WLS and Singing?

[Little Green 583]

Hey friends,

Getting a little farther into my WLS plan now since the last time I posted - I picked a surgeon and should be having surgery in early to mid December, provided all goes well! I have a quick question about how WLS affects singing. If you are in a chorus, choir, church singing, etc. please read on!

I am a full-time student and I sing with my college's chorus as well as a regional choir and I also take private singing lessons. I timed my surgery to be at the end of my exams and our winter concerts, so depending on my surgeon's schedule it should be the 2nd-3rd week of December. This will give me approximately 3-3.5 weeks until rehearsals start again. I am leaning toward RNY which as we all know is slightly more complicated internally. Do you think I will be pain-free and energetic enough to stand and sing with deep breaths for several hours per week?

I know there are likely several factors that go into a question like this so I understand if your answer is "Well I personally had this experience but you might have a totally different one," and that's perfectly OK and would still be very helpful to me. Thank you so much in advance!

-Annie

[OutsideMatchInside 10,166]

I would not bank on it.

[Diva Taunia 198]

Hi Annie,

This is a great question, and I'm happy to answer it from personal experience and also as a professional vocalist and voice teacher. I also had RNY gastric bypass surgery, the surgery you're considering - about 9.5 years ago.

I was in the hospital slightly longer than most people, about a week. My recovery time in full was two weeks, but I was not fully out of pain until about three weeks. While I was able to teach (I was able to sit and mostly played piano and did not have to fully engage singing in the lessons), I was not able to get back to work performing until about two months later.

For me (and lots of other singers), the biggest issue was with support. After major abdominal surgery, it takes some adjustment and getting used to. It was a difficult adjustment for me.

You'll probably notice changes to your voice in general as your body changes - your body IS your instrument, so as that changes, the sound does too.

I didn't realize there would be so many changes vocally back then. I think it's great you're asking now. If you can get yourself prepared mentally AND physically, you'll be just fine. But I definitely think you should give yourself a big window to heal.

[Little Green 583]

Thank you @OutsideMatchInside, that's helpful to know!

Thank you so much @Diva Taunia (and I think we are acquainted from another internet adventure, FYI, or at least I know you!), your response was really helpful. Did you have complications that caused your longer hospital stay, and if so do you think it may have affected your experience? Based on your response, generally, I think I might be okay to try and rehearse for the ensembles since it will only be a few weeks and it will be all new material anyway, but I might have to delay or drop my private lessons. They are actually through my college and for credit, so I'm not sure if my instructor has the leeway to allow for a month off due to institutional rules about attendance. I will get more info from her so I can plan accordingly! Thanks again!

[Navigating the Wilderness 824]

I would say unless you have complications, you will probably be pretty pain-free. Energy-wise, I would not have wanted to stand for a lengthy period of time in the first month. I was exhausted non-stop. Month 2 was much better.

[Diva Taunia 198]

17 hours ago, Little Green said:

Thank you @OutsideMatchInside, that's helpful to know!

Thank you so much @Diva Taunia (and I think we are acquainted from another internet adventure, FYI, or at least I know you!), your response was really helpful. Did you have complications that caused your longer hospital stay, and if so do you think it may have affected your experience? Based on your response, generally, I think I might be okay to try and rehearse for the ensembles since it will only be a few weeks and it will be all new material anyway, but I might have to delay or drop my private lessons. They are actually through my college and for credit, so I'm not sure if my instructor has the leeway to allow for a month off due to institutional rules about attendance. I will get more info from her so I can plan accordingly! Thanks again!

We do? Why am I not making the connection?? lol You'll have to drop me a PM and give me the 411.

I was in the hospital longer because I had a low-grade fever and more pain than usual. I think they wanted to keep me until my fever broke. I don't think that really changed the outcome for me vocally at all, though.

I think you're probably right in your assessment as far as ensemble vs. private lessons. If you're paying for the credits, you may want to hold off until you're fully healed, or at least have a conversation with your teacher first and let her know your concerns and what possible complications may arise. You'll have more leeway in an ensemble. Best of luck!