Snoring! - How to stop?

[messe]

Guys,

Serious question. For some inexplicable reason - I have suddenly started to Snore REALLY badly - it started about two weeks ago.

Trouble is that aside from waking me up and causing disturbed sleep - I find I'm waking up in the morning with a REALLY sore throat - feels like I've been gargling acid at the back of my throat all night - takes me all day to get rid of the horible soreness - then it starts all over again that night.

It's getting me down - and making me feel unwell. It might have been further exacerbated by a mild cold I now seem to have caught.

Does anyone have any experience, tips or advice to prevent the snoring?? - I tried to sleep without a pillow last night - but gave up when I couldnt get off to sleep without one.

Any suggestions (serious ones please!)

Thanks!

[Grinning]

use the search field above and search CPAP for some relevant past forums. Seems u r not alone. CPAP seems like an extreme solution but it sounds to work and does not involve surgery. Good luck

[E31Shrew]

Can be caused by your soft palate being a bit large. Normally more prevalent in those with a bit a of a 'water retention' problem...a bit large.

I cant for the life of me sleep on my back as I wake up continually so just sleep on my front which solves the problem. You could try those sticky things you put on your nose to see if that helps...Breathe Easy or some name like it.

Failing that see the doc!

Edited by E31Shrew on Saturday 15th November 08:57

[crossle]

CPAP is by no means extreme. At least by comparison to the barbaric surgery I was offered until my GP contacted the sleep clinic at Queen Victoris hospital in East Grinstead.

They fitted me up with a CPAP machine after an overnight sleep study and I've never looked back. It took about 2 or 3 nights before I got used to it, and I've slept like a baby ever since.

As the consultant and QVH told me CPAP is the ONLY thing that will completely CURE snoring!

[V8mate]

Lose weight.

[MrV]

E31Shrew said:

You could try those sticky things you put on your nose to see if that helps...Breathe Easy or some name like it.

Failing that see the doc!

Waste of time and money when I tried them

[Grinning]

agreed Crossle. CPAP is more extreme than nasal strips - less extreme than surgery.

Out of interest what's the cost of a CPAP machine?

[mitzy]

Get your missus a Frying Pan

[Raffles]

Sleep on your front?

[schmokin1]

seriously, try a diet if you could do with losing a few pounds. I was snoring like a buffalo a while back so the missus 'encouraged' me on to a diet. Within a week or so(just a few pounds lost) the snoring had gone.

[parapaul]

schmokin1 said:

seriously, try a diet if you could do with losing a few pounds. I was snoring like a buffalo a while back so the missus 'encouraged' me on to a diet. Within a week or so(just a few pounds lost) the snoring had gone.

+1

I didn't think I needed to lose weight (what bloke ever does? ) but since the OH started Weight Watchers and I've been eating the same as her to support her, I've lost a couple of pounds and the number of times she kicks me in the night has dropped dramatically.

[Rach*]

Snoring is caused by vibrations of the soft palate and any excess tissues thereabouts.
Try:
Loosing a bit of weight
Cutting down alcohol

You can have snoring applicances made at the dentists, they are like 2 gumshields stuck together and hold the lower jaw forward by a couple of mm's. Not cheap £500 at my place (I wouldn't be involved) but alot less extreme than surgery!

[thunderbelmont]

according to Mrs Thunderbelmont, I snore like a earthquake!

I'm not overweight either, having a BMI will within the norm.

I've tried the gumshield type tool that's supposed to move your lower mandible forwards to open up the airway better. Couldn't get on with it at all.

As has been said - nasal strips do nothing.

CPAP looks bloody extreme to me. I think I'd rather let the butchers in my throat and suffer some barbarism with some discomfort for a while, if it clears it up eventually.

There is a laser treatment too, if I remember correctly, which "burns" the soft palate causing it to firm up with scar tissue and that in turn opens up the airway.

[scruffy]

thunderbelmont said:

I think I'd rather let the butchers in my throat and suffer some barbarism with some discomfort for a while,

Err, I know someone who's had it done and it didn't work...

and it hurt like fk...

...for months...

That mouth shield thing works (on me anyway)...

you can buy over the internet gum shield things for just over 100 quid - see if it works before going to a dentist so they can make you a proper one: £300-£500...

[blueyes]

I remember hearing on the radio about someone who'd made a CD with "sing along" exercises that tone up your snoring bits and it was supposed to be very good.


Then again it might have been a snoring-induced dream.

[g_attrill]

scruffy said:

Err, I know someone who's had it done and it didn't work...

and it hurt like fk...

...for months...

My mum's friend had the laser burning for snoring and it didn't work. Apparently it was extremely painful for weeks (not sure how long exactly though), and it she knew it was going to be even half as bad as it was she would never had contemplated it. (Not that she wasn't told it would be painful, but obviously you can't judge that sort of thing).

[bimsb6]

stay awake

[sparkythecat]

messe said:

Does anyone have any experience, tips or advice to prevent the snoring?? - I tried to sleep without a pillow last night - but gave up when I couldnt get off to sleep without one.

Any suggestions (serious ones please!)

Thanks!

Get a roll of Duct Tape. Stick the end flat to your left ear. Now, holding your mouth tight shut, pass the roll over the top of your head, down over your right ear, underneath your chin and back around to your left ear, pulling firmly and sticking the tape down as you go. When you reach your left ear, repeat the process once more for a good firm fix.

Not only will this stop you snoring, but has the added bonus of muting the sound of a nagging partner. The brisk removal of the tape each morning should cut down on your shaving time.

[crossle]

Grinning said:

agreed Crossle. CPAP is more extreme than nasal strips - less extreme than surgery.

Out of interest what's the cost of a CPAP machine?

Luckily, my GP got the cost of the private consultation and CPAP machine from our local PCT. They said they weren't going to pay, but she convinced them it was about half the price of the surgery they were prepared to pay for....

As I recall, the machines cost between about £400 to £1200, plus I had the initial consultation and two overnight stays - one sleep study, where I was all wired up and recorded, the other to calibrate the machine.

The consultant described the surgery (mentioned elsewhere here) by laser or incison to be "barbaric" with a 50% failure rate, the need for further surgery in a few years time, deadly painful, the risk of permanent voice change and inability to drink fluids without it dribbling down your nose - all reported side effects if you google...

ETA:
This is where I went:
http://qvh.nhs.uk/patients_and_services/specialist...

Edited by crossle on Saturday 15th November 16:52