Help with Snoring

My husband snores loudly. What works for me is SILICONE earplugs. They block out EVERYTHING. The silence it actually kind of freaky! I usually don't insert them all the way, so I can hear if my kids are up in the night. The brand I have is Mac's, and I bought them at Walmart.

Hi S..

I feel for you. I'm in the same boat. My husband and I haven't been able to sleep together since before our first child was born because of his horrible snoring. He was diagnosed with sleep apnea, after a sleep study, and had a surgical procedure done (UUUP) which cured the sleep apnea, but only helped the snoring for about 6 months.

About 2 weeks ago he had an new procedure done called Pillar Implants. It's quick - in the doctors office - and there's no down time. After the first week we were wondering if it was going to work at all, but the last few nights I've noticed a marked improvement in his snoring. The doctor said that it should gradually get better over the next 6 weeks, so you have to be patient...but if it means being able to sleep with my husband again, it's totally worth it!

Also, the procedure isn't covered by insurance, there are very few doctors who do it in the area (ours was in Bellevue), and it costs $1800.

Best of luck to you!

PS. Don't discount the value of a good nights sleep if you are forced to sleep apart. You need your rest! Also, the romance doesn't go right out the window just because you don't sleep together. We had a 2nd child even though we weren't sleeping in the same bed.

My husband went to a sleep doctor and did some "sleep studies". He also went to an ENT and had his deviated septum corrected, as well as many years of inflammation removed from his sinuses (which were completely grown over from so many years of allergies). He was diagnosed with sleep hypopnea at the sleep doctor, and given a cpap machine and went through a lot of rigamorole with it. It didn't help much because he never could get to the point of the machine not waking him up all night, so he doesn't even use it now, and he doesn't snore anymore anyway (probably from losing weight, and the surgery). One thing that no one is mentioning, is that now we are "hard to insure" because he was diagnosed with sleep hypopnea. It is different from sleep apnea (he doesn't stop breathing, but his breathing is supposedly lower and he doesn't get enough oxygen, supposedly). So, now we can only get health insurance through the Oregon Medical Insurance Pool, which is very expensive and a pain in the neck... and he'll probably have that diagnosis on his medical record all his life. That is something to consider; however if that is truly his problem maybe it's worthwhile anyway. It might be a good idea to try a few other remedies first, like seeing a Naturopathic doctor, or doctor or oriental medicine, or accupuncturist, or maybe trying foot reflexology (you can get a book on that and do it yourselves).

I was once at a state fair where they had all the booths of "junk" to buy. One table had some thing in a jar, kind of like a candle, that supposedly if you smelled it every night before going to sleep, you wouldn't snore.

I just looked on the website www.peoplespharmacy.com and found a couple of remedies to try as well:

Q. Thanks for your tip on the acupressure sleep aid. I use a "Sea-Band" wrist strap that improves my sleep and also helps me fall back to sleep when I wake up.

But the best thing is that it reduces my snoring. It's so effective in reducing snoring that when I forget to wear it, my wife wakes me up so I can put it on.

I even use it for a nap, so my snoring won't wake me up. (That happens sometimes in afternoon naps.) I think the reduced-snoring effect is a sleep aid in itself.

A. Sea-Bands are sold to prevent motion sickness. They press on an acupressure point on the inner wrist.

A few years ago we learned that an acupressure point known as the “Inner Gate,” three finger widths from the crease of the wrist between the two tendons, may promote restful sleep.

The few studies we found on sleep and acupressure were done in Korea and Taiwan, where this type of treatment would not seem unusual. We’re glad to hear your Sea Bands not only helped your insomnia but also your snoring.

Briefly--just know that there are 4 types of snoring and you have to use a remedy appropriate to the type he actually has. So get that determined/diagnosed first, and you won't be wasting your time/money on a solution to the wrong type.

S.,

Since his snoring is keeping you awake have you noticed him pause his breathing, then start up again? Does he wake up feeling like he didn't get much sleep? Does he nod off throughout the day?

My husband sounds like a jackhammer when he's sleeping. He finally got a sleep study done at our local hospital and it was discovered that he has sleep apnea, like many of the men in his family. I strongly suggest that you get him into a study. When he uses the CPAP machine like he's supposed to he gets WAY!!! better sleep and so do I.

