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Discussions => General Discussion => Topic started by: James Fitton on June 20, 2019, 09:55:10 AM

Title: Post-op advice
Post by: James Fitton on June 20, 2019, 09:55:10 AM

Good morning all,


I've just been discharged from hospital following a repair of an umbilical hernia. (All straightforward and fine). The doctor was keen to stress that I need to "take it easy" for around 6 weeks - no heavy lifting in particular. I asked about playing of squeezeboxes - it's hardly a common question I expect- so
not unreasonably,
they didn't really know what to advise, just repeated "be careful". It then occurred to me that there's a decent chance that someone out there in Melnet land has relevant personal/professional experience on this very particular topic. Any experiences or advice to share?


Thanks!
Title: Re: Post-op advice
Post by: Lester on June 20, 2019, 10:05:58 AM
Had the same op, went back to playing the next day


Note 1, I am not a doctor but possible an idiot

Note 2, If you want to shot me don't aim for my belly button as there is a kevlar sheet for the hernia repair behind it, the same material as bulletproof vests are made of.
Title: Re: Post-op advice
Post by: Anahata on June 20, 2019, 10:34:38 AM
I'd have thought that even playing a box hard would only affect chest muscles, higher up than the repaired area.
If you play standing up, don't dance around too much - common sense really!

I certainly don't remember any curtailment of playing after an inguinal hernia repair last year, but I did temporarily swap my very heavy Calton cello case for a borrowed, much lighter one, for a festival where I'd be carrying it around. During recovery, I noticed that simply lifting things wasn't really a problem, but the twisting movements loading things into a car, for example, caused some discomfort.

For the first few days, getting out of bed was the hardest thing.
Title: Re: Post-op advice
Post by: Winston Smith on June 20, 2019, 10:45:47 AM
"getting out of bed was the hardest thing."

That's normal for some of us! During a recent examination, I was to, my surprise, told that I also had one of those umbilical hernias
Title: Re: Post-op advice
Post by: Alan Pittwood on June 20, 2019, 11:02:13 AM
Same for me in 2012, nothing specific beyond "taking it easy".

Did give up the fixed-wheel bicycle for a couple of months: but not the melodeon.
Title: Re: Post-op advice
Post by: george garside on June 20, 2019, 12:18:57 PM
Ican't see any problem playing after a hernia as long as a bit of common sense is applied.

if you have multiple boxes use the lightest

keep the bellows fairly tight as the left large left arm movements may? put a bit of  strain on it


if more comfortable initially play treble only.

play slow/gentle tunes initially eg aires and waltzes rather than those with much fast and furious in and outing of the bellows

probably best playing seated

stop if it hurts!

george
Title: Re: Post-op advice
Post by: Helena Handcart on June 20, 2019, 12:21:40 PM
The doctor was keen to stress that I need to "take it easy" for around 6 weeks - no heavy lifting in particular.

The perfect reason to invest in a Giordy.
Title: Re: Post-op advice
Post by: Roger Howard on June 20, 2019, 01:40:03 PM
I’ve had two hernia repairs, and don’t recall either of them getting in the way of playing after the initial  discomfort of the op had subsided. Just be sensible and don’t overdo anything. I hope your recovery is as quick and pain-free was mine was. (:)
Title: Re: Post-op advice
Post by: James Fitton on June 20, 2019, 04:16:46 PM

Thanks all for the usual helpful and friendly advice - it's encouraging and much appreciated. I'm pleased to report that I do have a lovely Giordy, Helena, so that's where I'll start, probably tomorrow. And it's great to learn that I may now be very partially bulletproof!


Thanks again.
Title: Re: Post-op advice
Post by: Helena Handcart on June 20, 2019, 04:27:45 PM

Thanks all for the usual helpful and friendly advice - it's encouraging and much appreciated. I'm pleased to report that I do have a lovely Giordy, Helena, so that's where I'll start, probably tomorrow. And it's great to learn that I may now be very partially bulletproof!


