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This may be a bit of an odd question....Has anyone ever heard of, or had issues with medication effecting their playing?

A few weeks ago, I began to have some significant embouchure issues, seemingly out of the blue. I was playing euphonium at a concert, and everything about my embouchure just seemed off, and the problem has persisted for a few weeks now. My embouchure feels weak and shaky, my tone is shot, and I do not have nearly the range or endurance that I usually do.

The problem began a few days after I began taking a mild steroid for some joint problems, and I'm wondering if that has something to do with it. Especially since the problem started so suddenly. I'm also wondering what I can do to try and fix it. I've tried a few things like focusing more on long tones, lip slurs, etc, but I can't seem to shake this.

Anybody hear of anything like this before?

A call to your Dr or pharmacist would seem to be advised.

Well, sure, but it's common knowledge that there are side effects with steroids, I assume we're talking about corticosteroids - including various kinds of swelling or growth. They get prescribed anyway, you can't do the western medicine thing if you're going to be a pussy about side effects. Checking with brass players looks like a good idea to me, though maybe the subject title could have been a little more specific.

Thanks Don for your opinion about how much of a pussy I am. That was very constructive feedback. It's astounding to me how you were able to draw such an astute observation of me from my brief post. Not even my doctor was able to provide such insight. If not for you, I would have no idea that medication can have side effects! Guess I'll just have to suck it up and stop being such a pussy. You've really inspired me to reevaluate myself and get my life going in the right direction!

On a completely unrelated note, anybody have any embouchure building tips or exercises that may help me get back into shape?

cpoet89 wrote:Thanks Don for your opinion about how much of a pussy I am. That was very constructive feedback. It's astounding to me how you were able to draw such an astute observation of me from my brief post. Not even my doctor was able to provide such insight. If not for you, I would have no idea that medication can have side effects! Guess I'll just have to suck it up and stop being such a pussy. You've really inspired me to reevaluate myself and get my life going in the right direction!

Well, it's about time you made a proper evaluation of your life. Asking medical questions on a tuba forum shows that you are going in the wrong direction.

Didn't you get the "TNFJ New User Checklist" when you signed up? Since this is your second post, perhaps you haven't checked your TubeNet mailbox yet. It should be in there. It's the list of approved questions along with their approved answers. It also has answers to questions which haven't been asked yet, such as yours. I do remember that one of the choices was "Don't be a pussy" but threw my checklist away years ago and since have been pulling my answers out of my *** like most all of the other members of the TNFJ.

I went to my doctor and said "it hurts every time I do this."

He said, "don't do that!!"

cpoet89 wrote:Thanks Don for your opinion about how much of a pussy I am.

Well, you totally misread me - I was posting in support of your inquiry, as opposed to the obvious alternative of taking to the doctor, who really can only apply the same general analysis that anyone could. And it's my opinion that doctors typically are way too casual about prescribing stuff that has side effects; the comment that set you off was supposed to represent the attitude of western medicine towards the patient.

I did not have any reason to think you're a pussy. I still don't, but to my criticism of your thread title, I will add that reading skills could be better, and the name is "Donn" with two Ns.

Donn is from Seattle.

They don't have "joint" problems there.

Well, if your joint pain is being caused by undiagnosed toxic mold exposure (your doctor will with almost 100% certainty be clueless about this) and you are prescribed steroids for the inflammation, it will make your situation unavoidably worse. I am an unfortunate amateur expert on toxic mold exposure's effects. If you want to know more send me a PM. I've learned to not try to convince people of the possibility unless they show interest.
MA