Pathfinder

Hi my names Pathfinder and I live / work in East Anglia. I am a Paramedic and have given extensive cover to outdoor events such as trials meets / motor racing and Concerts. The reason for joining this forum was in response to a thread asking about Uvula Problems, as I have personal experience of what happens when it is ignored or not recognised early enough. I awoke at 0530 feeling like I was chocking or being strangled.. not a dream but for real. In under 1/2 hour I was in the resus room at the local A+E being treated for ? obstructed airway, cause unknown. The staff treated me with a bombardment of IV (intra-venous)medications and stabilised my condition very quickly. I then spent 24 hours in the ENT (ears/ nose / throat ) department. Regardless of cause, the uvula had become enlarged and was effectively blocking the space in the mouth usually occupied by food / drink or air. This can be a life threatening condition (as I found out to my own distress). Any swelling in the airway is a dangerous occurrence and should recieve emergency medical attention as soon as possible. Uvula swelling can originate from a host of sources .... dehydration, excess uncontrolled snoring, excess alcohol abuse, reaction to food allergens, insect bites or medications. So in the absence of definitive diagnosis, if you find your airway compromised, or tongue swollen, or a sensation of "something" stuck at the back of the mouth,(which cannot be coughed clear) seek medical help immediately.