ASV causes massively swollen Uvula

Ok this is really strange. I have been successfully using ASV and the Oracle mask for 8 months but recently caught this awful virus/bronchitis that lasts for thee weeks that everyone seems to be getting this season. Because of non stop coughing I have not been able to use my ASV for two weeks (now sleeping with a neck brace which keeps my jaw forward and really helps).

So I tried using it again two nights ago and made it through until about 5 am and had to stop not because of coughing but because my uvula had swollen to about four times its normal size and was blocking my throat. I could actually "swallow" it and then cough it back up and when breathing in and out it would rattle with a big snoring sound. When I looked in the mirror, the uvula was soft and puffy and very reddened and huge and the surrounding tissues were red and irritated looking. Just bizarre.

This morning (no ASV last night) the uvula has returned to normal size and symptoms are gone.

Has anyone ever had this happen? Must have been some type of suction phenomenon going on. Clearly my tissues are not ready for ASV yet. What a nasty virus this has been.

Thoughts?!?!?!

The only time I have seen or heard of a swollen uvula it was an anaphylactic reaction to taking amoxicillin for an ear infection. Have you been on any antibiotics for the last 2-3 days?

No.
My hubby had a swollen uvula once, caused by an infection.
Not by clean, moist, moving air.
I wonder if you have had GERD? Acid could be to blame.

No antibiotics or allergens that I can detect. I do have a history of GERD but have no symptoms since been on daily prilosec.

Very odd and quite uncomfortable not because of pain but because of floppy swollen uvula.

Was all resolved by that evening. Will need yo get back to papin' now that the cough has finally subsided. Hope the giant uvula doesn't return.

Re-resurrecting this thread.

I’ve been a Cpap user for almost 4 years now. I love it, however, I believe this is one of the items that needs research by the medical world....

Like you, I get bronchitis here in Michigan at least once a year, and due to the amount of coughing, I cannot keep either a nasal mask or a full face mask on.

I believe a lot of the swelling is related to when you start trying to sleep like you used to and breathe on your own... for me, apparently my pressure is high enough that my uvula also gets inflamed, elongated, and becomes almost a choking hazard for me. Same situation... I can cough it up, and swallow it down. Really strange.

Just this past Friday, my son came down with a bit of a stomach bug, and I ended up on the couch away from the wife as to not infect her. I was having issues breathing, so I did a few hours of restless sleep without a mask. For the past 3 days now... same situation. Hurts to eat, drink, and has really effected my appetite.

I’ve got a friend who is an ENT at U of M, that I am going to bring this up to. A holiday weekend over here for us has turned into nothing but 3 nights of crappy sleep for me.

I’m surprised more people haven’t complained about this.

chunkyfrog wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 14, 2015 12:18 pm

No.
My hubby had a swollen uvula once, caused by an infection.
Not by clean, moist, moving air.

Would have to agree with this... IMO xPAP is not to blame...

I don't think so either... daughter was in the ER recently with swollen uvula and tongue from eating something she was allergic to. It went away by the next day and she was back to normal.

Thank you, BTS.
Using the cpap, with a clean, fine filter, and humidity is more likely to HELP.
Allergic reactions or infection are the likely causes. See a doctor.
If breathing gets difficult during a holiday weekend--go to the ER!

I used to get the huge dangling uvula.
Usually at its worst if I went to be bed drunk and woke up dehydrated.
Got better when I quit smoking.
Basically stopped happening completely when I started CPAP therapy.
I don't think it had anything to do with allergies.

Poor lifestyle choices?
Oh, no--NOT THAT!