Piper down :(

[Cowher]

So here is the deal. I was well on my way to being a good piper. Then a year ago I had oral surgery. As a result I suffered (and continue to) from nerve damage. It effects my jaw and tissue around it. I have tmj now and the nerve damage causes my jaw muscle to clench instead of rest. My lower teeth on the right side are totally numb and my bottom lip is about 90% numb. I don't have any drooping of my face but I can't seal my lips around my bagpipes any more. I started using a airstream mouth piece and it helped tons. But with the large oval mouth piece I could still only play for a few minutes and then I couldn't keep my seal. I have tried to push on. One year and 6 months later I am realizing I just don't think I can ever play more than one tune per day. I was depressed because I thought about all the work I put into this art. Now I am a cook with out a sence of taste. A soldier with out a weapon. Hammish with out a kilt. And now I am restricted to my practice chanter.

My ear fell upon a sound of bagpipes but it was softer. More mellow. Was it Ullean pipes? No. It was smallpipes / kitchen pipes. It played the same as the ghb but it was small. I asked the piper about them and he said they can also be blow by bellows. He handed them over and said "try 'em". I did and now I'm hooked. I am thinking of selling my big pipes and getting a small set.

I wonder if it will be my return to passionate piping.

[piperdbh]

I wonder if it will be my return to passionate piping.

Yes, I bet it will. You can sing while playing the bellows-driven 'pipes, or tell stories, or smoke a cigar.

[Nick the DSM]

Or yell obscene language like a madman!!

[Oldhiker]

I heard a piper call once them the "real" pipes... I thought wow that's tall talk then I found out they are "reel" pipes. Yes much more mellow

[CopperNGold]

I'm happy to hear that you've made the best of a bad situation. It takes a certain strength of character to do that, and I applaud you for it.

In the 1980s I also suffered nerve damage from a visit to the dentist, I could not move my mouth or tongue for several years. I also had TMJ. The doctors, dentists and other medical specialists told me I just had to wait and see what would happen.

I don't know what your prognosis is, and I don't want to give you false hope, but over time, the damage repaired itself, and I now have a fully functioning mouth, tongue and jaw. The TMJ still bothers me sometimes.

If I can be of any help to you please feel free to PM me.

Enjoy those new pipes!

Jocelyn

[Nick the DSM]

I heard a piper call once them the "real" pipes... I thought wow that's tall talk then I found out they are "reel" pipes. Yes much more mellow

Reel pipes were designed by Fred Morrison, apparently its like an in between of Highland pipes and Small pipes.

[ohiopiper]

To give the idea a go for relatively little money, go to www.hotpipes.com and look at the Kitchen Pipes.

If it's a go, there are all sorts of options, from the Kitchen Pipes to Gibson Fireside Pipes and 3/4 pipes from a couple makers. All require less air than the GHB.

[cessna152towser]

You'd fit in well around here, the Northumbrian Pipes are very popular.

[biblemonkey]

I feel your pain, brother. I used to sing, write, perform all the time but for the last two years I have had a chronic vocal chord ailment that prevents me from doing so. I can still sing but it hurts for days after and is sore all the time. The doctors are working on it. I hope you find a way to work with your troubles and keep making beautiful music.

Prayers go with you,
Hugh

[Macman]

That's a tough thing to have happen to you. It sound like you're making lemonade from lemons, though, so keep up the piping, however it works for you!