On the morning of Feb 1st, 2007 I woke up to discover I had 2 tongues. The word “freakish” was invented for just this occasion. My uvula, the little flappy thing that dangles at the back of a person’s throat, had grown to freakish size.
The bugs, which had been partying in my tonsils (infection) on either side of my throat the preceding night, decided to meet in the middle, at my beloved uvula, for one big blowout super-party. I was in deep sleep and unbeknown to me the raging infection/party caused my uvula to swell and grow and swell and grow. When I awoke and sat up this behemoth of a uvula, which had been laying dormant covertly on the back of my nasal passage disguised as standard run-of-the-mill phlegm, made its ugly presence known.
Reflexively, I swallowed it. It was so elongated that it stretched down into my throat, below my gag reflex. In trying to swallow, my throat was able to catch a healthy grip and give an impressive, albeit painful, tug because it was so far down. Half lucid and not fully prepared to start swallowing parts of my anatomy so early in the morning, I bolted to the sink. After gasping for air and a few vomitous heaves… I managed to cough it up into my mouth. To which my mouth reflexes said, “More phlegm? Swallow!” *Gulp*. I went back and forth in this cycle of cough! swallow! cough! swallow! a few times while I tried to collect my wits. Eventually I managed to control the mouth reflex by treating my uvula like a giant wad of gum, holding it between my tongue and bottom teeth.
At this point it occurred to me that I am now unable to swallow, eat, drink, articulate words, or take medication. I had to concentrate just to keep it up out of my throat at all times. The last thought scared me because I knew I had a date with a fever in about an hour. I had been rotating in and out at regular intervals all week and only medication had been able to break it. But now I couldn’t take medicine.
I ran to the upstairs balcony and yelled down to my wife, “Sumthids wahn! Sumthids Wahn! Cah suhb-wuhb thoo wath Thydney” (Something’s wrong! Something’s wrong! Call someone to watch Sydney). My sister was just the suhb-wuhb we were looking for. She arrived in what seemed like minutes, and Dewdette rushed me to the ER. All the while I focused on keeping my wad of “gum” tucked under my tongue and concentrated on each breath, reminding my body not to swallow because a uvula, it turns out, is attached to every moving part in your throat responsible for ingestion.
I now hold the record for largest uvula admitted into North Fulton Medical Center. Go me. The nurse says, “You don’t mind if I show the other nurses, do you?” to which I reply, “Not at all, I’m a social butterfly and love the attention.” But of course it comes out, “Nob ab ahh, Ib ah thoboo buhwuhfwuh an wub the athenthuhn.” Drool, drool, grin. Realizing my impairment, I nodded my head no-problem style and gave a smile. She exited and quickly returned with a spectator.
It’s a lot less dramatic after the oglings. The doc arrived and, after a quick exam, joked about how I reminded him of that guy from Wayne’s World. Pardon me if I don’t laugh at your jokes, bro, my uvula is the size of Texas. They hooked me up to an IV, gave me a strong antibiotic, and also a steroid to reduce the swelling. A little over an hour later and it had shrunk enough so that it was above my gag reflex (yay). That meant I could choose to flop it in my throat or keep it on my tongue. It was still freakishly long, but not life-threatening. I could eat watery foods, breath, drink, breath, take liquid medicine, cough, clear my throat, breath, interject witticisms, and yes, breath. You know, the good stuff you take for granted most days.
For you twisted folks, I have included my freakshow pictures below. Remember, these are the post-ER, he-is-well-enough-to-go-home-now, road-to-recovery pictures. I was in no frame of mind to take pictures when my life was seemingly in peril. So as ugly as these are… it was much, much worse before I went to the ER.
I don’t have any words of wisdom or penetrating questions for you this post. It’s more along the lines of “This sucked but I lived and now it’s funny. Gawk at my gross pictures.”
I wish you had seesmic commenting on… because my reaction would have better described my feelings than just typing out this bland response…
gross.
reading this post was like driving by a car wreck…i wanted to look away, but the flashing lights (fantastic writing) kept reeling me in!
