Breathing after surgery

[Bob]

I have known about this for quite sometime but kept forgetting to post it. Most of us hate the Spiormeter (sp?), that terrible thing they made up blow into after surgery. Well a great way to avoid that thing and get a better breath is to blow a harmonica. Yes and it will let you play some music as an additiional benefit. Dont have one? Well they are inexpensive ($21 for a good one), easy to learn if you dont know how to play and they make you breath in and out. Good strong deep breathing. Just what the Dr. wants. On my harmonica talk forum there have been three heart surgery cases posted in the last week. All used the harmonica instead of that other "thing". Think about it, " Oh I came from Alabama.....".

 

[tobagotwo]

Bob,

I also play harmonica, my favorite instrument being the Hohner Comet, No. 3427, which is an echo type, in C and G. I generally play the upper reeds only, as they are extraordinarily flexible in this model.

However, I am not sure I'm convinced of the harmonica theory of post-surgical breathing. The spirometers I've seen are for taking breath in and holding it, rather than blowing out. They are intended to support patients in taking as deep and extended an inward breath as possible, to reexpand the lungs to their previous capacity.

Playing the harmonica does give your diaphragm a great workout. While breathing goes both ways in harmonica playing, I'm skeptical whether it generally becomes one-sided enough to force the lungs to expand past their post-surgical boundaries. Again, mostly because blowing out is not a function of the spirometer or the surgeon's instructions.

I'd like to hear more comments.

Best wishes,

 

[Harpoon]

Seems to me the harmonica would be a great addition to using the spirometer and would probably shorten the TIME you actually need to use it, however I don't think it should be considered a substitute.

The same may hold true for any other variety of woodwind or brass instrument actually.

And maybe the bagpipes too.


Still, I'd stick to the spirometer at least until the doc says it's OK to pitch the thing in the trash.

 

[Bob]

Harmonica for breathing

Harmonica for breathing

OK I didn't make myself clear. when you play a harmonica Chicago Blues style or crossharp as it is called you use the draw notes a lot and must hold the lungfull of air while you play the notes. Sometimes you feel like you are going to explode. In fact playing anything except simple tunes require air holding for varying lengths of time. You learn to develop great diaphram control. So there. Go out and buy a good harp and practice. Yes bagpipes also require great and powerful lung capacity. Can you imagine a ICU head nurse's reaction if a new valver pulled out a harp or set of pipes?

 

[tobagotwo]

Good point, Bob. You made your case.

P.S...I do have a good harp! In fact several, including Chromatics.

 

[Mary]

My $.02 worth

My $.02 worth

I asked the respiratory guy in my house, and he said it depends upon how deep a breath you take when you're playing. It sounds like everyone is right on this one.
Mary

 

[bvdr]

I used to love to hear my dad play the harmonica. I think my favorite was "Old black Joe". When his lung and heart issues got severe he was barely able to play it at all.

A few days ago I ordered a basic Hohner harmonica to include in my grandson's birthday present. It might be one of the things that stays here at Mimi's (me ) house as he certainly has nothing wrong with his soon to be 4 year old lungs!

 

[M&M]

Me with a Harmonica !!!

Me with a Harmonica !!!

Hi Bob, I'm not to musically inclined.. Actually, my daughter cried everytime I sang: rock 'a' bye baby !!! SHE cried until I stopped singing.

I kind of like Coach 2 -- I love his smiley face and I love to see how 'high' up I can make him go.. Its FUN... and I always breath better afterwards.

I'm hitting about 2500 and if I don't stay in the 'happy zone' I can go higher.. I think its going to help me to run one day. I have to wait 3 mos they say. But I think Coach and I are going to do well.

You know what I hate - sneezes - oh goodness - do they ever hurt.. I've learned instead of a regular sneeze I do a sneeze through my nose kind of.. Not from my lungs..

The lungs really take alot of time - to rebuild. I heard anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks. I can't wait to get back to normal deep breaths. I also found the rehab exercises help my back and shoulders - if I don't do them just one day - I get all stiff again. Its amazing how well those exercises work. I never would have believed it to help that much. I'm walking 3 miles a day - after 3 weeks. But I'm getting kind of tired - I think I may walk 2 miles one day and 3 the next. Then in another week - try 3 miles for two days and 2 miles for one. I can't wait to RUN.. I hope I didn't lose to much race time.

Well, there I go jibber jabbering. I got a new - e-mail address and I tried for days to get my 'work' messages - but I can't retrieve them. I don't know why - but I'm not so computer savy that I can figure it out. Just yesterday - when I was 'playing' around on the computer - I lost my juno icon !!!! Lost all my internet.. Its a good thing I won't be home to long - or there won't be anything left of this computer - other than my monthly charge !!!

See Ya
Runner