Sleeping on your side and not on your back helps hugely so I’ve been told?
I too snore and have an enlarged epiglottis, i got to see the specialist and he made it very clear that it wasn't a nice operation and to try everything else before surgery
I found weight loss helped the most, having tried everything listed here except the CPAP machine
The weight is slowly rising again so this thread has reminded me to make the effort or end up divorced
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Sleeping on your side and not on your back helps hugely so I’ve been told?
So clever my foot fell off.
My wife uses wax earplugs, such as these ones from Boots. Much better than the squishy foam ones for this job.
https://www.boots.com/boots-muffle-w...pairs-10114104
Try Hush Plugz Silicone Earplugs. Best thing I have found so far.
Not sure of your situation but weight loss has made a massive difference to both me and my wife. Even a few lbs off will help but get into a healthy weight/hip to waist ratio/body fat percentage and not only will the snoring improve but you’ll feel a million dollars too. Good luck.
On a similar theme, again many moons ago when my wife was expecting we went to the 'relaxation classes' and were lying on the floor being shown how to relax. Don't know about the ladies but worked well for me and next thing I knew I was woken by my wife elbowing me in the ribs amid accusations of snoring.
My snoring has become outrageous,
Weight gain from stopping smoking and a 50 year old sloppy throat adding
To make me sound like a whole family of warthogs.
Had a sleep test for obstructive sleep apnea but was told I wasn’t bad enough for help.
You have to have 15+ incidents an hour to qualify and I was 12-14.
So I bought a CPAP machine from eBay for £50 !
It came with some DNA but nothing that a good sterilising didn’t cure.
The result is truly amazing, I don’t snore any more !
I use SnoreLab app to truly shame and embarrass myself
and below is a before and after.
I'm on my fourth CPAP machine, (they are changed every three years) and yes its on the NHS so have lots of experience and like the post above zero snoring nowadays, although holidays can mess around with sleep patterns ,nowadays I take all the kit away with me, I have had six different types of mask and now have a very lightweight mask that just fits over my nose, you learn to breathe correctly during sleep as a bonus. I used to fall asleep reading posts on boring forums and was being woken by swallowing golf balls at night which is terrible as I dont even play golf, so my advice would be to see your GP and bite the bullet, you wont regret it.
Gadget
I started this thread and really not a lot has changed
I have the machine from the NHS
Yes it works, but st what cost?
I’ve almost strangled myself on the hose on several occasions
The mask hurts my face
I’m back on Tuesday after telling them I’ve not used it in months
I’ll see what they say
Guys me tbh
When I was 16st 12lb I used to snore terribly, or so my wife told me! Nothing related to snoring but I went on a diet and got down to 15st. My wife told me the snoring had completely stopped but I have crept back up to 16st and she tells me the snoring is back so for me, weight was the problem.
As well as a wide variety of machines there are a range of masks and getting the right one for you might be worthwhile.
Mrs Gyp is a respiratory physiologist working on what they like to call "sleep medicine", and I've helped her with a lot of her study as well as being a patient.
Lots of the advice in the thread is spot on, weight loss, reducing/stopping alcohol and stopping smoking are effective in reducing snoring and apneas (I know that elbow in the ribs at night is top quality NHS care, free at the point of delivery). There are a number of treatments and devices that may work for some people but there's a lot of snake oil out there. If you need CPAP, the NHS should be providing it.
Worth being aware that if you have obstructive sleep apneas resulting in tiredness, you should not drive until the problem has been resolved or effective treatment is in place. This is worth a look http://www.sleep-apnoea-trust.org/dr...-sleep-apnoea/
Whilst I'm not in any way wishing to stop people going to their doctor, I would suggest that if there's a likelihood that weight loss/alcohol reduction will solve the problem, it's better to go that route just in case CPAP doesn't work for you.
I was a snorer, but losing weight worked for me. The downside is that I am a much lighter sleeper, so can hear the wife snoring. Its not terrible, more like a purring (mouth breather) which can be fixed with a jab in the ribs, a drink of water and me wearing ear plugs.
But what I don't understand is why is breathes through her mouth when sleeping, but though her nose when await.
Whoever does not know how to hit the nail on the head should be asked not to hit it at all.
Friedrich Nietzsche
As mentioned sleep apnea is an issue which can lead to some epic snoring. my father recently went for SA tests and waiting on the results.
I use to snore, wife doesn’t complain about it anymore so I guess I don’t but I did have a deviated septum which was corrected as much as possible in 2017, Apparently a lot of people have them and don’t realise it, i’m still recovering from the operation as the tip of my nose is insanely sensitive but my breathing is a lot better. Those who haven’t been checked out yet or have & not had any conclusive results should have that looked into, more so if you might have been in a fight, that’s how mine happened!
I would urge you to try to stick with it..
I “got used” to wearing the mask within a couple of nights
But have tried different ones as my brother is a long term sufferer
and has a selection of NHS supplied ones.
Currently, I’m very comfortable with an Amara View minimal contact that sits UNDER the nose.