Thanks again.

Double bonus then  :||: (:)

I'm also in the umbilical hernia repair club - although being four years old at the time I don't remember much about it except being told off by a nurse for bouncing up and down on the bed along to 'I am a cider drinker' by the Wurzels on hospital radio'.
Title: Re: Post-op advice
Post by: Stockaryd on June 20, 2019, 08:01:45 PM




If they say "take it easy" - trust them!

After   operations in October, I put the Hohner corso on the shelf

I bought a hohner erica

after further problems in February and May

 . . . .  I am now down to a toy accordion.            For just a few weeks more I hope.    ;)   
Title: Re: Post-op advice
Post by: playandteach on June 20, 2019, 10:40:56 PM
Good luck with the recovery. Maybe keep an instrument out on a convenient table, rather than having to hoik a box in a case out from under the grand piano.
Title: Re: Post-op advice
Post by: Clive Williams on June 22, 2019, 11:39:18 AM
Good luck with the recovery. Maybe keep an instrument out on a convenient table, rather than having to hoik a box in a case out from under the grand piano.

Yep, good advice. From my shoulder issues I found the biggest issue wasn't playing it, it was picking the instrument up and putting it down. So put it on a table that you can get to easily, and don't have to reach up or bend down to reach. Weight will also be issue, but only at the pick up/put down stage.
Title: Re: Post-op advice
Post by: Chris Ryall on June 24, 2019, 02:53:56 PM
I am a medic and have had surgery in same area different reasons but a 40cm scar
I actually took my melodeon into outpatients to help plan the surgery!

Went home at day 7 ... and played melodeon more or less straight away. No problem.

But if your body says '"don't do this to me, yet" you should do what it says ...  ;)
Title: Re: Post-op advice
Post by: Stockaryd on June 24, 2019, 04:59:43 PM
After the operation in October, I was not allowed to lift more than 5 kg.

Hohner Erica weighs 3.7 kg

Therefore, my "Emanual Parisell" is waiting on the shelf,  together with the Hohner corso.

And I was not allowed to cycle for 3 months.

Title: Re: Post-op advice
Post by: Grumpy on June 24, 2019, 08:04:55 PM
Not had this problem (at least , not yet) however as an aside about 7 weeks ago I had to have and implanted defib pacemaker fitted. during an off moment I mentioned to the surgical team I had a Roland Fr-18. After inquiring what this was their boss nearly fainted, giving stong advice not to use it near "his" magic inplant. Apparently electric guitars are also not recomended within 20 to 30 cms of an implanted pacemaker. The Roland has now found a new home. For info I have no medical experience or knowledge at all, only this personal event.
Title: Re: Post-op advice
Post by: Anahata on June 24, 2019, 09:50:31 PM
I think it's magnetic fields that implanted defibs don't like, and electric guitars have strong magnets in the pickups.
But I don't think an FR18 would have magnets - what for?
Title: Re: Post-op advice
Post by: Grumpy on June 24, 2019, 11:30:52 PM
Hi Anahata, don't know about whats in an FR-18 but after the close call I had I'm certainly not taking a chance, if the doc says no then no it is
Title: Re: Post-op advice
Post by: Chris Ryall on June 26, 2019, 12:43:35 PM
I suspect the cardiologist was winging it. Seems unlikely that he knows how many milliTesla an electric melodeon's magnetic field has, I suspect very little.

We have strict rules for most implanted devices for MRI machines (3-7 Te) but their magnets would pull in a spanner from a metre of so out, and wipe your credit card!  The risk is induced currents in the leads into heart, typically 30cm long, so that's a wire moving in, and later out of a very strong field.

