That Hangy Down Thing

Woke up this morning feeling like I had - what's the way the way to say this without sounding gross? - like I had to cough up some really big phlegm. I spent several minutes in the shower making all sorts of gagging sounds trying to expectorate this phlegmy stuff until I made a discovery. What the hey! -- this thing is attached to the back of my throat.

After revealing this interesting fact to my wife, she informed me that it was called my "uvula". My first reaction, "I thought only women had those!" Apparently I was thinking of another body part with several of the same letters. In the past, and I don't think I'm alone on this, I've always called this part my "hangy down thing". (She doesn't plan on getting too close to me until I only have one part of my body that I can describe as such.)

The hangy down thing (the one in my throat) was long and swollen. Inflamed might be the word I'm looking for here. Being the genius that I am, I quickly determined that a visit to a doctor was in order. The doctor wasn't that impressed with the fact that my uvula had learned how to jump up onto the back of my tongue. He said he'd seen it before. I guess I'm not that unique. After writing out a prescription for some antibiotics he left. I must've been his easiest case of the day.

My uvula should be shrinking. In fact, my hope is that it's shrinking even as I type this. The antibiotics should be fighting off the infection and allowing my uvula to return to the size of its former self. Normal blogging will return at that time.