Allergic to reeds

[TerraNova]

Hi everyone,

It didn't take me long to discover that I was allergic to reeds - swollen & itchy bottom lip with bright red blemishes...

I tried plastic coated reeds for a couple of years, but they sound really bad to me... So I have 'put up with it' ever since.

I was wondering if this was a common thing amounst reed players? Does anyone else on the forum have this same problem?

And if so, what do you do about it??? Just ignore it? Or is there something I could do about it??! I have increased my practice regime just recently and it is making a huge impact on my lip... HELP! :x

[Helen]

Talk to your doctor about being tested for allergies. In the meantime, try using a synthetic reed like a Fibracell or Legere or something along those lines. If your lip improves, it tells you that you did remove the allergin. It might not be the cane that you're allergic to, it could be a chemical or other substance they use in the growing or the production process.

Allergies are potentially dangerous things, and can become more severe over time, so it really is important to talk to your doctor.

Going in the other direction: One of my students has allergies to one of the materials in Fibracell reeds. He switched back to cane.

[Stencilman]

One of my students has allergies to one of the materials in Fibracell reeds. He switched back to cane.
A number of people have reported trouble with Fibracells causing lip irritation. My lips would bleed. I started smoothing the top of the reed with 2000 grit sandpaper and all the trouble went away.

[Helen]

For my student, it went beyond lip irritation. At first he had no problems using them, but over a period of months, he started developing soreness, numbness, and tingling which progressed over time. The way he was going, I was worried about anaphylaxis. The last time he used one, he started to complain that he was developing throat irritation. He never told me that he was having any problems at all until that time. I told him to put it away, and never use one again.

[TerraNova]

Right, well my issues aren't THAT bad!!!!!!!!.... Yet....... :oops:

I used to play on Ricos (about 6 years ago), and then changed to Vandoren, and things improved - No irritation at all... But yeah, things have just started recently again now that I'm playing pretty much every day... Ah well..

Thanks for your advice guys - to the doctor I go!! :P

[kcp]

I have noticed that the pores of some reeds are more rough than some other brands. I remember that I used to have a similar problem as TerraNova describes with Rico Royal back when I was using them years ago. It all went away when I switched reeds... Maybe that's all it is.

[captorquewrench]

have you considered it might not be the cane that's irritating you but the lacquer or whatever they put on?

I've had a lot of success with some reeds custom cut from raw cane.

or like the others stated, maybe try a synthetic.

[Phat Pat]

ask your doctor, see if anything can be done.

try out a bunch of synthetics, see if you like any of them

smooth out the top of the reed, or try some Vandorens, they tend to feel pretty smooth, if this is the problem just sand your reeds lightly like stencilman said. this would happen to me if I hadnt shaved perfecly on my lower lip when using a lot of lip, so I started shaving against the grain there.

just a few ideas

[Mike Ruhl]

It could be a reaction to the pesticides used by those brands. Try Zonda reeds - they're pesticide-free.

[Torachan]

Terranova - Been a while since your last post. What was the outcome?

Are you still having problems with alergic reaction to the reeds?

What did your doctor say?

For what it's worth .. ignoring the problem will not make it go away. If anything it could get worse.

Allergies are very serious. People die from them all the time. I was told about a lady whom was .. wait for it... alergic to lettuce. When she went out for dinner she told the waiter she was alergic to lettuce. Their solution was to pick the lettuce out of the salad in the kitchen before taking it out to her. The result? A trip via ambulance to the emergency department.

So please don't ignore it

Hope all works/worked out

[sax_appeal]

I would treat an allergic reaction from a reed very seriously. I would also avoid putting something I'm allergic to in my mouth.

[Vortex]

Allergies to reeds go beyond the usual chapped lips. If you're allergic, don't use cane. Some alternatives:

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rico Plasticovers - the reed is coated in plastic so you should be fine, plus it feels like real cane because it is. A darn good reed too, and it lasts a long time.

Fibracell - Some love them, some hate them, it's about personal preference. I use them as practice reeds

Legere - Great for classical, especially on clarinet. I have no experience with them on sax.

Bari - Good, but typically considered inferior to fibracells. Again, personal preference.

Codera Toptone - Expensive as sin, but supposedly quite good. I'm too cheap to spend $25 or more on a single reed that I may or may not like.

[Flatted 5th]

I've had a persistant cough all summer long and I'm thinking it's from the Fibracell reeds I use. I don't cough when I use cane. And I'm not a smoker.