 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: jrain54
Date: 2017-08-19 12:01
Hello all,
I have been struggling of late to, in my everyday life, take a sufficient breath. If you google 'air hunger' you may be able to understand more what I mean. I do have mild asthma when my allergies are bad, or in cold weather, but it's not really having a 'wheezy' breath, but rather being unable to take a satisfying breath, and trying to yawn a lot to get one...
I have posted on here about having troubles breathing when playing the clarinet twice before, and looking back each post was made at around the same time in the year - around Winter to Spring, when the weather was cold and windy and allergy season was at a high.
I am young and fit and do regular exercise, so it's definitely not anything to do with being unfit / age induced issues / smoking, so I'm inclined to think it's the seasonal weather that affects me.
For anyone who'll tell me I need to see a doctor - I have, last year when I was having the same problem. They tested me for asthma but at the time, and like now, I was not having any asthmatic symptoms so they said I looked clear.
Having experienced asthma before, I know the difference myself - and again, rather than having a 'stuffy' chest and 'wheezy' breathing, what I'm feeling is simply being unable to take a good breath.
The reason I make this post is to find out if anyone here has experienced the same thing, and what you have done about it as it is seriously affecting my ability to play the clarinet (as it has done in previous years too), which is not great especially at this time, where in the coming week I have a practical assessment and am really needing to be practicing a lot for an upcoming AMEB exam.
Jess
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2017-08-19 12:55
The obvious thing that you should be doing is to consult an appropriate specialist. The fact that it has been determined that your problem is not asthma may be comforting to know, but it doesn't address the original problem. There are a multitude of reasons that could explain your problem other than asthma, so you should be investigating further. These things can get worse so easily, so catch it before then. I'm an asthmatic, so when I get the symptoms I know how to deal with them, but it was scary when the asthma first manifested itself in my 60's.
Tony F.
Post Edited (2017-08-19 16:58)
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2017-08-19 17:03
I can't find a really clear description of this with Google. And most of the causes listed in the articles I've opened are acute conditions, not chronic or recurrent ones. Can you describe air hunger a little? What do you mean by a "satisfying breath" and how do you feel when you can't get one?
I agree with Tony. If this isn't asthma, then there is some other explanation that you haven't yet found. If the doctor who evaluated you for asthma was a general practitioner, he or she may need to refer you to a specialist. I'm not qualified to give any kind of medical opinion, but three specialties come to mind: pulmonologist, allergist, cardiologist. It's also possible the symptoms are psychosomatic - anxiety reactions to something that happens regularly at that time of year.
Because you've eliminated your asthma as the cause doesn't mean there isn't a diagnosis that could lead to an effective treatment. Left to continue (while hopefully not getting worse), this will affect the rest of your life. At the very least it may affect your chance for success as a clarinetist, which may have career implications. You ought to pursue it beyond an asthma evaluation and see where you end up.
Karl
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Author: Sean.Perrin
Date: 2017-08-19 20:43
First:
You absolutely need to see a specialist.
Second:
Do some breathing/relaxation/meditation exercises and see if it helps. Wesley Fereira recently did a great video series about breathing and increasing air support that might help.
Third:
I have had issues in the past with sickness from the mouthpiece/reeds. For a while, clean your mouthpiece with an anti-fungal/bacterial spray every time you play, and try either A) using plastic reeds and washing them every time you play, and/or B) using something like the ReedJuvinate which sterilizes the reeds when not n use.
You could be coming down with a potentially serious fungal infection known and "saxophone lung." Ask your doctor and tell them about the clarinet!
Founder and host of the Clarineat Podcast: http://www.clarineat.com
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Author: Sean.Perrin
Date: 2017-08-19 20:44
To add support to my point, you say it happens around winter to spring... the wettest time of the year when mold, fungus, and other treats are most likely to be growing on your stuff!
Founder and host of the Clarineat Podcast: http://www.clarineat.com
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