I’m a changed man.
No more waking up tired and haven’t needed a lunchtime 40 winks since starting.
The “before” results were upsettingly embarrassing.
I’m amazed the current Mrs W is still with me,
But now all she reports is a light hiss that, almost like white noise,
Even helps her doze off.
Sounds like losing weight is the answer John, you fat fcuk
If you have CPAP then you have sleep apnoea. If you have sleep apnoea and aren't using the machine then it's not controlled. If it's not controlled then your driving licence is void and you should not be on the road.
Talk to the guys at the sleep/respiratory clinic. Get a mask that fits and works and then use it EVERY NIGHT without fail. Right now beyond the annoyance of snoring you're a danger to yourself and everyone else.
Technological help for snorers:
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/h...ring-w3z52788c
When I had sleep apnea I wasn't tired throughout the day in fact had trouble sleeping, didn't even snore loudly at all unless in I dozed in the chair, my symptoms were frequent headaches often lasting for days, I didn't need a cpap machine and my diagnosis was mild but its something you should take extremely seriously, there is no way if your snoring is severe and you have the need for a cpap machine that the quality of your sleep is not seriously compromised.
Losing the weight fixed it for me
It took me approx two months to get used to sleeping with the mask (annoyingly I kept removing it in my sleep!), and approx three months to feel it was making any difference to my life. I think I was suffering “sleep debt” as I hadn’t slept well for so long.
You have to persevere with it every night without fail. The reward it worth it.
It might help if you tried using the mask/CPAP before going to sleep. To get get used to it, maybe sit watching tv with it on, practice your breathing.
Once you get used to it and get some good deep sleep you will feel much better.
Although fatty tissue around the neck is the most common cause, there are other causes. For example having a large over bite which can cause the jaw to be out and this affect the throat.
The sleep apnea/ snoring prevents your body getting enough oxygen during sleep. So your brain brings your body to a level of consciousness where you can breath better. Almost awake but not quite. Then you fall back into deep sleep, and the cycle starts over. All of this prevents you getting and good deep sleep, hence why you end up feeling tired/grumpy/headache etc.
Interesting to note that that a apnea headache is similar to a hangover headache because part of the hangover headache can be caused by alcohol induced snoring/apnea. Alcohol relaxes the muscles in the throat causing the flapping vibrations of snoring.
I used to snore very heavily - made me unpopular when staying over at people's houses.
I had the epiglotis operation in my late 20s, just before I met my wife. That helped a lot, although I still snored a little. But the snoring started creeping up again during my 30s.
I had lots of tests for sleep apnoea - staying over at hospitals and so on - but nothing conclusive discovered. There was talk about using a CPAP but I didn't really like the look of that.
With hindsight, the increase in snoring coincided with me slowing putting on weight during my 30s - the perils of a desk job. I wasn't particularly overweight - a friend who is an ENT surgeon did a very "clinical" appraisal of looking me up and down and saying I wasn't that overweight as being overweight is linked to snoring. But my BMI had crept up to about 28 (1.75m tall and 85kgs) so I cut out cakes for a bit, started running and cycling again and my weight is now down to about 75kg (so BMI of 24.5). I don't snore anymore.
I've also found that cutting out alcohol really improves the sleep quality - I pretty much gave up alcohol two years ago and about the only time I snore at all now is if I have a few drinks for some reason.
Definitely worth trying to lose weight before going for some of the more challenging and invasive solutions.
+1 for all of that! My wife used to complain about me snoring but I never took it that seriously. I started the 5:2 eating plan about 6 years ago after watching the Horizon programme Eat Fast and Live Longer.....quite simply I wanted to live longer too. I lost about 2 stone initially and have sat comfortably around 11 stone for the last 5 years. I feel brilliant in every way and sleep so much better. An unexpected plus of the whole thing is that I no longer snore.....not at all!! I didn't think I was overweight at all but clearly.....I was. I'd certainly give this a try before embarking upon NHS machines or worse surgery. Good Luck!
These are worth a try. I use them every night when I'm at home.
https://www.flareaudio.com/collections/isolate-mini
I have used a CPAP machine successfully for about 12 years having been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea and a diverted septum. I chose not to have surgery, being a wimp with a dislike of hospitals and scalpels.
For those who drive, and have been diagnosed with OSA, the NHS guidance is very clear.
"Research has shown someone who has been deprived of sleep because of OSA may be up to 12 times more likely to be involved in a car accident.
If you're diagnosed with OSA, it may mean your ability to drive is affected. It's your legal obligation to inform the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) about a medical condition that could have an impact on your driving ability.
Once a diagnosis of OSA has been made, you may be advised to stop driving until your symptoms are well controlled."
You also have to inform your insurance company of any conditions that require notification to the DVLA. The NHS will issue a letter for both the DVLA and the insurance companies in the event that your treatment is relieving the problem successfully.
I was diagnosed with sleep apnea about 17 years ago. Have used CPAP ever since. Still snore occasionally if blocked up with a cold or had a few too many drinkies.
maseman
Are we all getting a good night's sleep these days? I'm doing a home sleep study tonight in the hope it will lead to me getting 'fixed'. Let's see.
