Hi Brian,
I just arrived home from another 2 hours of PB practice and did not
have the same experience as last week...PTL! I do need to build my
lip by practicing more but at least no headache tonight. I'm hoping
last week was an anomaly. Thanks again for all your input.

Sharon is in my prayers tonight. Lorna too.

Bless you, brother!
Kris

--- In christianpipersanddrummers@yahoogroups.com, "Dr Brian J
Fitzsimons" <bfitzsimons@...> wrote:
>
> Go for it sis, or was that blow for it.
>
> While I'm on to everyone, could I ask for urgent prayer for one of
my
> younger sisters. Sharon has just turned 41 last month, and we just
heard
> yesterday that she's been diagnosed as having bowel cancer. It's
very low
> down near the anal margin.
>
> They think it's very early, but awaiting further tests then oncology
> opinion.
>
> She made a decision for Christ years ago, but suffice to say, is
not walking
> with Him..... Prayers appreciated.
>
> Blessings to al,
>
> Brian
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: christianpipersanddrummers@yahoogroups.com
> [mailto:christianpipersanddrummers@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of
shepiper47
> Sent: Friday, February 20, 2009 12:08 AM
> To: christianpipersanddrummers@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [Christian Pipers and Drummers] Re: A question for Dr.
Brian
>
> Brian...thank you, thank you, thank you.
>
> I go back to practice tonight and I'll see what happens. I've re-
> seasoned my bag and I'm the process of re-hemping the joints. I
will
> ask my PM to soften the drones as well. 2 hours of blowing with a
few
> short breaks has it's draw backs.
>
> Thanks for your input and kind encouragement. I will keep you
posted.
>
> Blessings,
> Kris
>
> --- In christianpipersanddrummers@yahoogroups.com, "Dr Brian J
> Fitzsimons" <bfitzsimons@> wrote:
> >
> > Dear Kris,
> >
> > I suspect the headaches are from raised pressure in the
vasculature
> around
> > the brain during blowing hard. It suggests that you are perhaps
> trying to
> > blow to hard a reed, and succeeding by over blowing. This can
> raise the
> > central core pressure in the vascular system, and potentially
> transmit up to
> > the brain vessels.
> >
> > Kids with certain cardiac defects used to do something similar -
the
> > Valsalva Manoeuvre where you pinch the nose and blow hard (as if
> trying to
> > pop the ears) whilst crouching down; then they'd stand up
quickly,
> and
> > promptly faint. The result - get sent home from school because
of
> passing
> > out, on top of the cardiac problems. It really panicked
teachers,
> but was
> > well known to doctors.
> >
> > The reason it happened was raising core pressure by blowing hard,
> followed
> > by suddenly dropping the pressure by rising quickly and dumping
the
> blood
> > down into the legs (we've all felt giddy rising quickly at some
> time in our
> > lives). In most of us, our physiological mechanisms compensate
> quickly;
> > with certain heart defects, that would not happen; blood pressure
> would
> > plummet and they would keel over!
> >
> > I suggest softening the reed that you're blowing, and making sure
> that your
> > pipes are sealed properly so that you do not lose pressure
anywhere.
> > Perhaps also soften the drone pressure a bit. Really, you should
> not need
> > any effort to bring in the drones from 'a standing start', and
> little
> > additional effort to get the chanter to chime in. The danger of
> going to a
> > lighter set up, is of course overblowing especially on the
high 'A'.
> >
> > Hopefully that will make the piping easier and cure the
headache.
> >
> > The other issue could be high volume noise of the band in a
> confined space.
> > If you are not overblowing, then try quality ear plugs.....
> >
> > Let me know which you think it is, and how you get on.
> >
> > Blessings to all,
> >
> > Brian
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: christianpipersanddrummers@yahoogroups.com
> > [mailto:christianpipersanddrummers@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of
> shepiper47
> > Sent: Friday, February 13, 2009 9:16 AM
> > To: christianpipersanddrummers@yahoogroups.com
> > Subject: [Christian Pipers and Drummers] A question for Dr. Brian
> >
> > Brian,
> >
> > I'm glad to see you post again. I was wondering how things were
> going
> > with you and your family. Sounds like you're hardly home let
alone
> > play your pipes as well. Your schedule sounds tough.
> >
> > My question is why do some of us get headaches after extended
times
> > of piping? Tonight I developed a headache just at the end of band
> > practice and on my way home I noticed I had a hard time
remembering
> > what I had done throughout the day. It's not the first time for a
> > headache after piping but this time I felt like I was in a dream.
> > It's now 3 hrs. later and the headache has subsided but I'm
having
> > trouble remembering all the details of the day and my drive home.
> > It's a long drive, 1 hour each way to & from practice, and I'm
> pretty
> > concerned about the memory lapse. I did have a big cup of
> caffeinated
> > coffee (I normally drink decaf) on my way to practice so I'd stay
> > awake throughout the evening but that's the only thing I did
> > different. Could the caffeine be causing this? BTW, it's 1:04 am
> > right now and I can't sleep...YIKES! Maybe I've answered my own
> > question!
> >
> > I will remember Lorna in my prayers tonight. I know you all must
be
> > trouble by what's going on with her.
> >
> > Thanks for your input from time to time here. I can see you're
> busier
> > than you'd like to be.
> >
> > Blessings you and your family,
> >
> > Kris
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------------
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>