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As I approach the beginning of my 6th decade, I find there are fewer "wow, I have never done that before" moments to be had. This is not one of them.

I managed to come down with pneumonia this winter. What is a reasonable amount of time to wait before playing again? Currently, the level of coughing I have makes the point moot. Once that abates, however, are there any things I need to be cautious of as I return to playing? Thanks, in advance, to the non medical members of the TNFJ.

Ally"whose done trying some of these new things for a while"House

Once you feel well enough to play you should go ahead and play. Nothing about tuba playing will make recovering pneumonia worse. Of course, I'd avoid cold outdoor venues and make sure you rest when your body needs rest. If anything, the deep breaths you take while playing will open up those glued-tight bronchial tubes and aid your body in cleaning house.

Wash your mouthpiece before or after every time you play, and clean your horn out often. You don't want to be constantly re-infecting yourself. I don't really know if it's contagious that way, but I wouldn't take any chances. Do you know if it's viral or bacterial?

I would think that playing would help you recover. Anything that keeps the air moving, without too much stress. There is benefit from the slight pressurization of blowing, in that it inflates parts of your lungs that otherwise wouldn't inflate during simple breathing, and that helps clear out excess fluid.

Last winter I had a horrible cough for two or three months, and I only started getting better after some loud big band gigs where I had to work pretty hard.

Do the Chester way of disinfecting your horn...pour hydrogen peroxide down the lead pipe and through the horn. Same with mouthpieces.....

I had a friend, 26 years old, got pneumonia.

Went to the liquor store instead of the doctor and woke up dead.

No ****.

If I can inhale and exhale freely, without launching myself into a coughing jag, I'm good for tuba!!