Horn playing & pneumonia
Mar-Jean Fine
It has been terrible and very frightening (was at ER twice, had a temp
of 105.5!). I am doing much better now, but wheese and gurgle
alot....
My question to you, fellow horn players, is any of you have pneumonia?
How long until I can expect to play a horn again comfortably?
I'm sure I could make some sort of sound, but I cant breathe very
well and filling my lungs upwith air is difficult.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Mar-Jean Fine (a.k.a. Cru3r...@cs.com)
1996-Present: Rochester Crusaders-Baritone
1989-1991: Steel City Ambassadors-Snare & Baritone
***American Coaster Enthusiasts Member***
Stefanie Kressaty
Not a horn player.. but as a singer, we use many of the same techniques and
muscles (most, I should say) to do what we do.
DO NOT PUSH YOURSELF. Double pneumonia is nothing to mess with. Get all
the rest you can right now.. heal completely before going forward. I'm not
even close to kidding with this one, Mar-Jean.. All you need to do is push
yourself a little too hard and you've got scars where you don't need scars
on your breathing apparatus.. and then you'll never completely recover..
PLEASE take it easy.. go VERY slow.. You're not going to be in the
driver's seat for a while.. just relax and take it one step at a time. Stay
hydrated.. do some VERY simple breathing exercises (4ct, 6ct, 8ct, 10ct --
if you can take it.. then back again and if you get even slightly winded..
stop.. try again tomorrow) to keep your muscles from slipping into atrophy..
but little more than that until you have NO pain.. none. Pain is bad..
especially lung pain.
:)
Just looking out for you.. would like to be able to share another beer with
you this September!!
Stefanie
"Mar-Jean Fine" <cru3r...@cs.com> wrote in message
news:6f8906e.02013...@posting.google.com...
Skywnch320970
>Not a horn player.. but as a singer, we use many of the same techniques and
>muscles (most, I should say) to do what we do.
may have some good news on that tonsils issue. new dr. seems to think that
there are some allergies that i'm not aware of, and this could all be related.
glad i listened to that advice and delayed the surgery!
thanks,
Ü
jan
Stefanie Kressaty
I've got my fingers crossed for you, Jan!
Stefanie
"Skywnch320970" <skywnc...@cs.com> wrote in message
news:20020201013003...@mb-mr.news.cs.com...
Harrison
one day in the hospital and went to 4 hospitals on tour. Even spent some
time in one of those medical tents next to the field at Allentown. Got off
the cot, marched the show, then went back to the tent as we left the field.
First three hospital trips they gave me weak antibiotics (Erythromycin-250
mg). I was hacking up multi-colored stuff and near the end my lung felt
like an Indian burn every time I played. It was nasty and disappointing
(sick on tour is the worst) Then a doctor in Canton, Ohio (right next to the
NFL hall of fame) gave me a shot and some huge antibiotics. I was about 90%
in 2 days and picture perfect within a week
Since you have/had a fever, it's probably a bacterial infection. Try to get
the heavy duty antibiotics (Biaxin (500mg) or Cipro). Drink 4 times the
water you usually drink. Sleep for a day or two. Most of the pain is
probably from coughing. As soon as you stop coughing, it will take a few
days for your muscles to heal. Deep breath stretches (deep breath and hold
for a few seconds) will help loosen you up. Also consider a warm mist
humidifier. It may help get the stuff out of your lungs and nasal cavity.
You can get some stuff that goes into "medicine cup" and gets evaporated by
the warm mist that will help as well.
"Mar-Jean Fine" <cru3r...@cs.com> wrote in message
news:6f8906e.02013...@posting.google.com...
@home newsgroups
I can't say that I've ever had that particular illness, but I have been sick
on tour. Fortunately even when I was sick I wasn't that sick since I was in
good shape. Although that annoying projectile coughing was the pits. If
you're a smoker I would recommend laying off the cigarettes until you are
better, if not forever. I was a pretty hefty bicycle rider back in the day
and had good lungs, but I did seem to get an annual case of bronchitis. One
of the side effects of riding a bike in smoggy california.
Get some rest is the test. Some people say that it only takes 1/3 the time
to rebuild muscles than to build them initially so you shouldn't be too bad
off. As a horn player, perhaps horn is not the right word, as a Euphonium
player I have taken considerable time off. Sometimes time away from the
horn is a good thing since it gives the chops time to heal. Sometimes you
can even come back with a whole new and better chop.
I was never much for breathing exercises. But I had some good lungs due to
my regiment on NOT driving a car until I was almost 21. Since breath is not
your strong point at the moment, I would recommend some pen exercises.
Depending on how developed your chops are. Some find that using the
McDonalds straw to be a bit better since its fatter and not as heavy as a
pen. The basic jist of it is that you hold the pen or straw between your
lips, but infront of your teeth and clamp down on it with your chops. The
idea is to keep the straw or pen pointing strait out. It may not feel like
much at first, but after a minute or two ouch.
If you do use a pen, be careful to use one that does NOT leak ink in your
mouth. This technique seems to be a little more popular among the higher
brass. Mainly used by some professionals when doing extensive traveling
where they can't break out the horn and practice seven hours a day like they
are used to doing. Lower brass just seem to take their mouth pieces with
them and buzz around town pretending to be fire engines and police cars and
such.
