| Lip Surgery
Since I was little, I always had a bump on my lip. I didn't pay much attention to it until one day a vein on the inside of my lip swelled while I was playing trumpet.
The swelling went down after a few days.
As my playing career progressed I noticed that it would swell once or twice a year when I would take breaks from the horn. I guess that is a great way to keep practicing...
I went to my orthodontist who is a trumpet player and he said that if he operated there was a chance I would lose feeling, so I shouldn't worry about it.
A month ago I noticed that the top of my lip swelled with blood as I played. I was a bit worried because it had never swelled on the top of my lip before, but I decided to wait it out and let it go down.
It has been a month and the swelling comes back every time I play.
I went to a doctor today and he said I have a tumor on my lip as well as a varicose vein on the underside. I now have to go to Edmonton to a maxillofacial surgeon to get it looked at and get surgery on it. The doctor said this is the worst he has ever seen and that it will continue to grow until I can't play any more.
This is the most frightening thing anyone has said to me. The thought of not being able to play anymore makes me feel sick. I can't do much else other than play, and nothing makes me happier than playing.
I guess the moral of this story is to really take care of your face. |