Glutened Through Instruments?

[LuvMoosic4life]

I dunno if anyone else in here plays an instrument, but I am a musician and I play gigs out with other people, in bars and places where people eat and drink. Before finding out I was Gluten intolerant, I would drink beer while i played gigs...sometimes I would eat stuff.....

I play clarinet, and for those of you who dont know, it requires a wooden reed that goes on the mouth piece, I have to suck on the reed to get it wet before playing. Obviously I replaced all of my reeds since going gluten-free, but it never crossed my mind about cleaning the mouthpiece, or the intrument, and the one thing I feel real stupid for not considering....the reed case. ( its a plastic container in which the reeds slide into for storage and then a cap is placed over it.) I havent had a noticable reaction from playing clarinet, but I was just wondering if anyone else in here plays an instrument and has thought of this? I mean, I used to drink beer, and then put the reeds in my mouth, then they went in the reed case when I was done playing....could gluten really be left in the reed case just from this?

Also, I had a gig tonight. The guy I play with plays guitar. He was eating french fries and a sandwich and then picked up the guitar right afterwards to play. A little later he handed me the guitar to play and all I'm thinking is there is gluten all over it-lol. I know I shouldn't worry because I can just wash my hands good before they come near my mouth, but I cant just get up in a middle of a gig to wash my hands---and after playing guitar I have to touch my clarinet and sometimes the reed to put it in my mouth if it has gotten dry......AHH! Maybe I'm just taking this too far. I feel fine right now so I'm hoping I dont get a reaction through playing gigs!

[home-based-mom]

I dunno if anyone else in here plays an instrument, but I am a musician and I play gigs out with other people, in bars and places where people eat and drink. Before finding out I was Gluten intolerant, I would drink beer while i played gigs...sometimes I would eat stuff.....

I play clarinet, and for those of you who dont know, it requires a wooden reed that goes on the mouth piece, I have to suck on the reed to get it wet before playing. Obviously I replaced all of my reeds since going gluten-free, but it never crossed my mind about cleaning the mouthpiece, or the intrument, and the one thing I feel real stupid for not considering....the reed case. ( its a plastic container in which the reeds slide into for storage and then a cap is placed over it.) I havent had a noticable reaction from playing clarinet, but I was just wondering if anyone else in here plays an instrument and has thought of this? I mean, I used to drink beer, and then put the reeds in my mouth, then they went in the reed case when I was done playing....could gluten really be left in the reed case just from this?

Also, I had a gig tonight. The guy I play with plays guitar. He was eating french fries and a sandwich and then picked up the guitar right afterwards to play. A little later he handed me the guitar to play and all I'm thinking is there is gluten all over it-lol. I know I shouldn't worry because I can just wash my hands good before they come near my mouth, but I cant just get up in a middle of a gig to wash my hands---and after playing guitar I have to touch my clarinet and sometimes the reed to put it in my mouth if it has gotten dry......AHH! Maybe I'm just taking this too far. I feel fine right now so I'm hoping I dont get a reaction through playing gigs!

For whatever it's worth, I don't think you are taking this too far. Remember the dog poop analogy. If gluten were dog poop, would you still touch what it had touched?

How well do you know this guy? Does he have to eat in the middle of a set? Is he aware of the gluten thing?

I hope you continue to feel fine! I know you have posted elsewhere that issues keep happening - maybe things like this are why?

Don't feel bad about not thinking of these things earlier. It's part of the learning curve.

[aikiducky]

I play recorder, and I have gotten more careful about trying other people's recorders for sure. But I don't think the risk from the things you describe is all that big really, if you've replaced the old reeds. If a reed had some beer residue on it, I still don't think a lot of it would have gotten into the case, or from the case o9nto a new reed.

As for playing the gluteny guitar... I think wiping your hands would probably be all right, maybe you could have a couple paper towels or wet wipes handy for if that happens again?

Pauliina

[LuvMoosic4life]

I play recorder, and I have gotten more careful about trying other people's recorders for sure. But I don't think the risk from the things you describe is all that big really, if you've replaced the old reeds. If a reed had some beer residue on it, I still don't think a lot of it would have gotten into the case, or from the case o9nto a new reed.

As for playing the gluteny guitar... I think wiping your hands would probably be all right, maybe you could have a couple paper towels or wet wipes handy for if that happens again?

Pauliina

thanks, thats what i was thinking too. beer has a lower gluten content in it too, although I'm not so sure about the crappy killians they were giving us for free at the gig-lol

I think I'm going to buy some wet wipes, or whatever they call them. I'll look like a germ freak, but oh well, better that getting a migrane.

[Dana1000]

Hi,

I'm a longtime saxophone player and was diagnosed 4 yrs ago. I have gotten a new mouthpiece and reeds but continue to play my horn that is from the 30's. It was cleaned by the repair sop but I am sensitive to trace amounts of gluten and I'm worried that gluten from the horn could get to me. Are there any sensitive woodwind players out there that play used instruments with no problems? I really want to keep playing this horn...

Thanks,

Dana