• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Bandmate demanding you play after surgery

Not much to add, but I once did a gig a couple weeks before a hernia surgery. One of the most painful evenings of my life.

I separated my ribs once, actually twice. Horrible experience. Breathing = pain. No way to escape it. I thought I was healed up and I was mostly. Then on stage I turned at a funny angle and pop-pop-pop-pop. I felt my ribs unzip mid-song. It literally dropped me to my knees yet somehow I managed to keep playing. I could hear it resonate through my body over the music (this was one of those we-play-way-the-fark-too-loud jobbers). That was stupid. I should have allowed myself more rest time. Still, I had to eat and needed the gig money. The next couple months of gigs really sucked.
 
I had my wisdom teeth out a few years ago and was fine afterwards. No swelling or pain. Everybody is different though and it also depends on how the oral surgeon perfoms the extractions.

I do have a question though. Why can't you practice? Having your wisdom teeth out will not effect your hands.

My doctor likes to make things difficult. Instead of a quick cut and pull, my teeth are literally knocked out with a blunt metal tool, taking it lots of stuff with it. Last time I had this done, I coughed up blood for days and had the worst migraine to the point that it killed just to blink. It was like a hangover spanned over about five days where all I could eat was rice pudding and I spit up blood when I opened my mouth.
 
Not sure I understand, you have to record? If you guys paid for studio time and have an appt, I'd give it your best shot. Tell him he has to pick you up because you can't drive on painkillers.

If this is a home studio thing, he can pound sand.

I demanded a splint rather than a cast when I broke my wrist so I could still play gigs though, so maybe I'm the wrong guy to ask...

I have skipped some gigs over the years due to surgeries, but only as last resort.

Randy
 
If your doctor butcherd you last time, like you've said. Look for a new dentist. And as for your bandmate, if he seriously DEMANDED that you record when you told him you were having surgery, fire him or quit. No jerk like that is worth the time and effort.
 
We're using a studio, but we get it for free, so we're not losing money if I can't record.

And it's not the dentist's fault, my regular orthodontist pointed out that it would be difficult to get the teeth out because they're so rooted in there.
 
When I had my wisdom teeth out it messed me up good. I found out I wasn't reacting well to the pain meds a little too late. I ended up passing out from them and drinking a ton of blood because my gauze fell out. I could go into some details but it would be pretty graphic. I can say for sure they would've asked me to not show up. Or maybe not, if they were sick enough in the head to have me in their band.

But on topic, if you can't go don't go. This guy sounds like a jerk and I would be looking for a new project myself.
 
Don't pay attention to anyone who says it's minor and that you'll be fine a day or two after. IT'S DIFFERENT FOR EVERYONE. There are so many variables involved. Your teeth could have long, monstrous, hooked roots, and the extraction procedure might take up to an hour for one of those teeth. I remember when I had my bottom ones removed, in two separate procedures. In each case they basically had to crush the tooth and pull out all the fragments, and I had gaping agonizing holes that wouldn't fully close up until 2-3 weeks had passed. The only thing that made life bearable was vicoprofen and Red Cross Toothache Medicine (clove oil with little cotton pellets to stuff in the socket).
 
Don't pay attention to anyone who says it's minor and that you'll be fine a day or two after. IT'S DIFFERENT FOR EVERYONE. There are so many variables involved. Your teeth could have long, monstrous, hooked roots, and extraction procedure might take up to an hour for one of those teeth. I remember when I had my bottom ones removed, in two separate procedures. In each case they basically had to crush the tooth and pull out all the fragments, and I had gaping agonizing holes that would fully close up until 2-3 weeks had passed. The only thing that made life bearable was vicoprofen and Red Cross Toothache Medicine (clove oil with little cotton pellets to stuff in the socket).

Oh..bro. That has serious nightmare potential. Sucks you had to go through that.
 
My doctor likes to make things difficult. Instead of a quick cut and pull, my teeth are literally knocked out with a blunt metal tool, taking it lots of stuff with it. Last time I had this done, I coughed up blood for days and had the worst migraine to the point that it killed just to blink. It was like a hangover spanned over about five days where all I could eat was rice pudding and I spit up blood when I opened my mouth.

Sounds like you need a new dentist. I had 5 wisdom teeth. One was inside the gum and laying on it's side against my jaw bone. The doctor gave me general anesthesia, then took a smaller hammer to break each tooth into two pieces. He removed the 4 teeth that he could see and then pulled the other one out through a hole that was left by my bottom tooth. I was awake in less than 45 minutes and home an hour later. No pain, no stitches, no swelling.
 
If your doctor butcherd you last time, like you've said. Look for a new dentist..

This..c'mon he is taking a teeth out, the worst scenario is that he needs to break it into 3-5 pices, how many teeth he is taking out? one, two? 2-3 stitches and thats it, anesthesia is not worst than peyote or wiskey. I have have four surgeries so far , one involved general anesthesia for 4 hours, I was back in business 3 days later.
 
Not much to add, but I once did a gig a couple weeks before a hernia surgery. One of the most painful evenings of my life.

As a band leader, I played a gig while ill and buckling over in pain. I was ill the week before the gig, and was admitted to hospital the Sunday after the gig. It turns out I have diverticulosis and an infection was ravaging my gut/bowel. I was borderline emergency bowel resection and was playing a gig thinking it was just a stomach bug! :)

So yeah, as a band leader I've made that choice, poorly, and as a bandleader if a member came to me telling me they were ill or going into surgery etc, I'd ask for their best effort, or let me know they can't, and I'll manage it.

The guy expecting you to practice is just way out of line. EOS. If the recording session itself was at risk yeah I'd be more concerned, but maintain practicing...naah its all good thats what pro tools are for yeah? :D :D :D
 
Getting your wisdom teeth out is no big deal, I had my top ones removed about fifteen years ago and did a gig the next night. Had my bottom ones removed seven years ago and could have played the same night. It's not that big of a deal.

It's a big deal when you get all four out at once.... :rollno:

Besides, people react differently to the pain, anesthesia, and the pain medication. You can't predict how he may or may not feel the next night. Only the OP can decide that and he wont know until after its done.
 
To be honest If I were having that done I would probably tell my band not to worry I will be there to do my best. The only thing that has ever got in the way of my band was when I broke both my arms. <-- at the same time btw

My drummer broke his right leg early this year and learnt to play the kick with his left and never missed a practice. He even played shows like that and he got so good at it i didn't notice his playing change.He'd show up on crutches to gigs and the sound guy would be like ummmmm........

I'm not trying to offend you, I just have a certain level of commitment to my band and I expect the same from my bandmates.
 
Everybody`s teeth are rooted differently. Everybody responds to pain differently. Everybody responds to pain meds differently. Although I am curious...you said "last time you had this done..." ? How many are you having taken out this time, and why is it an "emergency" ? If the dentist did such a hack job last time, why are you trusting him again ? All that aside, if you have the teeth out Monday (and you`re experience is like mine) you may be well and fine - until the fourth or fifth day (Fri). My actual surgery went ok, but then dry-socket set in POD #5. I literally thought my friggin jaw was broken for about two weeks. If you run into THAT, you will not be recording, most likely. Everybody is different, though. I burnt my entire thumb and top of left arm (2nd degree) in a house fire...then played a DB gig that night :) I would seriously think about rescheduling the studio time, or get a second opinion / dentist. Unless a tooth is infected, I can`t see a reason that it can`t wait a week.