Take my breath away ... and singing 🎸

[cherrabah]

Hi, it’s now 7 weeks since Tom’s heart attack and he’s progressing really well. He’s had four stents inserted and takes a dollop of pills daily which he tolerates quite well. However, one of his pleasures in life was/is playing and singing in a band - we’re not young, in our 70s, but hey - Mick Jagger’s no chicken either! The trouble is, some of the medication has changed his voice and, apart from understandable physical weakness still, he simply cannot give voice to any of those sixties rock songs or even quiet ballads.

I understand bisopropol and prasugrel can cause breathlessness whereas eplerenone and ramipril add the cough. I wonder if there are any guitarists or vocalists out there who can empathise, advise or commiserate ? I think he’s feeling a bit depressed which is why I reached out ... thanks.

[Curlyman83]

My singing voice has gone completely - I just can’t do it anymore. Don’t know if it’s the drugs or being on a ventilator for so long but I just can’t do it any longer. Hopefully, if will come back with time.

To add insult to injury - I’ve forgotten how to play most of the songs I used to love...those chords and riffs have been erased from my brain. This has left me quite bitter. But hey, gotta look on the bright side - at least ok still here and able to relearn them!!

[cherrabah in reply to Curlyman83]

Mm. Thanks for your post. But yes, it’s good to be alive ...😊👍 x

[-007-]

This may help.

I sing and play guitar.

I had a heart attack December 2016. Five stents March 2017. I was taking Bisoprolol, altrovastatin, clopidogrel and Asprin at that time. I was 65 years old.

Around June I did a home recording singing “Human” by the Rag and Bone Man. The really high notes in there took me seven attempts to reach them with enough breath.

Around September I started getting bad angina symptoms again.

March 2019 I had a quintuple heart bypass (CABG x 5).

In 2020 I joined the local U3A (University of the Third Age) guitar section where I also sing.

I also joined a local mail voice choir and appeared on stage with them.

In 2021 I recorded “Hello” by Neil Diamond and that was played on local radio as a dedication to my wife on our anniversary.

After heart attack I had breathing problems which affected my voice and range.

Same again after stents.

It recovered somewhat but I struggled after bypasses.

But my voice and breathing returned enough to sing publicly again.

As for guitar. The song “Don’t Let The Old Man In” by Toby Keith took me ten minutes a day five days a week for four weeks and I mastered the finger style.

I’m not on you medication and can only speak for myself but give it time and hopefully it will return.

Voice and breathing needs to be practiced and used. Same as guitar.

By the way - on V.E. Day last year my wife and I did a gig outside our house for a hour and a half for our local neighbourhood.

I still feel I used to sing and play better but at 67 years I feel I’m not doing to bad.

That’s my story and I hope that’s helped a little.

=================

My name is Bond, James Bond and I take my Asprin shaken not stirred 🍸

[cherrabah in reply to -007-]

Thanks - great story and sounds like you're doing good! Fingers crossed the show's not over...

[-007- in reply to cherrabah]

On reflection I’d like to add...Try Vocalzone lozenges. Before I perform I suck a couple of them. I started using them many years ago when I was a vocalist in a rock n roll band. Tom Jones swears by them and he’s not doing bad for an old timer.

Wilkin & Sons Ltd Tiptree Manuka Active 10+ honey. I cut 2 little pieces of toast, about an inch and a half square and put around a third of a teaspoon on each. I have this around four mornings a week. I recommend this brand because others I’ve tried clogs the throat (in my opinion).

If I leave off singing for a while I’ve noticed that my breathing is not so good again so keep practicing but you obviously know not to push too hard. I did that in the choir and noticed my voice started to crack so I backed off again. Common sense is the order of the day.

You’ll get there. 👍

[Hidden]

I found the voice came back after a few months but the guitar is still an issue 2years on. I play still but nothing like how frequently I used to. I lack the strength to play standing and even sat down the fatigue gets me.

I'm on loads of meds, amlodipene 10mg, ramipril 10mg, bisoprolol 7.5m plus others...

That said, I still get pleasure belting out the odd song. Stick with it because everyone is different and he may find it all comes back.

[Heartinthehills]

Hi Cherrabah. I've been singing Tenor (I'm baritone really) in a Choral Society for over 40 years and being a 60's teenager happy to do the occasional Karaoke and sing along to a wide range of musical genres. My incident involved CPR and I think my vocal chords took a hit from an emergency inserted air tube. Not sure that the medication is having any effect. Breathing improved slowly as I also swim regularly which helps a lot. Biggest benefit for me comes from voice warm up exercises which our choral society does before each rehearsal including our current Zoom sessions. Not something you may think of as a rock singer but worth a try if your husband can find some to join in with on Youtube