var connect = function(){
  return new q(function(resolve, reject) {
    var sqlCon = mysql.createConnection(connectionObject);
    sqlCon.connect(function(err) {
      if(err && err.fatal && err.code == "PROTOCOL_CONNECTION_LOST"){
        return reject(err);
      }
      return resolve(sqlCon);
    });
  });
};

var connectRecursive = function(){
  var errorCount = 0;
  return connect().catch(function(err) {
    if (errorCount < 3) {
      errorCount++
    } else {
      throw new Error('You failed too many times');
    }
    return connect();
  });
};

connectRecursive().then(function(connection) {
  // do something with connection
}).catch(function(err) {

});