Swollen Lips
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Swollen Lips
I have been experiencing a very disturbing chops disorder for the past year and a half, possibly even longer.
Two weeks ago seemingly out of nowhere the upper right portion of my lip had swollen to about 3X's its normal size.Over the next 2 hours the left side of my upper lip joined in. This lasted for 24 hours plus, then the swelling receded. It was 2-3 hrs after a rehearsal. It wasn't a grueling rehearsal . I played well, no difficulties. I wasn't fighting or compensating for any chop issue. This also happened 2X's within a week of each other a year ago. The swelling is abnormal in the rate that it comes on. Its not typical of abusive playing. Its like someone inserted a grape under the skin of my lip .My lips become solid and I can not vibrate them whatsoever. Its starts as an itching sensation then I can feel the lip swell. It takes about 20-30 mins for the swelling to complete after I get that itching sensation.
When the swelling subsides . It feels sore. When I am able to practice , I find I have lost flexibility, range,Tone, the ability to switch easily on my doubles.I am primarily a Bass Trombonist and double on Tenor, Contrabass and Tuba. THis time it only took a couple of days to regain what I had lost.
Last year when it happened. I lost almost everything and had to start from scratch.At that time I started playing again after the first ATTACK. It came back after the first practice session. I quit for a week. I started playing again and it came back. I quit for another few days until I felt I was able to take it up again.
So, Is it an allergic reaction? Stress? Dental Issue?Too much Playing , switching/ doubling?
Nothing I have tried helps the issue. Benadryl, Ibuprofen,Vibrating Massagers, DOmeBoro(astringent dressing) Preparation H(Used by Ringling Bros Circus players for abusive 9hr a day weekend show schedule)and any and all creams, ointments, gels etc......
It should also be mentioned that a year ago I had broken a 9 month sobriety . I related the chop issues then with the stress from drying out after a few days of hard drinking. A week later when it happened again after quitting drinking for a week was an experiment. It happened again when I quit drinking. This time a year later I was not drinking. So I was surprised when it came back. For all who drink, ENJOY. THis is not a lecture on the Evils of drinking. After 40 years of drinking, the last 10years of on and off again quitting, I realize that there is nothing good left for me in Alcohol .
SO.......Where does that leave me? The past 3 years I have also been afflicted with a spine/ nerve disorder known as Sciatica. Alcohol destroys the Nervous system. I have suffered from peripheral nerve disorders in the past that have vanished with the cessation of my Alcohol use/abuse. Can either/both be related to my now CHOPS issue ? Can It be related to the High BLood Pressure Meds I am on? Any insight would be helpful.
Thanks, John
Two weeks ago seemingly out of nowhere the upper right portion of my lip had swollen to about 3X's its normal size.Over the next 2 hours the left side of my upper lip joined in. This lasted for 24 hours plus, then the swelling receded. It was 2-3 hrs after a rehearsal. It wasn't a grueling rehearsal . I played well, no difficulties. I wasn't fighting or compensating for any chop issue. This also happened 2X's within a week of each other a year ago. The swelling is abnormal in the rate that it comes on. Its not typical of abusive playing. Its like someone inserted a grape under the skin of my lip .My lips become solid and I can not vibrate them whatsoever. Its starts as an itching sensation then I can feel the lip swell. It takes about 20-30 mins for the swelling to complete after I get that itching sensation.
When the swelling subsides . It feels sore. When I am able to practice , I find I have lost flexibility, range,Tone, the ability to switch easily on my doubles.I am primarily a Bass Trombonist and double on Tenor, Contrabass and Tuba. THis time it only took a couple of days to regain what I had lost.
Last year when it happened. I lost almost everything and had to start from scratch.At that time I started playing again after the first ATTACK. It came back after the first practice session. I quit for a week. I started playing again and it came back. I quit for another few days until I felt I was able to take it up again.
So, Is it an allergic reaction? Stress? Dental Issue?Too much Playing , switching/ doubling?
Nothing I have tried helps the issue. Benadryl, Ibuprofen,Vibrating Massagers, DOmeBoro(astringent dressing) Preparation H(Used by Ringling Bros Circus players for abusive 9hr a day weekend show schedule)and any and all creams, ointments, gels etc......
It should also be mentioned that a year ago I had broken a 9 month sobriety . I related the chop issues then with the stress from drying out after a few days of hard drinking. A week later when it happened again after quitting drinking for a week was an experiment. It happened again when I quit drinking. This time a year later I was not drinking. So I was surprised when it came back. For all who drink, ENJOY. THis is not a lecture on the Evils of drinking. After 40 years of drinking, the last 10years of on and off again quitting, I realize that there is nothing good left for me in Alcohol .
SO.......Where does that leave me? The past 3 years I have also been afflicted with a spine/ nerve disorder known as Sciatica. Alcohol destroys the Nervous system. I have suffered from peripheral nerve disorders in the past that have vanished with the cessation of my Alcohol use/abuse. Can either/both be related to my now CHOPS issue ? Can It be related to the High BLood Pressure Meds I am on? Any insight would be helpful.
Thanks, John
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Swollen Lips
You probably should talk to your doctor about this.
