# My uvula, how you've grown **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 24, 2017, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-uvula-how-youve-grown/792031 "2017-07-24T14:15:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2017, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-uvula-how-youve-grown/792031/1 "2017-07-24T14:15:07Z")
You’re not my doctor, I’ve been to the clinic, etc. About five weeks ago, I got a cold. Three weeks in I still had a clumpy sore throat and cough, so I went to the clinic and they confirmed it wasn’t strep and I should just treat it with OTC meds, fluids, rest, etc. As these things do, it pretty much cleared up right after the clinic visit. :smack: Great! Two weeks later (this Saturday) I woke up with a sore throat, and swollen and distended uvula (as in, it lies on my tongue it’s so long). Now, months ago my father had had uvulitis and the ER\* gave him antibiotics, so I thought if I will need them, I should get them asap. So I head back to the clinic. Another strep test, negative, and he doesn’t see a need for antibiotics. Cool, I don’t mind avoiding them anyway. He recommends plenty of fluids, ibuprofin for the pain and swelling, and maybe Benadryl in case it’s allergy-related. It’s the third day and it’s just as swollen and distended. Any tips, and how long did yours take to settle down?? I know it’s just an annoyance and it will go away (won’t it??) but it’s driving me nuts. TL, DR: If you have had a swollen distended uvula, did anything help to return it to its normal size? How long did it take? \*I know, I know, but it was a weekend, he was panicky, and we didn’t know about the urgent care clinics available. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2017, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-uvula-how-youve-grown/792031/2 "2017-07-24T14:59:44Z")
I got a uvula, you’ve got a uvula, all God’s children got a uvula. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2017, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-uvula-how-youve-grown/792031/3 "2017-07-24T15:09:04Z")
Don’t let Tweety Bird use it as a punching bag > **[Apparently you CAN choke on your own uvula](http://herbertzohl.blogspot.com/2009/12/apparently-you-can-choke-on-your-own.html#!/2009/12/apparently-you-can-choke-on-your-own.html)** > > Well, this has been an interesting week from start to finish. And nothing tops it off like a nice allergic reaction. For those of you who ar... [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/RLsulpowS7k/maxresdefault.jpg "Tweety vs. Uvula") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLsulpowS7k) ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2017, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-uvula-how-youve-grown/792031/4 "2017-07-24T15:15:26Z")
I had uvuloplasty to get rid of mine for good. It worked fine but I wouldn’t recommend it unless you really need it. It is pretty serious surgery with a chance of severe complications and the recovery time is long. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2017, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-uvula-how-youve-grown/792031/5 "2017-07-24T15:57:26Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > I had uvuloplasty to get rid of mine for good. It worked fine but I wouldn’t recommend it unless you really need it. It is pretty serious surgery with a chance of severe complications and the recovery time is long. I’m toying with the idea of snipping it off myself and making them sew it up. (not really but GAAAHHH this is annoying) ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2017, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-uvula-how-youve-grown/792031/6 "2017-07-24T19:08:59Z")
So I didn’t know this was a thing that could even happen. Fascinating. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2017, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-uvula-how-youve-grown/792031/7 "2017-07-24T19:44:03Z")
A uvula piercing is one of the more extreme piercings you can undertake. It’s often left in just long enough to get some pics (pics or it didn’t happen), then removed. ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2017, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-uvula-how-youve-grown/792031/8 "2017-07-24T19:53:26Z")
I’ve had it happen but it’s always cleared up in a day or so. Super annoying! ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2017, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-uvula-how-youve-grown/792031/9 "2017-07-24T20:35:19Z")
> [@SmellMyWort](#): > > I’ve had it happen but it’s always cleared up in a day or so. Super annoying! Thanks for the reassurance! I’m trying to be patient but weeks of coughing and now this is wearing on me. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2017, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-uvula-how-youve-grown/792031/10 "2017-07-25T13:31:38Z")
I’m bumping this once in case there is other advice out there. Day four. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2017, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-uvula-how-youve-grown/792031/11 "2017-07-25T14:22:39Z")
Are you gargling? ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2017, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-uvula-how-youve-grown/792031/12 "2017-07-25T14:32:27Z")
Is there any chance you may have a sinus draining down your throat? This can persist for a long time and cause irritation. Maybe claridan or some over the counter sinus medicine. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2017, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-uvula-how-youve-grown/792031/13 "2017-07-25T16:36:25Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Are you gargling? I have been on and off; it doesn’t seem to make a difference but I guess I could do it more often. The one doc did mention Claritin; I’ve been taking Benadryl but I can switch to the loratadine. Thanks!! ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2017, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-uvula-how-youve-grown/792031/14 "2017-07-25T19:14:04Z")
[Obligatory SNL link](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRoGEWj6ka4). Unfortunately I could only find audio, not video. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2017, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-uvula-how-youve-grown/792031/15 "2017-07-25T20:30:32Z")
Can you talk like this? It sounds awful. I hope you get some relief soon. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2017, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-uvula-how-youve-grown/792031/16 "2017-07-25T21:46:43Z")
Thanks! I can talk if I pay attention and but it does sound slightly “globby”. 😛 It’s mostly the frustration of feeling like there is something in the back of my throat that I should swallow or expel, but it’s connected!!!