Snoring solutions

Have you had your tonsils out? That helps with sleep apnea and snoring.

MOML said I kept him up 45 minutes before he headed to the guest room, but he said it was a steady breathing snore, no stopping like sleep apnea. I had a friend with that, and he would stop breathing for a few seconds, then snort and start snoring again. I also don't seem to be snoring thru my mouth; my throat is not dry when I wake.

I have a problem with my sinuses when I go horizontal. I lay on one side, and one side of my nose will close off. I roll over. Several hours later, I awake and the closed side is open, but the other side is shut. I roll over. Repeat a couple of times a night.

I went to an eye, ear, nose and throat doctor five years ago. He said we have three layers of membranes which keep bad stuff from going into our noses. These can swell and shut the breathing passages. He burned out one layer; this is a common out-patient surgery, I know two other friends who had it done. I was fine for about three years. Then it grew back. My friends are fine; theirs did not grow back. Doc said this was always a possibility.

My general practicioner doctor wants me to go on antihistamines or some sinus medication, but I really don't want to be taking drugs all the time. There will come a time as I get older when I will probably have to be on blood pressure, cholesteral or heart medicines, so I don't want to get started on other stuff now.

Sorry, what does MOML stand for?

MOML = man of my life

Nanwa, my husband snores like a freight train. I have also had to go to the guest room to get any sleep. He went to his dentist and was fitted for a mouthguard that he wears at night. It was about $300 and I don't think it was covered by insurance. It has helped about 60%, I would say. On nights when he is "dog-tired" it does not help at all. I tried ear plugs previously and could not get them to stay in my ears.

See the dentist - it's worth a try!

BF -- calm down.

BF said it with a smiley - I don't take any offense. Although I do honk like a goose when I blow my nose!

I guess I need to find the right antihistamine - most either knock me out so bad that I wake up groggy, or they rev me up that I can't sleep. Those that don't affect me either way don't work. Quite the conundrum.

Nanwa, let me know if you find anything that works. I use a breathe-right every night. It helps some, but doesn't eliminate the problem, and some nights it doesn't seem to do anything. Nor do antihistamines seem to have any real effect. It can make my wife miserable.

Nanwa, I take the Equate version of Claritin every day. You can buy a 30 day supply at Walmart for about $8.00. It doesn't make me drowsy - I take it every morning. I haven't woken myself up snoring since I began taking it.

Nanwa, not getting proper rest can aggrevate and even accelerate the conditions you anticipate having to medicate for "as you get older". Not getting enough good sleep can cause changes in blood pressure and stress out your heart, etc. And if you still have menopause ahead of you, your sleep patterns are possibly in for an even greater upset.

Go to your doctor. Have him order a sleep test. Find out for sure what your problem is and then start digging to find the solution that fits you best. Don't just wait for the doctor to suggest something. Do your homework. Google can help you find anything! Life's too short to spend it exhausted and sleeping alone.

Oh, I never sleep alone. Even when I snore, Spunky never leaves my side. And Kismet will whap me in the face to try and shut me up sometimes.

And no, I am not allergic to my cats. I have had cats for ten years, and the allergy symptoms only arise at specific times, like early spring (mold coming alive with the thawing of the woods), high dust (like ripping out my carpets), and using nasal sprays.

I can breathe perfectly fine when standing up. Too bad I can't sleep standing up.

My husband snores sometimes. Before he lost weight he snored often - and loudly. Now, it's just periodically. I'll wake him up and he'll roll over and stop - for awhile. I have tried to go to the couch, but then he'll wake up and come looking for me. I believe it's when he's unusually tired also, although I have thought of sleep apnea.

MOML snores when he is really tired, sleeps on his back, or is drunk. (That doesn't happen often!) I just nudge him, he rolls over, and stops snoring. Me, he says he can't wake up, and I am already on my side.

Funny thing is, I would think I would wake up tired, but I'm waking up rested.