Hope this helps,
Melissa

I had the same problem as you,, for years I couldn't sleep and nothing worked,, I lost so many hours of sleep,, and I finally had a enough, so with everything tried,, I knocked him out!!!!!!! and ever since I have been sleeping like a baby!!!!!!!,,no,, I just hit him a little and he stops,, I too would love some ideas,, because i sure don't want to go to jail for assault on my husband,, but I need sleep,, Lol,, D.

I've found that the opinion of one doctor isn't good enough when you don't get the outcome you want. (If this were the case for me, I'd have been in a wheelchair by the age of 16 . . . but third, fourth and fifth medical opinions that resulted in many operations over almost 20 years and I'm still walking!)

I worked in a hospital that did sleep studies. Did your husband have this type of test? One in which he spends the night in the hospital while they monitor him? (My guess is no, otherwise they would have an idea of why he's snoring.) If not, then I'd darn sure be pushing for a better medical opinion. (Seeing a family doctor/general practitioner who looks into the sinus cavity is NOT enough. He needs to see a specialist.)

Sleep is SO important to our overall health and welfare and a person who snores is not getting good quality sleep. (And, of course, you know that the person who sleeps with a chronic snorer doesn't get good quality sleep either!) Have him see a specialist and you can BOTH get some control over your sleep!

we had this same issues and after 2 years, my husband went to have a sleep study done. We found out he actually stops breathing more then 90 times an hour and that his snoring and gasping for air which sounded just like a great big snore to me,was sleep apnea.

it took a while and two evaluations because them first one yielded inconclusive results, but he now uses a cpap machine and hasn't snored in a year and now we are both getting much better sleep at night.

many hospitals or clinics offer sleep studies or referrals for sleep studies and many people think they are unnecessary but you would be surprised at how many issues come from lack of sleep or correct sleep.

sleep apnea may not be your issue but a sleep study may still help determine the issue.
regards

This may sound strange, but you might consider buying an ionizer for your bedroom. My husband and I bought one because of allergy concerns but within a few days of using it, my husband had completely stopped snoring. It may have just been a coincidence, but I haven't been able to think of anything else that might have "cured" him. I also agree with the posts about sleep apnea. Good luck!

my husband just started snoring and he was always in shape. He does have a deviated septum. Which got fixed. However after they did that it went from a slight whistle I could sleep through to a loud snore. I have tried ear plugs and ipods and have found that they are uncomfortable to sleep in. I have also tried watching TV till I fall asleep or leaving it on.. I found that i usually end up on the couch ( we dont have a tv in our room) Which when I wake up at 3 am confused as to why were both on the couch it still makes for an unrested feeling in the morning. I went to the doctor. And I told him what was going on he tried several sleep aides. The one that works for me the best is Ambian CR Which is extended release. The only side effects I have i talk in my sleep more than normal. Which is probably explainable due to the amount of REM ( deep Sleep) I am getting. I feel refreshed when I wake up I dont feel groggy and once I am out I am out. I dont take it every day i took it for two weeks ( and this is usually what I do) and it helps me get on a normal sleep cycle... after I am feeling good and less crabby durring the day, I am able to stop taking the meds. I dont feel withdrals from Ambian. I just feel happy that I have a sleep cycle again. After about 2-3 months I have to go back and get another 2 week cycle. There are alot of others aside from Ambian I would suggest getting samples of diffrent kinds. Lunesta didn't work for me it only made me more irratated. I know how it feels not being able to sleep it is by far the most annoying feeling.. especially the next day when all you can think about is sleeping and you have kids to watch. hope this helps. Also as the other ladies have suggested taking him to a sleep clinic. If you can't get him in soon then id go with the meds.

S. - I have the same situation as you! Hopefully we can learn something here at Mamasource. My husband and I can't even sleep in the same room anymore.

have you talked to a dr. about sleep apnea my husband and i both had this snoring problem and we had a sleep test and we both have to use a cpap machine. hope this help

You can buy these strips from your local pharmacy to put across the nose. Check it out.

Is your husband over weight? A friend's son was snoring and was diagnosed with sleep apnea for which he used the machine given in another post. Once he lost weight he stopped snoring.

