Uvula

[giantred]

I noticed my uvula is very large and sits over my tongue when i open my mouth. could this be a big factor? I think I hear it rattling and I wake up from it because I choke from it, not sure. Maybe that's blocking things and causing problems. Does that make sense or am I imaging things?

[DavidCarolina]

Its a good question. Im trying to schedule an appointment with this doctor in charlotte, but perhaps
he can recommend someone in your area if you dont live on the east coast

http://www.charlotteoralsurgery.com/ora ... moore.html

[guest guest]

Big Red, A big uvula makes some difference but probably not enough to avoid OSA. I had a LAUP precedure done to reduce the uvula, remove tonsils and excess throat tissue. It helped some, but not enough. Love my cpap.

[pitrow]

pre-cpap, my uvula used to get inflamed and swollen a lot. To the point that I could feel it touching my tongue and it would gag me sometimes. Anyway, when it would get like that it would definitely cause breathing issues for me. Not so much on the inhale, but when I'd exhale through my nose, it was big enough that it would cover or partially block the opening to the nasal cavity and I couldn't breath out. This happened mostly if I was in that semi-sleep-but-still-somewhat-conscious stage just before you fall asleep. It was like I would start to exhale, and suddenly my nose just plugged up. My doc said the swollen uvula was most likely caused by acid reflux irritating it during the night. Acid and OSA are now under control, and I haven't had an issue with my uvula in over two years now.

So anyway, to answer your question: yes, a large uvula can cause breathing problems and obstuctions. There may be other issues going on too though and you should get checked out.

[scrapper]

A large uvula would also be an indication that cpap is necessary to keep an open airway during sleep.

[roster]

Its a good question. Im trying to schedule an appointment with this doctor in charlotte, but perhaps
he can recommend someone in your area if you dont live on the east coast

http://www.charlotteoralsurgery.com/ora ... moore.html

What is your objective in visiting Kent Moore?

[DreamDiver]

Its a good question. Im trying to schedule an appointment with this doctor in charlotte, but perhaps
he can recommend someone in your area if you dont live on the east coast

http://www.charlotteoralsurgery.com/ora ... moore.html

What is your objective in visiting Kent Moore?

If I'm not mistaken, giantred isn't using his machine and is looking for some way other than using CPAP to gain control over things.

And DavidCarolina wants to see if uvular surgery will make his apneas go away.
David, you might want to talk with Thomas F. on this board. He's had uvular surgery. (You could try PMing him.)

[Slartybartfast]

pre-cpap, my uvula used to get inflamed and swollen a lot. [snip] So anyway, to answer your question: yes, a large uvula can cause breathing problems and obstuctions. There may be other issues going on too though and you should get checked out.

That's the problem with being a big guy.

It's just like all the gals say:

Big hands . . .
Big feet . . .
Big uvula.

[miketech]

Funny, but twice when I went to see my ENT, he looked in my mouth and said I have a really big uvula. I imagined that it might cure me if I had it removed, but there have been plenty of people that have had surgery that did not help. If only doctors could do a CT scan that could measure the nasal and throat passages to determine the size of the openings, and then use surgery where the passages need to be opened more.

[napmaster]

I had the UPPP surgery and would not recommend it. It is incredibly painful. It causes other problems. If I could undo it, I would in a heartbeat. Do you like drinking from a water fountain? After the surgery you will be able to. But, water will run out your nose. No kidding. Do you want to know what mouth breathing is like? If you get the surgery, you will find out. We all want to find that magic bullet to fix it. However, this is not one of those. DON'T do it.

[BrianR4743]

I'll second that. Never experienced anything more painful & disappointing. Learned to love my CPAP..... miss my uvula.

[codinqueen]

yes, I had my uvula and part of my soft palate, tonsils, adenoids, and portions of nasal sinuses removed in the 90's, because I couldn't tolerate CPAP back then. Let's face it, the machines and masks were in the Dark Ages that long ago. The surgery recovery was incredibly painful, kept me out of work for 3 weeks, and left me often having liquids I am trying to drink to go up my nose or choke me. I can no longer eat popcorn...it chokes me also. It helped my OSA and snoring, but only for about 6 months. I am now without a lot of oral tissue I think i would like to have back. All that pain, and expense for 6 months was not worth it. DON'T DO IT!!!!!!!!

[desforsleep]

my uvula has been enlarged with sinus infections. If you have red or raw throat or tonsilles, you might need to consider that. I have had mine swollen so large it choked me too, but with proper meds for my sinuses..infections or irratations it would go back down. I have read all the thread and now know possibly it was also due to reflux.. LOL My whole body was screaming OSA... just no one heard it till I found Dr. Pardin a cardiologist I went to out of desperation as I felt I was going to be disabled soon.

Good Luck!

[roster]

yes, I had my uvula and part of my soft palate, tonsils, adenoids, and portions of nasal sinuses removed

That's the problem with being a big guy.

It's just like all the gals say:

Big hands . . .
Big feet . . .
Big uvula.

When this type of discussion is going on it makes me awfully uncomfortable to see you standing there smiling and holding that ax. Could you lay that ax well off to the side out of view?

[gpap]

Can't help you since mine was removed quite some time ago when my deviated septum was corrected. Just have a little hamster tail up there now....