Severe Swollen Tongue - Am I the only one?

I have recently been diagnosed with Hypothyroidism and Sleep Apnea. For the past few months my tongue has swollen intensely. It's gotten so bad that my tongue has been rubbing on my teeth causing calluses on the sides. It's become unbearable and I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced this. I really hope it's from the sever snoring and when I start to use my CPAP machine it will help!

Am I the only one?

clinty76 wrote:I have recently been diagnosed with Hypothyroidism and Sleep Apnea. For the past few months my tongue has swollen intensely. It's gotten so bad that my tongue has been rubbing on my teeth causing calluses on the sides. It's become unbearable and I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced this. I really hope it's from the sever snoring and when I start to use my CPAP machine it will help!

Am I the only one?

First, before I tell you what I've experienced, I highly suggest you go see a doc and make sure you aren't having an allergic reaction. (Called 'strawberry tongue')
If you're at least fairly sure you aren't having an allergic reaction (and hopefully a doctor has verified this) - you may be chewing on your tongue at night when you are stressed from the apnea.

I've experienced both. Both are painful, one is dangerous. . . the other will begin to back off as your body begins to adjust to the CPAP and have less and hopefully less events of apnea.

If I remember right, your apnea score was way high? You may need to wear a mouth guard for a bit to keep yourself from chewing your tongue. But please, make sure you'e not having an allergic reaction, first and foremost.

Hi,

I don't recall anyone posting about this type of issue over the past few years. Have you talked with your doctor about this issue? Also talk to your dentist to rule out your teeth or jaw moving around.

I have crowding issues with my teeth due to having a little smaller than normal jaw. My tongue just misses my teeth. However, every once in a while, my tongue will get in the way and I will bite it really badly, especially when eating pizza. The result is quite painful.

-john-

I used to grind my teeth at night and wore an antibruxism nightguard for years. But after years on CPAP (13), I have trained my tongue to push against the roof of my mouth so air doesn't come from nose down into my mouth. So I quit wearing my nightguard.

But occasionally, I have chomped down on my tongue during my sleep, waking up with blood in my mouth and all over my pillow. My dentist says I have a "Pitbull bite". I'm more likely to bite my tongue while asleep if I have irritated my tongue with acidic foods (strawberries, oranges, pineapple, banana, tomato) during the day. I also tend to rub the sides of my tongue against my back molars (both asleep and awake) so I understand what you mean when you say a "callous" on your tongue.

I have an odd condition called "geographic tongue". Doctors/Dentists don't know what it means or what causes it, but I wake up in the morning with large parts of my tongue missing papilla. Patches of my tongue are smooth and patches are normal. It is not painful and usually disappears in a day or two to mysteriously reappear in a few weeks.

I remember reading a discussion on here probably 5 years ago about enlarged tongues and hypothyroidism. Seems an enlarged tongue is considered a symptom, if I remember correctly. There are other conditions that an enlarged tongue is symptomatic of, so even someone with hypothyroidism could have something else going on. My experience was that my tongue became enlarged before I started CPAP. Was always biting it and it had indentations or teeth marks from being crammed against my teeth when my mouth was closed. My thyroid tests were normal. Never knew why it happened - was like that probably at least a year. My memory is foggy on it - those were my zombie days. At some point within the first year I was on CPAP my tongue returned to its normal size, and been ok for the last 5 years.

I have done numerous tests with my Doctor and even a biopsy of the tongue! He has ruled out an allergic reaction and he thinks it's related to the Hypothyroidism and or Sleep Apnea. I believe I may be doing what quitemorning said and biting/chewing my tongue while I'm sleeping! It always seems to be worse in the morning, but as the day goes on it seems to get more painful.

I want to thank everyone for all the support they've given me over the few days I've been here! I've never felt more welcome in a forum! Lately, I've felt lost and that there's nothing I can do to feel better or healthy again!! Deep in my heart I know that starting with the CPAP machine tomorrow is the first step towards a long journey to get better! All of my issues are tied together in this giant knot: Sleep Apnea, Hypothyroidism, over weight, swollen tongue, etc...! I'm moving in the right direction, I just need to keep it up step by step and know deep in my heart that I'm working my way to a better and healthier self!

clinty76 wrote:I have done numerous tests with my Doctor and even a biopsy of the tongue! He has ruled out an allergic reaction and he thinks it's related to the Hypothyroidism and or Sleep Apnea. I believe I may be doing what quitemorning said and biting/chewing my tongue while I'm sleeping! It always seems to be worse in the morning, but as the day goes on it seems to get more painful.

