My Myopericarditis

Vulgano Brother

I entered the hospital January 26 with, among other things, Non-St Elevated Myocardial Infarction and Pneumonia Due to Respiratory Syncytial Virus. I was pretty sick.

Now I'm home but on oxygen. I've been taking 15 minute walks at about 3 mph without O2 with SPO2 between 88 and 92 (mostly 90) and am hoping to get off the O2 soon, but if it helps me heal more quickly I'm willing to wear the tubes.

As far as my heart goes, I got this from my most recent test results:

"Normal LV systolic function and wall motion with calculated biplane EF 76%
and mild LVH.
Trace TR with RVSP about 32 mmHg.
There is a tiny rim of pericardial fluid anteriorly and posteriorly which
is hemodynamically insignificant.
Direct comparison with the previous study from 1/26/2024 shows that the amount of pericardial fluid has decreased a little."

My question is as follows: My apartment living forces me to use a practice mute, and I'm using the Yamaha Silent Brass on my big horns and a Denis Wick on my piccolo, so I'm wondering, will the back pressure (especially with the Wick) be a factor preventing me from practicing at this time?

Your experiences are most welcome!

J. Jericho

@Vulgano-Brother So sorry to hear of your experience. I wish you a speedy and complete recovery! I expect that you will get good answers to your questions, and I also expect that time and patience will be part of those answers. Your doctors should be able to help guide you, too.

Dr GO

@Vulgano-Brother said in My Myopericarditis:

My question is as follows: My apartment living forces me to use a practice mute, and I'm using the Yamaha Silent Brass on my big horns and a Denis Wick on my piccolo, so I'm wondering, will the back pressure (especially with the Wick) be a factor preventing me from practicing at this time?

Your experiences are most welcome!

The back pressure is actually therapeutic. It is known in the medical world as PEEP (Positive End Expiratory Pressure). It will help remove the inflammatory fluid more than any medicine can with the back pressure pushing fluid from the air sacks into the interstitial space which will move it back into circulation.

The ejection fraction of the heart is excellent, likely more then mine.

Did your physician put you on colchicine? That will help heal the myocardial inflammation from the viral attack.

Man. You had this bad. I believe being a trumpet player may have saved the day for you. If all goes well in 3-6 months you should be back on room air.

Vulgano Brother

@Dr-GO said in My Myopericarditis:

Did your physician put you on colchicine?

85 doses worth, and also a miracle drug called "Aspirin." I've given up my physiological vices and the nicotine patch at 21mg stops my physical urges for tobacco and have also been free of cravings for the smoking ritual, for which I'm grateful.

You make it sound like I was at death's door. If so, I guess 3-6 months on O2 is a small price to play. Oh, I had severe sepsis, too.

I'm assuming it is OK to unplug myself to play (the hose interferes with mouthpiece placement).

I was impressed with the quality of care I received at Providence Sacred Heart Hospital, but it is sure great to have a professional trumpeter/physician/friend to answer my questions.

Thanks, Gary!

Dr GO

@Vulgano-Brother said in My Myopericarditis:

@Dr-GO said in My Myopericarditis:

I'm assuming it is OK to unplug myself to play (the hose interferes with mouthpiece placement).

If you have not yet done so, purchase a pulse oximeter from a local pharmacy (most sell them at a cost of about $6). Apply it while oxygen is in place, then take it off and start playing the trumpet and after 2 minutes, retest with the pulse ox. I am willing to bet during playing the oxygen saturation may increase.

I was in intensive care for 3 weeks in 2014 from massive pulmonary embolisms and had my pocket trumpet and Yamaha silent mute with me, and found my pulse ox raised by 6% while playing the trumpet.

Dr GO

@Vulgano-Brother said in My Myopericarditis:

@Dr-GO said in My Myopericarditis:

I was impressed with the quality of care I received at Providence Sacred Heart Hospital, but it is sure great to have a professional trumpeter/physician/friend to answer my questions.

Thanks, Gary!

You are so welcome my trumpet playing brother!

barliman2001

All the best for our recovery!
Having recently suffered a minor stroke, I know what it is to lie around in hospitals... a good cure during rehab was seeing all those other patients who had been hit far harder than me.

From day one, I had my pocket trumpet with me to practise; unfortunately without a mute. I then ordered Thomann's own brand warm-up mute which did the job. Nice, small, and well intonated, it surprised me as being better than the Wick... can only recommend it.
As to sound reduction: Quite a few nurses encouraged me to play, seeing my horn. And were very astonished when I told them that I was working on Arban up to two hours per day. No one outside my room had noticed...

https://www.thomann.de/gb/thomann_compact_warmup_trumpet_mute.htm

BigDub

Hope you are soon well, brother

Trumpetb

Trumpet players when they reach a good level are without exception fighters.

It is the way we are.

We constantly fight with ourselves to progress and we mold ourselves to become the best we can be.

It is evident to me that you are a fighter Vulgano Brother and this tells me you will recover.

And you will be an inspiration to others.

There is not a day goes by that I am not told how much I inspire others and I see that in you.

Few musicians recognise quite how good they are and how much they are respected in society for the joy they bring to others.

It is a privilege to know you, make a speedy recovery.

Vulgano Brother

@Trumpetb said in My Myopericarditis:

We constantly fight with ourselves to progress and we mold ourselves to become the best we can be.

Thank you for your kind words, Trumpetb!

I know I've certainly struggled at times with the trumpet!