Oh my, and pictures too!
D:
It’s always a relief when someone with obvious expeitsre answers. Thanks!
LOL Thanks Sue!
John, I can’t do the Seesmic deal on my blog. I’m involved in other sites that attract a lot of attention from griefers on a routine basis. It wouldn’t be pretty.
Matt, but of course!
I just wish you and dewdette had the foresight to recognize the importance of this moment and taken photos in the beginning!
Me too!
It was a lot scarier than I made it sound here. It kept slipping back down into my throat and causing me to gag, gasp, and sputter. I was drooling all over the place because I literally could not swallow without accidentally ingesting my uvula.
But yeah, in hindsight pics would have rocked.
(I got here via don miller’s blog)
I have had this happen before. It is very freakish and scary. And please forgive me but I laughed out loud till I cried as you described you situation in the first few paragraphs.
Glad eveythings o.k. now. What was the cause? The bug party? Did the ER folks get more specific?
@Wendy:
Don rocks. Yeah they said it was just an infection. It appears that once it happens the first time it is likely to occur again and it has. I had to go to a clinic about 6 months later for the same thing. I caught it earlier so it wasn’t as severe. Both times I had a cold with sore throat, so that is the first clue I need to be mindful.
YO, switch the side that the comments are on and the side that the info is on. This way I won’t submit my own rant before realizing there are required fields that I never noticed.
Beam me up scottie.
Freakish indeed! I found your blog though Human3rror's blog. Good read!
I have the best friends!!!
Me and my freakish uvula. Your pictures most helpful. Reasures me that I'm not a freak after all. My question is ( Why the consultant didn't trim your uvula further back to leave only half an inch long? why still leave it so long?) I've had a long uvula for over 3 years. Please let me know if your uvula has got smaller since pictures were displayed? Are you on any medication? thanks again.
My uvula shrunk back to its normal size, but I have friends, who had similar experiences, tell me that their uvulas are now longer than before.
I am not on medication. Within a few days… all was normal.
If your uvula isn't causing you any physical discomfort… I say leave it alone. Love you for you.
Thanks for stopping in!
peace | dewde
Hi Dewde!
Your quick reply most appreciated.
My symptoms are very dry and tender throat. Always trying to clear mucus from back of throat owing to length of uvula. No pain when eating or swallowing. Breathing normal.
what is a normal length for a uvula? and how long is your uvula as you now say that it has returned to normal?
I gargle with salt water drink plenty water and sip Manuka honey.
Thanks again for your moat appreciated comments.
Warm regards
jim
Haha, yeah, I know your EXACT feeling, man. I've been having a problem with my uvula for the last three years or so. Usually it will only infame to about 3/5 the size of what yours did with this episode. I've had the swelling get to the same size as yours two times, though. It's definitely the pits. Once, I almost bit down on it when I was eating! Similar to you, when I went to the ER the person who checked me out first asked if he could call some other people over to take a look at it lol.
Just like some others you have talked to, my uvula is no longer the normal size. My uvula is about 2-3 times the length of a normal person's. It is skinny though, most of the time. About four times a year it will inflame. My uvula probably has a higher chance to inflame when I'm sick, but it has inflamed out of the blue before as well.
Hi David,
Good to read that I am not the only one who has had a long uvula for over 3 years.My doctor said that he hasn;t seen anyone with a uvula as long as mine,one inch longer than normal. It is thick and inflamed yet he feels that I should live with it and not go to hospital to have it cut back to normal size. He says that after the operation one can suffer a number of side effects???. Any help on any medication to help the inflamation? Has anything changed since your last message? Any comments from anyone would be much appreciated.
Thanks again folk.
jim
Hi big uvula guys and gals,
How about replying to the previous message ?????
Many members of the uvula club are waiting for some comments.
Lets keep this site up and running if not it will come to an end thus preventing many folks with the answers they are waiting for, Come on lets read more about this dangling uvula.
What about a reply from Dewde?????
