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Sleep Apnea (Expert Forum)
Question regarding uvulectomy
Answered by
Steven Y Park, MD - sleep-breathing disorders
Private Practice
New York - NY
Questions in the Sleep Breathing Disorders Forum are being answered by Dr. Steven Y. Park.
Question regarding uvulectomy
by jamz34, Aug 03, 2009 12:21PM
Hello Dr,
I have been having a swelling of the uvula over the past few years. Occasional, when it hits bad its in the middle of the night. Though this year, it almost always feels a little un-normal, like it may swell. I have had two alergy (allergy) tests and nothing shows. I dont drink or smoke. I do not beleive, nor does my wife say that i snore at night. I have seen 3 ENT's in the Kansas area and all say everything looks normal, but if it bothers me that much, removal all or part of the uvula.
Question is, and i know everyone is different, but if i remove all or part of it, other than the pain in the recovery do most patients recover and move on just fine with limited irritaion or side effects? I have made the mistake of getting online and of course, people only post bad things! Unfortunately the successful patient recovery stories dont make it online. So i am mostly tainted by bad online postings. All three ENT's have basically said that other than the recovery of 2 weeks its it no big deal.
Any thoughts from your professional standpoint would be appreciated.
Thank you,
Jim
I have been having a swelling of the uvula over the past few years. Occasional, when it hits bad its in the middle of the night. Though this year, it almost always feels a little un-normal, like it may swell. I have had two alergy (allergy) tests and nothing shows. I dont drink or smoke. I do not beleive, nor does my wife say that i snore at night. I have seen 3 ENT's in the Kansas area and all say everything looks normal, but if it bothers me that much, removal all or part of the uvula.
Question is, and i know everyone is different, but if i remove all or part of it, other than the pain in the recovery do most patients recover and move on just fine with limited irritaion or side effects? I have made the mistake of getting online and of course, people only post bad things! Unfortunately the successful patient recovery stories dont make it online. So i am mostly tainted by bad online postings. All three ENT's have basically said that other than the recovery of 2 weeks its it no big deal.
Any thoughts from your professional standpoint would be appreciated.
Thank you,
Jim
Doctor's Answer
by Steven Y Park, MD, Aug 03, 2009 09:47PM
, Aug 03, 2009 09:47PM
When it's swollen, can you or your doctor see that it's big? This is a relatively common condition. If it causes you too much discomfort, then removing some or most of it is a simple option. You'll have a very sore throat for about a week. The most important issue to to make sure that it's actually your uvula and not something else that's irritated. Good luck.
