<p>Need any rec. The flu has hit son's university hard. Part policy, part severity-several students have been 9ll'd to the local ER. Son tried to hydrate but only IV fluids seemed to help. His lips are red, dry, ugly-not cold sore blister, more flaky. He hates stuff on lips but we thought that if we put something on in the evening it might help. Thought of Blistex but?? Even if it is RX, I can track down a physician for the RX. He looked terrible at Jazz concert yesterday and Juries are next week.</p>
<p>Our tuba playing S has had similar situations, usually at very inopportune times. S uses chapstick but only the 'aloe vera' one, not the plain variety.</p>
<p>Wonder if the health office has some samples to distribute?
Brass players lips sure get a workout. Hugs to your son.</p>
<p>Our daughter (oboe player) swears by Burts Bees lip balm. You can get it at a lot of bookstores, eg Books a Million, etc. It is very soothing, but doesn't feel heavy like other products, so your son may be okay with it.</p>
<p>Re: the flu. We've heard from some friends that Airborne will help prevent flu/colds. He might want to try that. We'll test it out during audition season.</p>
<p>So sorry to read about your son. DD's trumpet teacher has her use Chopsaver.
He swears by it and my daughter does now also.
It's a lip balm created by a trumpet player "for musicians with lips". DD picks it up at a local brass store, but there is a website. chopsaver.com
Good luck.</p>
<p>I just bought Chopsaver for all 3 of my tuba players stockings! Glad it works. My son went through this recently (with the swollen lips, red) and greatly increasing his H2O intake, and backing off of practice a bit helped.</p>
<p>My trumpet son is a Burts Bees fanatic. He once told me that many lip products contain ingredients that can actually cause your lip muscles to weaken over time. I suspect that would be anesthetic ingredients that numb your lips or cause a tingling sensation. Hope your son gets better soon!</p>
<p>Well BassDad- best I can come up with is a Load of Tubas. Any of you ever been to a "Merry Tuba Christmas?" If you google it and happen to be lucky enough to have a performance nearby, I would highly recommend it. By the way...happy holidays to everyone.</p>
<p>I asked my son...he's had this problem as well before a big performance. Vitamin E works (once a day) with medicated Blixtex and a chapstick of cocoa butter. He suggested 1) resting more than playing and being very gentle with the lips until they are more healed; and 2) keeping the lips CONSTANTLY moisturized. My husband (the doctor) combined all three in a salve he just kept putting on. Both S and H think the product doesn't matter as much as the constant moisture and rest (otherwise the lips will just be constantly irritated). Good luck. Been there...</p>
<p>Thanks all,
The local music store is rather small-no Chopsaver. I am going to get it for Christmas stocking.
Symphonymom, wish I had added the vit E. I do think it would help. I mixed up a combination including A&D oint and the medicated Blixtex. Put the mixture in a Blixtex tube and sealed it with Duct tape. I hope the Duct tape wrapping and mom's love give a psychologic boost. My husband left that and several other lip balms in son's mail box in the music building. I am not certain what son has decided upon using. He is going to keep the lips lubricated. Juries are Tuesday. He was upbeat this morning-just got paid for two gigs :).</p>