Consider trying the breathe rights with menthol in them. They supposedly help the "lie on 1 side and that nostril clogs up, then flip over and the other nostril clogs up" symptoms you describe. I guess it has to do with the menthol in them. My friend tells me that they are not too strong to bother a spouse. (she said her husband tried Vick's Vapo Rub first b/c they already had some in the cabinet, but got a little messy).

Hobot, when I tried Mentholatum, he said I smelled like his grandmother!

Also if you read the Vicks label, it says not to do that. My mother used to try it and the doctor told her it could increase her blood pressure. Be very careful.

My husband can wake the neighbors! I considered a large, fluffy, white pillow but moved to the couch instead! I do still love him! Someone mentioned weight being involved and my hubby snores less when he is slimmer (which happens occasionally). Also, I don't even try to stay in the room when he goes bowling (liquid libations) or when he's really tired. But I'd rather have him here snoring with me than have total silence at night without him. I wonder--does snoring go away in heaven? Bet someone up there knows the solution! On a serious note--get it checked out! Sleep apnea is not to fool with so find out!

If I did, I would have considered that "sick".

ChicagoGuy,

I PMd you - my husband just completed his sleep study and they want to fit him for teh CPAP. I'd like to ask you a few more questions.

Thanks

Would the OTC nasal spray work for the problem of rolling over and having the other nostril clogged up? Someone mentioned the Breathe Right strips w/ menthol helping this, but no one said anything about the spray. My girlfriend and I would really like some help! Thanks

The problem with the nasal spray is that you get what is called a "rebound" effect. You spray, it opens up the sinuses for a few hours, then when it wears off, the sinuses swell back again, sometimes worse than before. Continued use of those sprays also cause them to work less effectively. For example, I have used the 12 hour sprays, which will work for 12 hours for a couple of days; then they only work for 6 hours, then for 4. Trying to get off them is like going through withdrawal; can't breathe, really stuffed for a couple of days.

I only use them when I have a cold that is so bad I cannot get any sleep. Then I will only use them a day or two.

The Breathe Right strips have been helping me. However, MOML says he feels he is sleeping with a linebacker!

My husband just started using the Breathe Right strips and they work! I no longer end up sleeping on the couch.

I stand corrected - I used a Breathe Right strip last night, and snored so loud I woke MOML up and he headed for the guest room. He says he pushed me fairly hard, but I did not wake up. This is weird; I used to be such a light sleeper; Mom could wake me with a gentle word. Now, I sleep so soundly, nothing wakes me.

Oh, and I had my tonsils out at age 6, adenoids out at age 9, and some nasal membranes burned out at age 45. The nasal membranes grew back.

2 medications daily for me for allergies and I don't snore anymore AT ALL - Nasacort Aqua nasal inhaler (prescription) and Claritin (I use the generic loratidine - cheaper and identical) which is available over the counter.

The Nasacort does NOT work like other nasal sprays which only work for a short time, etc. It doesn't irritate my nasal passages, either. It's great. It keeps me clear and breathing great all day long, and I love it.

If I were you, I'd see an allergist and/or an eye, ear, nose, and throat specialist again now. There've been tons of advances and changes in medical thinking and pharmacology for allergies (if that's what your problem is - you'll need to get seen and tested!) in the 5 years since you've been to that specialist and had your membranes "burned out". Make an appointment! Driving your spouse crazy and both of you not getting a good night's sleep is not worth it. Life's too short...

Sorry - I read most of these threads and have absolutly no advise. I have seldom heard my husband snore and he claims he has not heard me snore - I think it is because we "die" when our eye's close.

Just be glad you don't walk or talk in your sleep that could cause all kinds of problems!

MOML snored so loud that it sent me to another room until I purchased one of those clip on fans and attached it to the headboard directed at his face. He sleeps fine and NO MORE SNORING!

That's strange...never heard of that one (but if it works...why not!?).