I also recommend that he get a sleep study done. Sleep apnea is serious not only because no one gets good sleep but I've read that it can also shorten one's life expectancy.

I think that you can get ear plugs that filter out more noise than the ones you can buy at the drug store. However, I don't know where you can buy them. sorry! You could try a medical supply store. Perhaps there is info on the Internet.

I've also had experience learning to block out noise by accepting that there is noise and telling myself to ignore it. The more I focus on the noise the more bothersome it becomes. The process is not easy and takes awhile of thinking positively.

The snore spray worked for my husbans. Also if he has allergies, they can cause snoring too from what our allergist says.

My dad snored for years before discovering that he has sleep apnea. He sleeps with a CPAP machine now. From what I understand it is more common in those that are overweight (my dad is) but that it a can happen with anyone. A sleep study is key. You can try to control the noise, but if I were you I'd want my hubby to find the problem and treat it--for his health and your happiness. Good luck.

Even though your husband is in good shape, he may want to be test for Sleep Apnea. I worked for company that specialized in sleep apnea. He needs to ask his doctor about going in for a sleep study. As for you getting sleep, i dont really know what to tell you. I have a friend and she sleeps in another room from her husband.

Best of luck

I suggest youtr husband have a sleep study doen to rule out Sleep apnea. Boith my husband and I have sleep apnea and we both now use CPAP machines to aid out sleep . No more snoring. No more waking with headache or becomeing very sleepy mid day.

Hey, we had the same problem. I have a snoring husband, snoring son, snoring dog and snoring cat. Believe me it wasn't fun, I had no sleep at all. What it worked for me was putting everybody in a different room for the night. Don't worry about romance - it will be even better after you gain some sleep. You can write each other notes about "room dates" and you might find it quite exciting knocking at someones door for some cuddles. You can even spicy it up with some little "surprises". Good luck!

HI there. I usually do not reply to messages on here but I know your pain and felt I had to put in my 2 cents worth. I had been dealing with a snoring husband for 8 years and was very sleep deprived. I finally made and appointment with a sleep clinic and made him go. They found that he has sleep apnea and would stop breathing up to 38 times an hour. They set him up with a c-pap machine and we are both finally sleeping. He feels so much better and I am not so cranky from lack of sleep. It might be worth a try to call your doctor and ask them if they have a sleep clinic associated with their office. I know it was the best call I ever made. I wish you all the luck. Feel free to contact me if you have any more questions.
N.

Try going to a doc. They might have some ideas for you to use, or might find something they would like to check on with your hubby. There's been plenty of times I've moved out to the couch. Or got in one of the kids' bed. Try to get a medical opinion. Good luck and I hope you find some rest soon!!

Try "Snore Stop", I bought it at Rite Ad. It is a spray that you put on the back of the throat to keep relax the muscle that isn't working properly, thus causing the snoring. I am the snorer in the house latley and my husband has the same trouble with me that you are having. I am not able to use product due to being pregnant. But it is worth a try.

have your husband use a CPAP machine. my husband uses it and he doesn't snore anymore

Unfortunately there really is no cure for snoring ( that I am aware of), it does not really have much to do with sinuses if I understand it right. My husband snores as well and I use earplugs to get my zzz's. Are you placing the earplugs in far enough? If you get them in the right placement, they really should work. Afterall, people that work around jet aircrafts use them because those jets break the speed of sound or something. Also, my father had surgeries to get rid of his snoring and guess what! Didn't work! Look up the cause of snoring and you might get a better idea of the cause. Hopefully some other mom's will come up with some good ideas!

Good luck and good sleep! :)

Hi, Your husband might want to look into the pillar procedure where they implant small plastic inserts into the roof of the mouth to strengthen it when no obvious obstruction presents itself. My husband has sleep apnea and uses a c-pap but we went through every possible solution. Also there are plastic dental guards that bring the jaw forward slightly so that the snoring stops in people without sleep apnea.

Hope that helps.
E.

I have also been through the horrible nights of snoring and not getting any sleep 3 months until my husband went to a Ear nose and throat doctor and he spent the night there and they found he had severe sleep apnea.
Now he has a machine that he sleeps with that forces air through a mask and it does look funny, but I can sleep.

K.