I want to thank everyone for all the support they've given me over the few days I've been here! I've never felt more welcome in a forum! Lately, I've felt lost and that there's nothing I can do to feel better or healthy again!! Deep in my heart I know that starting with the CPAP machine tomorrow is the first step towards a long journey to get better! All of my issues are tied together in this giant knot: Sleep Apnea, Hypothyroidism, over weight, swollen tongue, etc...! I'm moving in the right direction, I just need to keep it up step by step and know deep in my heart that I'm working my way to a better and healthier self!

My sister has hypothyroidism and she had troubles with swelling or edema in her throat and tongue, I believe. Caused some severe sleep disturbances. She was diagnosed with apnea, did nothing as far as treatment and now, ten years later claims to not have apnea any longer. She snores like nobody's business and never feels rested, is always napping, etc. Nope, she doesn't have apnea any longer. Riiiight.

My tonge is swollen as I type.. stings and I can totally relate. I have imprints of my teeth on the side of my tongue as if I were biting it. painful. I have pretty severe insomnia, hoping I can pin it down to apnea. I wake every hour on the hour and average 3.5 hours a sleep a night (according to my monitor)

ow.

Hello Clinty,

Ruling out an anaphylactic reaction or an allergic reaction are certainly the first two immediate diagnoses to rule out.

Since you know that you have hypothyroidism, I would lean towards that being the cause. Here is a website that lists thickness, swelling, and scalloping of the tongue as being related to one's thyroid. It is the third symptom listed:
http://thyroid.about.com/cs/testsforthy ... roid_2.htm.

Plus, if you search some of the message boards on the Internet, you will find that a fair amount of people have reported a swollen tongue and being diagnosed with hypothyroidism.

I have hypothyroidism myself.

Be well,
TheWino

Clinty's last post was February 6 of this year. I hope he got his problem resolved.

amberdavvn, please start a thread about the things you are dealing with so it doesn't get lost in this thread. Feel welcome to join the forum.

BEEN BITING MY TOUNGUE SINCE I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH APNEA. 3 BIOPSYS. 2 ENT'S I USE TAP PAP CONCLUSION FROM BOTH ENT'S IT'S TRAMA TO MY TOUNGUE (BITING) RULED OUT CANCER. I CAN'T EAT SPICY OR SALTY FOODS. IT'S PAINFUL, IF ANYONE STUMBLES ACROSS A TREATMENT OR DIAGNOSIS PLEASE LET US KNOW.

Swollen Tongue is from hypothyroidism. I have a huge tongue and often end up biting it. I have ridges from my teeth on the sides. Thyroid medication does not reverse this symptom.

clinty76 wrote:I have recently been diagnosed with Hypothyroidism and Sleep Apnea. For the past few months my tongue has swollen intensely.

Are you or have you been taking any ACE inhibitors? This can be one of the side effects from this drug family. Mine was just coughing, When I reported my problem to my doctor, the first question they asked me; "Was I experiencing any swelling of the tongue?" - Just another thought.

SGearhart wrote:

clinty76 wrote:I have recently been diagnosed with Hypothyroidism and Sleep Apnea. For the past few months my tongue has swollen intensely.

Are you or have you been taking any ACE inhibitors? This can be one of the side effects from this drug family. Mine was just coughing, When I reported my problem to my doctor, the first question they asked me; "Was I experiencing any swelling of the tongue?" - Just another thought.

Good point. Go through ALL your medicines, even OTC, and look up the side effects. DO NOT depend on your doctor to check this, even if you ask him. The medical mafia tends to minimize the side effects of medicine. Also check for any dietary supplements you take, maybe even stop all supplements for a week or so.

Also look into food as a cause. Cut your diet down to a few well chosen simple unprocessed foods for a week or so and see if anything changes. Then eat normal for a few weeks, and then try a few different foods for another week or two.