Any recent experience on resuming playing after CAGS?

tjcombo

I'm one week post triple by-pass and busting to start playing again. From the first post-op physio, I've included exhaling through my chops formed into an embouchure shape and it feels ok. Currently I'm staying at my partner's place and never thought to pack a horn in the suitcase so it'll be a couple of weeks before I can check that the sounds I visualise match reality.
I spoke with my surgeon about resuming practice and he said I could try after 3 or 4 weeks, just take it easy.
My jazz band is booked for a festival in early Feb, two months after the op and I'd love to play there. My role is pretty cruisey, a little solo in most numbers. Thinking it's maybe an opportunity to reconstruct the solos as part of the practice??
your thoughts, experience?

cheers
tj

Dr GO

So glad you made it well through the surgery. So you have a new lease on life and will be playing again better than ever with a new resilience.

I know you can make it back by February if you start in the next couple weeks starting at a half hour a day for the first week back then adding 10 minutes every several days to your practice time letting your progress determine how fast you can advance to your normal routine. Once you get there then focus on range. You can do this!

GeorgeB

@dr-go
I was sure you'd pop i n here, Doc. TJ needed that advice. You're a good man.
George

Kehaulani

Triple by-pass?!! My condolences, tj, and glad to see you well.

BigDub

I do not have any advice, but only words of encouragement.
Great to hear it went ok, and thanks for sharing the information with us.
Dr GO is certainly the one to listen to, so listen to him!
That’s my advice. Also if Steve Smith has anything to say, ditto.
I am pulling for you, and you are in my thoughts and prayers.

J. Jericho

@tjcombo I wish you a speedy and complete recovery. Pay attention to your body and what it tells you. I think you have enough experience in life to combine enthusiasm and wisdom.

SSmith1226

I would follow your Surgeon’s advice as far as when you can start playing, as well as Dr Go’s advice as far as how to start a playing routine. Remember, according to Claude Gordon, trumpet playing is no harder than breathing. If it were me, as a Surgeon and amateur trumpet player, when it is time to start playing, I would start, perhaps with Clarke’s 1 & 2, Chichowicz, and perhaps with long tone’s, all pianissimo as far as you could go without pain, light headedness, and stress. I would then expand my practice, as Dr. Go describes. Remember, if it hurts, don’t do it. While you are waiting to start playing the trumpet, perhaps now is a good time to start pencil exercises, without blowing. If you do this, or other non playing exeecises, please give us a report whether this helps.
Good luck with your recovery and stay healthy! Your trumpet playing is of secondary importance until you heal and regain your health.

tjcombo

Thanks all for the advice and good wishes. I'm so looking forward to resuming playing.
@Kehaulani , condolences not needed, but thanks. I'm incredibly lucky that I asked my GP about increasing breathlessness. Playing wasn't really affected but the tests showed multiple major blockages so the arterial grafts are much better option than the otherwise inevitable event.
Please, all enjoy your Christmas gigs, I'm happy to be an on-looker this year.

cheers
tj

tjcombo

There is light on the other side!
Thanks again all for the sage advice. @SSmith1226 Steve, thanks for the suggestion about the pencil exercises. I added that to my post-op exercise regime albeit not religiously. I sure that the doctors prescribe beta-blockers to prevent patients feeling too good, too soon

I discussed resuming practice with my cardiologist and surgeon and got the go-ahead to resume gentle practice (and driving - Yes!!) after four weeks. Was doing some long tones and lip slurs, but was feeling discouraged because the notes were coming out, but sound was horrible. To get a bit a structure into the practice, I started using the early pages from Charles S Peters Total Range.

Last Friday, after nine days practice, my community band had their first post-Christmas practice. Playing felt great - it's so good to play in an ensemble and be welcomed back after such a break.
Today (Sunday), my jazz band got together for a practice and that was good fun and not at all painful.
Articulation needs some work, but that was the case pre-op My old sound, for better or worse, has come back and I'm playing up to C above the staff in tunes and solos without any discomfort.

It seems that the sternum is healing well - a sneeze only hurts a little bit. Now that the beta-blockers have stopped, I'm finally feeling better than pre-op.

oldpete

I, too, have recovered from a triple by-pass. It was a shocking diagnosis for me because I had very little in the way of symptoms. I just took it easy regarding playing. What got me was that I developed a tooth infection and that is quite dangerous for a by-pass patient. I lost my two front bottom teeth. Playing with a partial plate is ok, but different. My embouchure had to be adjusted a little.
EVERYONE READING THIS: GET YOURSELF CHECKED! DON'T LET A HEART PROBLEM SURPRISE YOU!! NOT EVERYONE FEELS A SYMPTOM.

GeorgeB

Glad to hear you fellows are doing well. Hope this will be a better year and will see you both getting lots of trumpet playing.
George

SSmith1226

@tjcombo
Congratulations on your excellent medical, physical, as well as musical recovery. It sounds like you hit the Trifecta!!!