For your husband, has he tried just a saline nasal spray before bed. It may be that his nose dries out and gets inflamed at night. You could try a cup of chamomile tea before bed it will help you sleep better (maybe harder) so his snoring won't wake you. I also don't know if it's feesable or not but my mom snores REALLY bad so my dad just goes to bed about 30 min before she does. As long as he's asleep before she is he can sleep through it but he can't GO to sleep with her snoring.

Hi!

I'm not sure if your husband saw his primary MD or a sleep specialist. You might have better luck going to a sleep specialist, the snoring may be a symptom an underlying sleep problem (ie sleep apnea) that could be easily corrected. Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital has a sleep department with a very knowledgable staff. I don't know if that would work for you, but it's worth looking into so that you can get a better night's sleep. Hope this helps!

I have seen Acupuncture/Chinese Herbs work for this really well :-)

S., I can't help you with your husbands snoring, but I can help you get some sleep, My husband snores also. I have started using ZZZ's its a natural sleeping pill. I get it thru advocare, if you want the ingredients let me know, our bodies decrease in Melitonin, which ia a hormone in our bodies, but as we get older it decreases! I can get it for you for 40% off if you'd like, I signed up to get the % but not selling it for profit! Rebecca

try having him sleep on his side. that worked for me and my honey

My granndma use to tell me when I was a kid and stayed with her to tap her on the shoulder and tell her to move on her side.I don't remember it worked.Worth a try.Also,has he been tested for sleep apnea?Mabey try a natural pathic doctor.Best wishes.I know th feeling.My soon to be x husband snored.I always tried to fall asleep first.That way I didn't hear him snore.LOL! I am a snorer too.I have sleep apnea.Take care!

Well, of course, there is the sleep apnea test as everyone else has suggested. My husband was tested and did NOT have it, however, the nurses said he made some of the weirdest noises they've ever heard! Lucky me! ;) So, I go to bed before my husband, because the hardest part for me is falling asleep with the noise. Then, I wear earplugs so when he comes to bed and starts snoring I usually don't wake up. Now, here's a little weird advice. I have this neat book that helps to understand how thought patterns affect us physically (its called "Heal Your Body A-Z" by Louise L. Hay). I looked up snoring and it says the most common reason for snoring is "stubborn refusal to let go of old patterns". I don't know about you or many of these other ladies, but that fits my husband to a "T". Suprisingly, my husband is working on changing his old thought patterns that do not serve him, especially ones that have to do with the past (something we can never change). He's TRYING to find a lesson in the things from the past or his stubborn habits that don't serve him. It's a slow process and one that he has to do on his own. I know it sounds weird, but it might help you or someone else and I don't mind being the "weird spiritual/metaphysical mom" if it helps someone else. I hope you find a solution. Our sleep is so important. Best wishes!

My husband had a very bad snoring problem when we first got together, he went to a sleep specialist and it did a world of good! He now wears a mouth piece that pulls his lower jaw out just enough to clear his airway while sleeping, it's not painful, but our quality of sleep has skyrocketed. The doctor's name is Roger Moore, you can probably find him on the web or phonebook (he's in Portland).

Shari,
You might have your husband see a sleep specialist. He might have sleep apnea. If he snores and has periods between snores where he stops snoring...A CPAP machine will help him get a good nights sleep, and it will help you sleep. The machine sounds like an air conditioner on low. Snoring is often a sign of sleep apnea. Hope this helps. Mary s.

Perhaps he has sleep apnea. His doctor could refer him to a sleep specialist for testing. It worked for me. Good luck.

Hi S. - This is my first post on mamasource because this is something very near and dear to me - my DH! It looks like you have received several responses similar to mine.... sleep study sleep study! My DH was diagnosed with a mild case of sleep apnea (ie, he won't die from not wearing the c-pap, but we will ALL be better off if he does :)). On the plus side, he doesn't get the sinus infections like he use to and is MUCH better rested (me tooo!).

If you need a recommendation, please let me know.

/C.

I had the exact same problem. My husband saw a sleep specialist and had mild sleep apnea. Even though it was mild, the snoring was not! He now sleeps wearing a special machine and doesn't snore. It's a beautiful thing! (Although the machine isn't too romantic. :) ) I'd encourage your husband to see a sleep specialist. If he is having sleep apnea at all, it can pose long term health risks including high blood pressure and pulmonary problems.

