Can you see your uvula?

[Elen]

You cannot see my uvula with my wide mouth open unless I press very hard on my tongue and with it fully extended and even then, I have to try and flex muscular in the back of my throat to see it. I'm wondering if this is one of the main reasons my apnea is so severe and why an oral appliance was not effective for me. Wouldn't that be interesting if that were the case? It would give people some criterion in which to base the success of an oral appliance or not. Is anyone else not able to see their uvula without taking the measures I've described? Thanks for any replies.

[archangle]

Success rate is low with oral devices in general. Especially for those with severe apnea.

I have no idea about the uvula bit. The shape of the tongue, throat, jaw, etc. probably has a big effect.

[trish6hundred]

Hi Elen,
WELCOME! to the forum.!
Hang in there for more responses to your post and best of luck.

[PaulaO2]

I think it is enlarged uvulas vs small ones that are can make sleep apnea treatment difficult.

The smaller the airway, the easier it is for it to collapse since it has less distance to go. So a small uvula would make more room vs add to the crowding. Unless your uvula is hidden due to other issues or deformity, it isn't the cause of your failure with the oral device.

Besides, if the sleep doc or dentist didn't mention the size of it, it is not a cause nor collaborator. The dentist (assuming that is who sold you the oral device) would have wanted it to work and would have said something.

[DocWils]

You would have a hard time anyway, since the angle is usually wrong - we check ulvulas from a relatively high angle, and the angle you often see in a mirror isn't the same, so I don't think you difficulty in seeing it is cause for concern - if your doc has not remarked on it, then don't give it too much thought.

[Elen]

Thanks very much for the replies. I looked in my friend's mouth recently (from dead on), who doesn't have apnea, and it was like a huge cavern, uvula clearly discerned, nice high wide arch which extended to the back. When you look at mine, it is just awful. The back drops quickly off, looks like roof of mouth touches tongue. In fact, I get the feeling my mouth didn't develop properly. I got this idea from reading another SA poster who said the same thing. No wonder I am in such a dire way anatomically. One very honest sleep dentist told me I had a "myriad" of mouth problems. I am over my depression about it today. I have my sleep apnea routine down pat (consistently low AHI), even though the routine is probably a horror show to most people (even SA people). I had to think outside the box and "modify" things a lot.

Again, thanks very much. This site is very interesting.

[OMyMyOHellYes]

Not without a mirror.

OMyMyOHellYes
Post #4 to get to he point where I can post a link! Four more to go!