because of that.  I don’t drink it every day because it’s expensive, but when I’m on  a gig, I drink it whenever I can. Costco has the best prices I’ve seen, but Amazon has the advantage because they can deliver almost anywhere you are, even to a hotel. It’s worth a try if you’re not finding enough relief from allergy meds or other remedies, or you just feel too dehydrated because of all of hose allergy meds. 
• Allergy Testing: Testing can help you narrow down what might be troubling you. There is a basic prick test, which is what most of us get.  If nothing registers on that, it doesn’t mean you’re not allergic to anything.  If you feel you are dealing with allergies but nothing showed up on the first test, get the other version where they inject you with the allergens to see what registers. It will give you a much better idea of what might be causing trouble and show you just how allergic you are to a specific allergen, not just that you have or do not have a reaction.  Remember however, that they are testing for things in your CURRENT area, not in all of the places you travel with the exception of cat and dog allergies and a few others.  So, once you learn to recognize allergy symptoms, you’ll be much better off as you may run in to something you haven’t encountered before on the road, but will hopefully have a plan.  

How do YOU deal with allergies?  Success stories? Horror Stories? What happens to your voice when dealing with allergies?