Shadow_7
'88-'92 Freelancers
'98 Westshoremen
"Stefanie Kressaty" <scri...@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:UGq68.12417$ks5.1...@newsread1.prod.itd.earthlink.net...
Vincent Ferrera
Playing a horn, or any activity that requires deep breathing, could
cause the pneumonia to go deeper into the bronchioles. Best to avoid
it.
Carol Hooton
of Rochester, just wait until you heal. Your lungs will tell you when it's
time to start playing again. I had pneumonia once while studying at
Eastman. My trumpet teacher kept me busy practicing triple and double
tonguing, sight reading, and composing while I healed
Carol Hooton
KHallas3
Wow. It is very ironic that I run into to this thread. I don't visit ramd
very often but I actually currently have a walking pneumonia. I'm a trombone
player with one of the casts of Blast. Trying to push through a cold I believe
is what turned my illness into pneumonia. Currently i'm on Biaxin 500 mg
My advice to you is rest, water, rest, water, rest, water and repeat. I'm sure
you're taken care by the doctors from the hospital for what meds you're on.
They tell me shots work twice as fast as pills.
Unfortunately I do not have the luxury of taking time off "work" or playing.
If i was able i would definitely do nothing but rest and heal. I am very
worried that i am not going to recover quickly because of my constant pushing
myself in performances. Especially worried now after reading some of the other
responses you have gotten.
As for playing. If you think you want to play just do some long tones with
small "poor taken" breaths. I try to take smaller breaths more often. Keeping
my heart rate down and not pushing my lungs into any hard working state.
I actually would love any advice anyone has to offer. I have never had an
illness to this extent before especially being in this situation.
Get Well to all of us soon!
Good Luck.
Keith Hallas
Cadets 98,00
Blast trombonist
Roger Ellis
>>
> My question to you, fellow horn players, is any of you have pneumonia?
> How long until I can expect to play a horn again comfortably?
>
>
> Mar-Jean Fine (a.k.a. Cru3r...@cs.com)
> 1996-Present: Rochester Crusaders-Baritone
> 1989-1991: Steel City Ambassadors-Snare & Baritone
> ***American Coaster Enthusiasts Member***
I had it many years ago when I was a young guy in my 20's and was
marching Hamburg Kingsmen. I was out for the entire last month of the
season. I marched
at the DCA championships that year (probably should not have - I was
still coughing and wheezing) and was still very weak and ineffective
as a horn player. It takes a long time to get over - just rest and be
glad this happened now and not in July! Regards, Roger Ellis
Mar-Jean Fine
Hey, thanks for the help! I will do breathing exercises gradually,
and I wont push myself!
BTW, when did we have beer this summer????? I cant remember! Sorry...
Mar-Jean Fine
> I had this when I marched Vanguard. I picked it up on first tour. Spent
> one day in the hospital and went to 4 hospitals on tour. Even spent some
> time in one of those medical tents next to the field at Allentown. Got off
> the cot, marched the show, then went back to the tent as we left the field.
>
> First three hospital trips they gave me weak antibiotics (Erythromycin-250
> mg). I was hacking up multi-colored stuff and near the end my lung felt
> like an Indian burn every time I played. It was nasty and disappointing
> (sick on tour is the worst) Then a doctor in Canton, Ohio (right next to the
> NFL hall of fame) gave me a shot and some huge antibiotics. I was about 90%
> in 2 days and picture perfect within a week
>
> Since you have/had a fever, it's probably a bacterial infection. Try to get
> the heavy duty antibiotics (Biaxin (500mg) or Cipro). Drink 4 times the
> water you usually drink. Sleep for a day or two. Most of the pain is
> probably from coughing. As soon as you stop coughing, it will take a few
> days for your muscles to heal. Deep breath stretches (deep breath and hold
> for a few seconds) will help loosen you up. Also consider a warm mist
> humidifier. It may help get the stuff out of your lungs and nasal cavity.
> You can get some stuff that goes into "medicine cup" and gets evaporated by
> the warm mist that will help as well.
>
Thanks for your info...it helps alot! I do have bacterial pnemonia,
and the first antibiotic, which was pretty big, didnt do enough and I
went into double pnemonia. The stuff I have now, which I cant
remember either, worked right away...I had to take whatever they would
give me for free, as I have no insurance :(
I am doing very well now, but still coughing a little.
Mar-Jean Fine
Thanks...Coming up to Rochacha this past weekend was a shock to my
lungs...I was surprised how cold the air is up there! I tried to stay
outside as little as possible!
(we are from Pittsburgh...)
Mar-Jean Fine
> I had it many years ago when I was a young guy in my 20's and was
> marching Hamburg Kingsmen. I was out for the entire last month of the
> season. I marched
> at the DCA championships that year (probably should not have - I was
> still coughing and wheezing) and was still very weak and ineffective
> as a horn player. It takes a long time to get over - just rest and be
> glad this happened now and not in July! Regards, Roger Ellis
Yeah...I didnt think of that! I should be thankful....
Thanks to all of you who replied with your help and suggestions and well-wishes.
I will probably not do anything for a month.
Stefanie Kressaty
seats and one waitress/bartender for the 700 fans who descended upon it
after the Sr. Show/RAMD gathering. Siglow introduced us but I think we also
met back in 99 at the last Madison RAMD gathering, too (or somewhere before
then)
:)
Stefanie
"Mar-Jean Fine" <cru3r...@cs.com> wrote in message
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