Good luck!

Hi S.,

I would suggest going to a sleep center to have a sleep study. They can diagnose sleep apnea which can be connected with snoring.

Good luck,

C.

I was a chronic snorer and my husband could not sleep through my snoring. I went to my dentist and he recommended a snore-guard, so I had them make one for me. It is like a mouth-guard but it brings your lower jaw forward and opens up the back of your throat so you don't snore. It took me about a week to get used to sleeping with it, but now both my husband and I sleep better. I also wake up refreshed in the morning instead of feeling like I need 4 more hours of sleep. I think the snore guard runs around $150.00; it is money well spent. Good luck!

I am right there with you! My husband snores as well. His snoring is unbearable when allergy season hits and I make him sleep on the couch from May-July. Sounds harsh and unsexy, but if I don't get my sleep I turn into a !@#%@#@ and that is not sexy either. We both sleep better and we'll come to each other's bed for "visits" then return to our own again for actual sleeping.
In the months that he is "allowed" back in the bedroom, I try to go to sleep an hour or two before him. Usually the snoring won't wake me from a sound sleep, but I cannot fall asleep initially if he is already in bed snoring away.
If your hubby is resistant to sleeping elsewhere, remind him of what a happier and perhaps more amorous person you will be if you actually get a decent night's sleep. It is hard to think about making love when all you want to do it stuff a pillow over his face! Let him know that you know that he can't help snoring, just as you can't help not being able to sleep through it. The situation is what it is, so find a solution where everyone's needs are met and do it without blame. I will aften offer to make up his bed for him so it isn't more work for him at the end of the day.

Good Luck!

Has been check out for sleep apnea snoring is noisily but sleep apnea is stop breathing so listen to your husband to make sure that still breathing at night.

Hi there! While I've not experienced what you're going through, my boss has recently. She was losing so much sleep and her husband tried everything. Finally, a local doctor discovered that not only did he suffer from bad allergies, but he also sent him to a sleep clinic and discovered he had some other issues, such as sleep apnea. He's been on medication for the allergies and have made a few adjustments at home (getting rid of things triggering his allergies) and has also been treated for the sleep related issues and it's worked! My boss now can finally get a restful nights sleep. I'm not sure this is what your husband is suffering from, but thought I would give you this scenario to think about. You never know. Good luck with everything and I hope you get some good sleep soon!!

Hi S.,

Has he seen an ear nose and throat Doctor? We thought out daughter had sleep apnea and I would always try to check if she was breathing. Our family Doctor finally referred her to an ENT (we went to Bellevue Ear Nose and Throat). They took an x-ray and found that she had abnormally large adnoids. I had no idea how it could affect her breathing. She had them "removed" they shrink them? and now she breaths much better! Once in a while you can hear her snor a bit, but nothing like her breathing stopping so long that I want to wake her up!

T.

Has your husband been checked for sleep apnea? My husband snores, he just did a sleep study and he does have it. Although his was not bad enough to have a CPAP machine.
I'm sorry, I can't offer advice on the noise, maybe a seperate room. There is also a snore spray for the mouth that I have heard works, where as the strips did not.
HTH
D.

S....
we had the same problem... just like your husband... physically fit with no sinus issues... also tried the nose strips and they didn't seem to make a difference... it was worst when he slept on his back so i typically elbowed him (lovingly) so that he'd roll over to his side... and then i usually managed to fall asleep before he started up again or rolled back over :) he's just started with a prescription of 'nasonex' which seems to have done the trick... good luck!

Hi S.,

I've had to endure the worst snoring you can imagine for about 25 years - I think only a bear is louder, but I made my husband go to a sleep center to check him for sleep apnea. He's never been more than a few pounds overweight and he's in pretty good shape, but very little would help the roar until he was diagnosed with sleep apnea and was put on a C-PAP. I knew he had sleep apnea because he would stop breathing and then snort to take a breath. If your husband holds his breath, he's got it for sure.

Another thing...
You can have him try Valarian Root or a good quality melatonin before he goes to bed. It seems to take the roar down a notch. Also, magnesium and calcium have a calming effect, as well as being good for you. You might also try this yourself as I'm sure you are lacking in some good sleep. Just don't "wake" for 25 years before doing something.