Keep swallowing. Big JJ
Hey Jim:
Today my uvula is normal. It has been inflamed a few times since the incident, but never as bad as it was that day. To hear that that your uvula is 1 inch longer than normal, for over 3 years, is a bit startling. I would seek out physician that specializes in this sort of thing and seek counsel.
As a side note, I know of people who have had their uvula removed (laser) to reduce snoring. So my guess is, you should be able to have yours treated with surgery. Something for you to think about.
peace | dewde
Hi there dewde.
Real good to touch base with you again. Appreciate your comments.
How long were you in hospital?
Any side effects after surgery?
Was laser used during this operation?
How long did discomfort last?
In an earlier comment of 26 weeks ago you mentioned that some of your friends had a similar problem but their uvula was now longer than before.Did this happen after surgery to shorten it ??
Great to see this site back in action.
Old friend Jim.
I did not get mine removed. My dad go this removed for snoring. I will ask him how long the recovery was, etc.
Hi Dewde,
Apologise for my lack of understanding of the word ER mentioned at the time you were in hospital. I thought that this meant that you had gone through surgery to have uvala shortened.
Really appreciate all your help and for contacting your Dad to get some more details.
Great site for all uvala members. I will spread the word to other folk.
jim
Hello Jim,
Have been following your comments.Will be interesting to read what dewde has to say on your throat problem??
Keep strong.
Trapeze
Hi all my uvala buddies,
I'm also big in all the wrong places. By signing in I.m now a member of this group of nasty long uvala sufferers.
Jim hasa raised some interesting points which we are waiting holding our uvala for Dewde to respond to????
In this area Big is not always best………….
Hi Dewde
Any further comments to add to your message received one week ago???
Keep well
Old friend jim
Oh my god did I laugh my ass off to this!!!
I am have it happening to me but not as bad.
Thanks for the laugh!
kill it with fire?
OMG sorry but this was so funny, I almost pee’d my pants. U made my day!
No apology necessary! Thx for dropping a comment.
this is so strange my husband woke up this morning with the same thing i took him to the dr they are refering him to the ent to see about removing it we would not be so conserned except his brother died about 5 yrs ago from the same thing so be careful…and yeah the oics are weird looking good luck
hope everything turned out just fine?
Please bring us up to date with latest info.
many thanks
OMG I thought I was the only one who had issues like this. My father had his uvula removed when he was young..for basically the same reason you’re having trouble with yours. Now I’m having trouble with mine, but looking at your giant uvula, I don’t feel so bad. Nature can play some dirty tricks, sometimes, and having this kind of problem is one example of her meanness.
Did you ever have it removed/shortened/repaired?
Hi Jeanne! Yes… mother nature is one tricky… er… mother.
I never had any reparative surgery or anything like that and, in fact, it has been about 2 years since I’ve had a “flare up.” I honestly think it has repaired itself because I’ve had similar sicknesses and I’ve woken up in a panic many times realizing that I had slept hard and my uvula was glued to the back of my throat, once again, just like that night.
Here’s hoping!
Hey man. mine didnt get as long as yours did. But afterward you said you can rest in on your tounge. Mines at that length and it still is bothering me. How long does that last for and any other home remedies i could use to cut the time? I got an oral presentation tonight
Billy:
The first time it happened, it took a week or two to rebound. But over time, as it happened again and again, I rebounded quicker. Now I know if it happens, it will rebound in ~24 hours.
I never found a good home remedy. Good luck with your presentation!
Chris
Few points i liked about uvula has mentined there.. really appriciating you for this article.. will come again to read it again..
I have had this problem before and it is really weird. The biggest problem I have found is when I party the night before and get smashed. Then when I sleep I lay on my back with my mouth wide open. Then to wake up and the thing is so huge I can move it back and forth in my mouth to the point I could bite it. Then by the end of the day with alot of ice water it will go back to normal. Lately though the thing is larger than normal to the point it feels like there is something in my throat, not to the point of what its been but rather annoying. I am going to go to the doctor for a yearly physical and will update what they say. Any other help on here would be grateful.