My snoring can be pretty bad, loud enough to occasionally wake myself up, or for my wife to send me to the spare room.
It can come and go, and it's definitely related to three things, alcohol, if my nose is blocked, and weight. The alcohol and nose issues are okay because neither are a problem night after night, but the weight is. I'm not obese, I'm fairly tall and currently edging toward 14 stone and the snoring is becoming regular again. When I drop to nearer 13 stone it's all but gone except with a blocked nose or too much alcohol.
My wife wears ear plugs anyway to bed as a result of her working shifts for years as a nurse, but they are no use when I'm really loud. Snore strips on the roof of the mouth have some effect, not not reliable enough. It's weight loss for me, must get on it.
What’s the sleep study involve?
So far I’ve had two types. Simple Clip on sensor on the finger records pulse and blood oxygen levels.
Not so simple, full vest with more sensors that I had to tape on my face under my nose and next to my mouth.
Both were done at home.
Hope it goes ok for you and you get somewhere with the results.
I was diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea a few years back, treatment is a CPAP machine to assist breathing at night.
Since last summer I’ve lost weight (change of eating habits + exercise) and my sleep consultant feels it should have improved my condition.
I’m currently going two weeks without using my CPAP machine prior to a sleep test. Hopefully this will determine a new baseline, and see if I’ve cured my apnea by weight reduction.
Recording device strapped to chest, sensor bands strapped round belly and chest, finger sensor, sensor taped to neck, pipes up nose. Wasn't too bad, had neither the best nor worst nights sleep so be interested when the results come back in the next couple of weeks.I know I have a problem but you hope you don't have a blissful nights sleep so that something comes up!
Congratulations on dropping two stone, keep it up.
There are other conditions that may cause obstructive sleep apnea. But yes I would agree, a very high % must be down to excess body fat.
The NHS only treats obstructive sleep apnea when it reaches past a limit they have determined requires action. Guy I work with was tested, told he had apnea, but not bad enough for treatment.
While I do need to lose a bit of weight, my snoring is triggered by alcohol which I seldom drink these days.
That said, chronic back pain and a overactive mind make actually getting to sleep a challenge.
OP, well done on the weight loss, I hope you can find a tolerable mask for your CPAP.
Dave
So my sleep study tells me I had 23 events per hour for approx 2 hours of the night so moderate apnoa. Tomorrow am being fitted for a cpap trial. Anyone using a cpap, how did you adjust to using one? Any hints and tips to make the experience a little easier? What to expect? Happy to take pm if preferred.
23 is quite a few, but only for 2 hours tempers it a bit. Mines at a lower level but for longer :-(
My experience with cpap wasn't good and I didn't continue with it, but a couple of my friends are using it and, after a couple of weeks getting used to it, are getting on brilliantly with it. The newer machines are very good too and adapt better to the wearer (I may have to try it again).
Anyway, as mine's not sorted, I'm knackered so off to bed :-)
If you speak to your GP they may be able to refer you to a local sleep clinic for diagnosis. I was referred and have been using a CPAP machine free of charge for months now which has virtually eliminated my snoring. I know I probably drink too much and could certainly lose some timber but this works for me, or should say works for my missus as she was the main benefactor. I’m not sure I will be allowed to keep it but for now it works.
I found the full mask uncomfortable and tried a nasal only mask which has helped my discomfort.
It took me weeks to get used to the CPAP.
It can feel claustrophobic at first, try to take deep breaths in and out. Count to five as you breath in then count five as you breath out, slow and steady.
I kept taking my mask of in my sleep with out knowing, would wake up wondering what had happened.
Try to keep at it as eventually you will see the benefit of getting a good nights sleep.
Although the results are not always instant. It took some weeks for me to feel better. I’m sure I was suffering from “sleep debt”.
Feel free to DM me if you have any other questions etc. I had others help me at the time, so I’m happy to do the same.
If you smoke then quit, my dad quit and his snoring reduced massively.
Get down to near your ideal weight and get very fit.
I went from 80KG to 65KG by skipping breakfast, eating 2 sensible meals a day and completely cutting out crap like biscutes, choc, crisps and bread.
Ate some fruit in between meals which helped a lot.
Plus did cycling machine / walking mostly.
Took about 12 - 15 weeks
Thanks for the feedback. I wore it for the first night's sleep last night, had quite a battle through the night. Think i was up every hour of the night, pulling the hose out, waking up without the mask on, feeling like choking, all sorts. I was expecting it to be honest so will see how it goes tonight. Funnily enough, given the frequency of being awake last night i still don't feel any worse than i would other feel so i guess it's doing some good.
Hang in there.
I had an hour with a CPAP nurse at Papworth before going home with it.
She just explained how it worked etc. But also got me to sit in a chair using the mask/CPAP just watching TV to get used to it without sleeping.
Mad as it might seem, maybe try wearing for practice in the evening?
Although you might get funny looks in the pub!