Every defibrilator has a sensing wire, triggering at a few mV. I defer to Anahata on guitars but the attached guide has them safe if "precautions are followed". Zero mention of melodeons  ;)

  https://wwwp.medtronic.com/medtronicconnect/resources/dynamicarea/EMC_ChartForMedtronicPacersAndICDs-US-Apr2010.pdf

BTW We radiologists don't lose any sleep whatsoever about CT, or for that matter cardiac Xray kit, both of which are switching 130kV pretty rapidly on and off, and pulling 100-300kW.

Seems strong magnets are the issue, and I doubt that a Roland is in that category.  Nevertheless, do what the guy says, but ask him for evidence, and perhaps ask for a researched opinion, when you meet again. 
Title: Re: Post-op advice
Post by: Chris Ryall on June 26, 2019, 12:52:19 PM
A simple test might be to connect a wire across an Avo and wave it behind the Roland. At least that would be evidence based. Anahata, would it need a resistor in circuit too?  ICD sensor wires are fine, but of low impedance.

The manufacturer might even be willing to perform a safety test for you. They are constantly expanding their safety advice, as the above link suggests.  Seems that even toothbrush rechargers 'are to be approached with caution'!  :o

 
Title: Re: Post-op advice
Post by: playandteach on June 26, 2019, 12:59:14 PM
Will there not be a fairly strong magnet in anything with an on-board speaker?
Title: Re: Post-op advice
Post by: Anahata on June 26, 2019, 01:04:40 PM
the attached guide has [ electric guitars ] safe if "precautions are followed". Zero mention of melodeons  ;)
  https://wwwp.medtronic.com/medtronicconnect/resources/dynamicarea/EMC_ChartForMedtronicPacersAndICDs-US-Apr2010.pdf

It doesn't mention electric vehicle chargers either. My ex-boss has an ICD, and he told me he was warned not to go anywhere near the back of on while it was operating.
Commonest rapid chargers are rated at 50kW, and have an AC-DC converter that's probably chucking out a big magnetic field.

Will there not be a fairly strong magnet in anything with an on-board speaker?
I don't think permanent magnets are a big problem; only alternating magnetic fields will induce a current in something else.
Anyway speaker magnets are a closed loop that shouldn't have a big external field.
But the field from a CT scanner is enormous and deliberate...
Title: Re: Post-op advice
Post by: Chris Ryall on June 26, 2019, 04:06:38 PM
The physics is wire, plus field, plus movement. Agree that in the modern world that's an AC generated field  but didn't Faraday simply move his wire past a magnet?

Coils also multiply the effect but on a 5 Tesla MRI just moving the oatient in or out of the static field is enough to induce currents. The field also twists old iron based surgical clips off arteries :o and can lock old  design heart valves in open or shut, it's a real problem!

Not sure the speaker magnet in a Roland is up to that, and it certainly isn't documented and I don't have your knowledge of electronics. I'm sure the manufacturer would be happy to advise, they are very diligent people.
Title: Re: Post-op advice
Post by: Steve_freereeder on June 28, 2019, 02:57:21 PM
The Roland FR-18 doesn't have built-in loudspeakers. It needs to be connected to a separate amplifier/speakers, or headphones.
Title: Re: Post-op advice
Post by: Grumpy on June 28, 2019, 04:40:19 PM
Steve F is quite correct, an FR-18 has no loudspeaker or indeed any sound output at all until connected to earphones or an amp. As to magnetic fields effecting an implanted defib a member of the hospital staff who has a similar device demonstrated the effect of a hospital name tag has at a British Heart Meeting. These nametags are small enamaled badges about 1cm by 6 or 7 and are held to the clothing by a keeper bar  of similar size inside the garment. If this Gent placed the badge anywhere to the left of his breast-bone mid chest an audiable alarm sounded from his device, right side was OK. (only centain makes models have this audiable warning, others phone home from a modem like connection connected to the phone line if mistreated or the recipient is in trouble, all depends on your problems apparently). Being a coward I still intend to follow advice given, even if it may be wrong its still better than my guesses, however very tempted to change my logon name to Sparkie.
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