I had a similar episode a couple of years ago where I was on my way to a gig (unpaid, fortunately) and from the time I was almost there until we were ready to start my lip swelled to 3x its size. I couldn't play a note. Had to sit there looking embarrassed. I thought it was an allergic reaction. Eventually it calmed down. Hasn't happened again.
Note that I don't drink; never did. I do take a lot of high blood pressure meds. One I used to take make me cough so much I couldn't play.
I had a similar episode a couple of years ago where I was on my way to a gig (unpaid, fortunately) and from the time I was almost there until we were ready to start my lip swelled to 3x its size. I couldn't play a note. Had to sit there looking embarrassed. I thought it was an allergic reaction. Eventually it calmed down. Hasn't happened again.
Note that I don't drink; never did. I do take a lot of high blood pressure meds. One I used to take make me cough so much I couldn't play.
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Swollen Lips
It sounds very much like an allergic reaction, maybe to metal. A friend who is a member here had that exact thing happen and the only solution he found was switching to a Lexan rim - silver, gold, and stainless steel all caused it to flare up again.
It could also be your toothpaste, or maybe you ate something like fresh pineapple that is irritating, or a combination of several things.
It could also be your toothpaste, or maybe you ate something like fresh pineapple that is irritating, or a combination of several things.
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Swollen Lips
Quote from: BGuttman on Feb 11, 2017, 05:20PMI do take a lot of high blood pressure meds. One I used to take make me cough so much I couldn't play.
Probably lisinopril. Seems like it makes half the people who try it cough. Took me a while to get rid of my lisinopril cough (and it was no fun trying to play with it).
Probably lisinopril. Seems like it makes half the people who try it cough. Took me a while to get rid of my lisinopril cough (and it was no fun trying to play with it).
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Swollen Lips
Quote from: SilverBone on Feb 11, 2017, 07:58PMProbably lisinopril. Seems like it makes half the people who try it cough. Took me a while to get rid of my lisinopril cough (and it was no fun trying to play with it).
That was it.
That was it.
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Swollen Lips
I am on Lisinopril and also Hydrochlorothiazide for High Blood pressure. I have developed a Dry Hacking cough.
Around the same time of this last flare up I had lost all my Bass Trombone mouthpieces and was borrowing some from friends to get by. Luckily my mouthpieces were found 10 days later after I posted a reward.
All plating is intact on my mouthpieces. I use Silver, Gold and also Stainless, but Primarily Silver.
After talking with everyone here in Atlanta about it, someone also mentioned an issue with a new toothpaste. A Baking soda based toothpaste.
THanks everyone
Around the same time of this last flare up I had lost all my Bass Trombone mouthpieces and was borrowing some from friends to get by. Luckily my mouthpieces were found 10 days later after I posted a reward.
All plating is intact on my mouthpieces. I use Silver, Gold and also Stainless, but Primarily Silver.
After talking with everyone here in Atlanta about it, someone also mentioned an issue with a new toothpaste. A Baking soda based toothpaste.
THanks everyone
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- Joined: Sat Mar 31, 2018 12:15 pm
Swollen Lips
Hope the toothpaste change does it. I think at the time I had my one flareup I was using Tom's of Maine toothpaste (which I really don't like but my wife does) which is baking soda based. But I hadn't brushed my teeth for at least 8 hours by then.
I was on HCTZ in my cocktail of high blood pressure meds, but we took that one out when I showed up with an excessively low blood pressure at one checkup. Hope I can keep it off my list (but I never had the swollen lips because of it).
I was on HCTZ in my cocktail of high blood pressure meds, but we took that one out when I showed up with an excessively low blood pressure at one checkup. Hope I can keep it off my list (but I never had the swollen lips because of it).
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Swollen Lips
Quote from: John McKevitt on Feb 12, 2017, 08:20AM I am on Lisinopril and also Hydrochlorothiazide for High Blood pressure. I have developed a Dry Hacking cough.
The lisinopril cough is so common that it's a strong bet that that is what is causing your cough. (Dry hacking cough is a great description for a lisinopril cough.) I suggest you discuss an alternate medication with your doc - I switched to losartan (Cozaar).
I also take HCTZ and experience no problems with it.
The lisinopril cough is so common that it's a strong bet that that is what is causing your cough. (Dry hacking cough is a great description for a lisinopril cough.) I suggest you discuss an alternate medication with your doc - I switched to losartan (Cozaar).
I also take HCTZ and experience no problems with it.
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Swollen Lips
Quote from: John McKevitt on Feb 12, 2017, 08:20AM I am on Lisinopril and also Hydrochlorothiazide for High Blood pressure. I have developed a Dry Hacking cough.
The lisinopril cough is so common that it's a strong bet that that is what is causing your cough. (Dry hacking cough is a great description for a lisinopril cough.) I suggest you discuss an alternate medication with your doc - I switched to losartan (Cozaar).
I also take HCTZ and experience no problems with it.
The lisinopril cough is so common that it's a strong bet that that is what is causing your cough. (Dry hacking cough is a great description for a lisinopril cough.) I suggest you discuss an alternate medication with your doc - I switched to losartan (Cozaar).
I also take HCTZ and experience no problems with it.