Here's a new one: Elongated uvula from cycling.
06-23-09, 01:50 AM
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Here's a new one: Elongated uvula from cycling.
My first instance of it was a couple of weeks ago toward the end of a 90 mile ride. Pretty sure I didn't drink enough water, and I decided it was caused by dehydration after reading about it.
Got it again yesterday after a ride of only about 36 miles. I don't think I was dehydrated this time. Now I'm thinking it's just drying out and getting irritated from me breathing through my mouth.
First time it was elongated enough to be pretty annoying and took several days to clear up. This time it's not as severe. Anyone else had this problem?
Got it again yesterday after a ride of only about 36 miles. I don't think I was dehydrated this time. Now I'm thinking it's just drying out and getting irritated from me breathing through my mouth.
First time it was elongated enough to be pretty annoying and took several days to clear up. This time it's not as severe. Anyone else had this problem?
06-23-09, 06:17 AM
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I am not a medical doctor, I am not trying to make a diagnosis nor should you take my advice as being medically sound. That being said, I think you may want to speak to your doctor about the possibility of sleep apnea. I don't know anything of your physical characteristics, but it most commonly occurs in people who are overweight and obstructive sleep apnea is caused by the overall narrowness of the windpipe causing the uvula being tugged on by your breathing. This usually happens when you are sleeping, but I could see where as you become physically fatigued it could cause the same type of relaxation you muscles get when you are sleeping.
If you are not overweight, it could still be sleep apnea. I was diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea when I was about 23. I am 5'11" and 175 lbs, the same weight as when I graduated Marine boot camp, so I was by no means overweight. Additionally, the doctors were originally pretty skeptical of apnea because it is pretty uncommon in younger people. If it is apnea, it is definitely worth getting taken care of as apnea can put a lot of strain on your heart. Additionally because your blood oxygen lvel drops some much and you are constantly waking yourself up enough to flex your throat muscles and open the airway, you are constantly tired and feel like you can never get enough sleep.
Treatment can range from a machine that you breathe with when sleeping to surgery. I ended up having the surgery, so I have neither an uvula nor a vulva.
Hope this helps. Happy cycling.
26 days til RAGBRAI.
If you are not overweight, it could still be sleep apnea. I was diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea when I was about 23. I am 5'11" and 175 lbs, the same weight as when I graduated Marine boot camp, so I was by no means overweight. Additionally, the doctors were originally pretty skeptical of apnea because it is pretty uncommon in younger people. If it is apnea, it is definitely worth getting taken care of as apnea can put a lot of strain on your heart. Additionally because your blood oxygen lvel drops some much and you are constantly waking yourself up enough to flex your throat muscles and open the airway, you are constantly tired and feel like you can never get enough sleep.
Treatment can range from a machine that you breathe with when sleeping to surgery. I ended up having the surgery, so I have neither an uvula nor a vulva.
Hope this helps. Happy cycling.
26 days til RAGBRAI.
06-23-09, 07:40 AM
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cut it off. saves weight. no more irritation 
06-23-09, 07:42 AM
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ah.... sure.
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I've had this before. Well at least I know about it getting sore. Happens when I breath through my mouth hard for extended periods of time. I've experienced it more when Mountaineering than cycling though. The effort of hard breathing through the mouth will basically chap the inside of your mouth. Does this seem like what is happening?
06-23-09, 08:21 AM
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06-23-09, 08:38 AM
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No uvula = drinking problems? Doesn't the uvula help get drinks down the right pipe??
06-23-09, 08:50 AM
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06-23-09, 09:51 AM
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I'd think you could tie a "noose" of dental floss around it and basically just choke it off that way. Alterntatively, you could give a sharp yank. Just like removing a tooth.
Do I need to add a disclaimer to this message
.
Do I need to add a disclaimer to this message
.
06-23-09, 09:56 AM
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stole your bike
06-23-09, 12:03 PM
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06-23-09, 12:18 PM
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06-23-09, 12:19 PM
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No doubt. My point is that 175 pounds on a 5'10" might very well have too much fat. The average American is overweight, almost obese, so comparing to others in your population is a bad idea.
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06-23-09, 12:25 PM
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according to the link, and the calculations in it, the OP has a BMI of 24.4 which puts him at "normal"
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06-23-09, 12:27 PM
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Oopsie, guess I shouldn't be so bitter. I thought he said 5' 10". My mistake and apologies.
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06-23-09, 12:32 PM
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