Playing Trumpet After Surgery (gastric sleeve)

[Stephen2 20]

Ok, I know this is going to be a very low-popularity topic, but I want to start the thread for the one or two folks who may need it later on.

I'm almost three weeks post-op (gastric sleeve, laparoscopic incisions) and I'm a professional trumpet player, so there was the obvious question, "How long do I need to wait before I start playing again?" And just as obviously, there were almost no authorities on it. Some doctors are impressively ignorant regarding the physical requirements of playing trumpet. In comparing it to other physical activities, I came to the conclusion that it's somewhere between holding a plank and dealing with Constipation (while blowing up a thick balloon). I'm not trying to be funny, just trying to relate it to what others could imagine. Aside from the musical and manual aspects, that's pretty much what a trumpet player's body is going through.

I found one guy online who said he waited a month. But he's a lead player (high & hard playing), and I'm not (mostly low), so even that wasn't very close to what I needed. I don't have any definitive answers yet, but I wanted to track my progress so that anyone on the same path can at least have a reference.

Last night (19 days post-op) I played my first rehearsal since surgery. A couple of days before that I played long tones and some simple low stuff for a while. I knew I wasn't going to be in good shape, but I wanted to start somewhere. I got through around 20 minutes of warming up and another 30 minutes or so of actual playing before I started to experience some significant "foam" response and some other physical feelings I didn't recognize. At that point I stopped playing, though I stuck around for the rest of the rehearsal.

I suspect it was too early for me to start playing at full volume and energy. Today I've been experiencing more foam, though fluids seem to be going down, so I don't think there's any actual blockage going on. But I suspect things might have been a little disturbed and there may be some additional swelling going on, or something. I don't think it's anything to worry about, but I'm going to allow some time to re-heal before getting back to it again. That's my feeling right now, anyway.

I'll try to update this more as I learn and experience more.

[gryffen 176]

Sounds like your doing the best thing, starting slow and low and then tamping up when your feeling able too. After my classmate caught pneumonia (trombone player) she had to do her breathing exercises and learn how to expand her diaphragm again after the surgery she needed to stop infection.

You don't go bright red for no reason so just ramp it up when able too and be safe.

Good luck - I'm a piano player so it's same instructions for me when I broke my hand at school.

Fridge Pickers Wear Bigger Knickers [emoji200]

[Caryn68 24]

Clarinet player here....i took 6 weeks off and was shocked when i went back how taxing it is on the abs after surgery. Dry mouth seems to be an issue now. Only 2 days back into playing but I'm glad i took the time!


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[triplethreat 257]

I can't commiserate but find this very interesting. I played Cello for years and always enjoy reading about music.


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[aftermath 13]

Singer here. It's also more fatiguing. I think six weeks for me too to get through a rehearsal.


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[Stephen2 20]

I'm back to post an update at around 6 months post-op. Well, I'm back to playing fairly regularly. I've found that the weight loss (around 70 lbs, so far) has impacted a number of different aspects. My doctor informed me that many report that the loss changes their voices. I haven't noticed that so much (I'm also a professional singer), but I have noticed that my lips (emboucher) are responding a little differently than they did pre-op. I'm adjusting, but it takes some patience.

The abdominal / core strength required to play has definitely taken work to regain. Core strength exercises at the gym have helped (planks, cable machine routines, etc.), as has simply practicing.

A full month off would have been a better plan, and 19 days was definitely too early to expect much functionality, but I eased into it so I'm Ok with that.