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The spouse has always snored but lately it's gotten worse, to the point where I'm not getting sleep. He'll sleep on his side, that doesn't help. Is there anything that does? I don't think those strips would work in his situation since he's a mouth breather/snorer (is that a word? ); I've seen a mouth spray for snoring but I don't want to spend a bunch of money for nothing.

Any suggestions? I really don't want to sleep in the other bedroom anymore but I'm really tired

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There is water at the bottom of the ocean

I would say it is time for him to go and have some sleep studies done. Sounds like he could have something like obstructed airway sleep apnea. I barely even snore, but I went to get the test, and it turned out I have severe sleep apnea. I quit breathing an average of 36.5 times an hour. Untreated sleep apnea can cause a miriad of health problems... if you treat his problems as the serious medical problem they could very well be, you could be extending his life and improving your sleep as well. Was one of the best things I ever did.

Hey Stormy - where do you get something like that done, and how much does it usually cost?

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Back in the saddle!

Most any doctor or hospital can point you in the direction of a good sleep clinic. They are like a doctor's office that is open all night instead of just during the day. When you go it is sort of like a hotel room... WONDERFUL sleeping conditions... other than all the wires and such connected to you! LOL! If you have insurance, it should be covered... if you do not it can be a little pricey. It runs about $850-$1000 a night. You go one night and get the initial test run to see if there is a problem. If they find a problem you go a second night and they hook you up again, but this time they are seeing how well things like a CPAP help your sleep. If you aren't insured though, it can be pricey, but it is VERY worth it. Like I said... one of the best things I have ever done for myself. Sometimes, if your problem is mild enough, they will do a split test and get it all in in one night, where you spend the first half without anything and then the second part of the night with a breathing aid.

If you think you may have a problem though, it is EXTREMELY important to get it checked out. Sleep apnea is a VERY serious thing! I paid completely out of pocket to do it... THAT was how important it was to me. Since I have found out about my sleep apnea, I have encouraged a couple of people I know to get tested... they were very glad for having gone in the long run!

Last edited by Stormy5 at 29-Apr-2005 11:32

My husband snores too, he never snored before marriage, but now he snores. I think its more like, once ur married u have to do something to keep the wife awake.

But seriously, I think its because of his weight. He's pushing 90 kilos at 5 feet 7 inches tall, and thats very heavy.

I did the sleep study thing but it was only one night and they didn't try the cpap. Probably because I told them I wouldn't go that route anyway. I was pretty sure I had apnea and sure enough< I did. I had a Uvulal palatal parangleplasty.

Basically they go in and trim all the loose flappy flesh at the back of your throat. Mine was done in the office but I had to go back three times. Cut, burn actually, let it heal, cut let it heal, cut let it heal. Doc said we could do it all at once but it would have to be in the hospital.

I still snore but not nearly as loud, my wife can sleep through it and I don't quit breathing.

BTW those strips and snore spray don't work woth a damn, Don't waste your money.

Mike

I believe that Oleta works at a sleep clinic.

Another idea... get wood, nails, roofing, and a bit of carpet. Build a dog house...put it far away from the house. Oh and give him a nice soft pillow

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If at first you DO succeed, try not to look astonished.

Normal snoring is caused when the soft palate and the uvula vibrate against each other.. Because of the contact between the soft tissue, snoring is actually a slight obstruction in the airway passage.. Those throat sprays coat the uvula and the back of the throat with a concoction of oils - mineral, peppermint, etc. - and help reduce the level of snoring that a person experiences during the night by keeping the tissue moist.. It doesn't always work, especially when the snoring is severe, but it can help with mild problems..

What makes the difference between just a bad case of the snores and Sleep Apnea is the severity of the obstruction.. If your husband snores in irregular patterns, with pauses between snore bursts, or appears to struggle with his initial inhalations during sleep, you should consider testing..

If he's snoring steadily throughout the night, there is also a possibility of a partial obstruction called an Obstructive Sleep Hypopnea.. It's very similar to Obstructive Sleep Apnea, but during hypopneas the airway is not completely obstructed and partial breaths are making it's way in.. It's generally not as severe as OSA, but OSH can be just as bad depending on the length of the episode..

If he also experiences any of the following symptoms along with his snoring you should really consider taking him in to speak with his doctor:

gasping
choking
fatigue
depression
irritability
difficulty concentrating
high blood pressure
morning headaches
insomnia
obesity

If none of those things are present it may be that he just snores like a beast.. We get several of those types thru the sleep lab.. Lots of noise, but no real trouble with anything else.. There are oral devices available that can help with just snoring, and if worse comes to worse, surgical procedures if the doctor recommends them.. However, can't really tell it's just snoring without a more in depth study of his sleep patterns..

But regardless, those sprays have the potential of just being a patch on a much larger problem.. Without ruling out sleep apnea first, you could just be making things worse by masking a symptom.. Talk to your doctor


NowherMan6,

Talk to your doctor and tell him your symptoms and that you suspect that you may have a problem with sleep apnea.. Your doctor should be able to get you situated with a sleep lab if he/she feels it will be beneficial..

The actual cost of the study depends on the type of study being requested by your physician.. The out of pocket costs that you will be responsible for will be dependant on your insurance policy and/or self pay methods..

Be aware that not all sleep studies are done in private lab facilities.. Some are conducted in hospital locations due to the specifications of your policy and/or some pre-existing health conditions..


Last edited by Oleta at 29-Apr-2005 18:25

Thanks Oleta! The other symptoms that I had that made them think that I had sleep apnea were...

Walking in my sleep
Talking in my sleep
Restlessness
Jumpy legs
Diabetes

I was reading about a study they were doing on people who did not have sleep apnea, but they started depriving them of sleep as if they did. Within a day or two, their bodies started to show diabetic symptoms because your body requires sleep to process glucose properly.

I barely snore, but I do have severe problems with fatigue and such. When I do snore however, it is usually when I am on my back, and it is more of a gurgling noise like I am choking. My husband knows now what it is, and makes me move. Because of the whole self pay sort of thing, I am just now getting my CPAP months later, and it should be here in the next week or so. I can not wait! Even after the AWFUL experience I had with the guy who was hooking me up for my second evening of monitoring, I still had the most refreshing night of sleep I can recall and actually felt awake in the morning. (As a side note, I reported the guy and he was immediately fired for his behavior! That should give you an idea of how inappropriate it was.)

Thanks for the info, Oleta I appreciate it.

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Back in the saddle!