Resolved question:
I have asked several doctors and had some varied responses from them. In the meantime 4 and a half weeks since the onset, there seems to be no relief or signs of normality returning to my uvula and soft palate. Have you come across something like this before? Sinuses are also a little inflamed and nose will cleanup sporadically during the day. I will take claritin and do a nasal irrigation and spray a xylitol nasal spray in as well. I gargle with salt water and aloe vera juice during the day.
I tried flonase and claritin together for a week or so but I didn't like the way flonase made me feel.
Night times I have no problem going to sleep but I tend to always wakeup a couple of hours before normal rising time due to a dryer throat and the uvula being annoying on the tongue. I do snore but have propped myself up with pillows and try to sleep on my side as much as possible. I am feeling a little distraught that this is lasting so long.
I have been taking a few natural supplements to help boost my immune system.
Allergist has done an airborne panel test revealing allergies to dust /mites, bermuda grass, and olive tree pollen. (season is low now in San Diego for pollens) I have photos of uvula and palate if needed to upload or send.
I am a little distressed at the fact that this has not subsided and do sometimes get quite anxious. What can be the problem with the uvula?
Submitted:
4 Days
Category:
ENT Specialist
Hello,
Thank you for your consult at DoctorSpring.com, I can understand your problem, and will try to help you the best possible.
Let me explain the disease first ->
You are suffering from
• Elongated uvula – can be seen on picture, causing throat irritation
• OSA (Obstructive sleep apnoea). – snoring and disturbed sleep
• Allergic rhinitis – nose irritation, nasal discharge
Suggestions ->
Your throat picture is almost normal. You have elongated uvula but your palate is normal. Elongated uvula is seen in many people without any symptoms. So if is not causing any irritation we can ignore it. Symptomatic elongated uvula is quite irritating. It does occur quite frequently in diabetics, hypertensives, allergic patients, asthmatics, thyroid patients and those who are allergic to drugs.The single most common cause is the person who snores or who clears his throat by constant hawking. With improvement in allergy and sleep apnoea you will get relief from your uvula irritation, if still persist then it can be excised with a small surgery.
For OSA treatment is weight reduction by excercise or diet.
For allergic rhinitis, if you are not comfortable with flonase nasal spray, then we can change to mometasone nasal spray (metaspray nasal spray 1 puff two times for 3 months.)
You should avoid use of xylitol, and antibiotic (Claritin)
Summary of treatment:
• Weight reduction
• Using antiallergic treatment (to mometasone nasal spray )
• Avoid use of xylitol, and antibiotic (Claritin)
• If no improvement excision of uvula with palatoplasty (uvpp surgery) – you will get relief in both irritation due to uvula and snoring
Hope this helps. Feel free to ask if you have any further queries.
Thank you.
Regards
Dr. Sunil Jalan
MBBS, DLO,MS(ENT), DNB,DAA
A couple of questions for you...
Can one shrink the uvula as opposed to excising it?
Calritin is an antihistamine not an antibiotic-helps with allergies. Shall I stop that?
The xylitol nasal spray is only saline with xylitol which I understand helps bind to allergens or bacteria and helps with eliminating them.
I have patanase which I haven't used yet-could that be a better alternative?
Thank you for using Ask a Doctor Service from Doctor Spring.
Really sorry for my information for Claritin , Xylitol. (I thought these are Clarithromycin and xylometasoline drops respectively). You can continue both of them.
Pentanase again antihistamine spray, you can use it without any side effect.
There are several procedure for uvula and soft palate reduction including radiofrequency ablation, You can meet local ENT surgeon and discuss, if any query please write to me.
Weight reduction will be first line of treatment if you are obese.
Hope this helps. Feel free to ask if you have any further queries.
Thank you.