A Public Service Announcement for People Who Sleep With Snorers (Help is on the way!)

[Flying Dream Blues]

My DH was a champion snorer, the kind who provokes hotel neighbors to bang on the adjoining wall on occasion. If he fell asleep while we were watching a movie in bed, I would have to turn the movie off, since I couldn't get the volume loud enough to still hear the dialogue without pictures falling off the walls. (Exaggeration, but not much.) More seriously, it seemed to me that he also had some sleep apnea, where he'd stop for a bit then take a big gasp of Three Stooges-like proportions. It would've been funny if not so scary. He went to a sleep clinic, but the results were inconclusive, so he's avoided doing anything about it since he hates the idea of the CPAP machine.

So, enter what for me has been almost a MIRACLE...a basic wedge pillow you can buy at one of your Bed Bath type stores. It's about 5 inches thick at the big end, and didn't cost a bundle. Ever since he started sleeping on this, he barely snores at all, and the apnea-type events are down to none. He puts it under his regular pillow. Oh, and he feels SO much better because he's sleeping better.

This was just too good not to share...I really hope some others get some help from this!

[KG]

1. i've found that keeping my head elevated, and sleeping on my side makes it easier for me to breathe

i use 3 pillows and sleep on my futon. otherwise, i set off car alarms on the next county.

[Flying Dream Blues]

7. Nothing can take the place of a good night's sleep, huh?

:hi:

[Kajsa]

2. That's great news,TTLG!

I've got to try that with my SO.

He already has a CPAP machine but only uses it for the first hour.

This could really help.

Thanks so much!

:D :hi:

[Flying Dream Blues]

8. You're welcome...hope it helps! nt

[trof]

3. I use Breathe EZ

Used to snore like a chain saw.
Miz t. would bail into the guest room.
No more.

It sure works for me.
http://www.breatheez.biz/

[Flying Dream Blues]

9. Thanks, trof! I may get him to try that, too. nt

[cordelia]

4. I may just try

both the pillow and the Breathe-EZ.

I have sleep apnea, and sometimes my CPAP and I don't get along all night. When I wake up, there's a piece of it here, a piece of it there...

Thanks to you both for this information. And to any more that may be forthcoming.

[Flying Dream Blues]

10. I hope it helps, cordelia. Sleep is sooo important! nt

[LiberalEsto]

5. I had a sleep study last year

They found that I do have sleep apnea episodes while snoring. But they also found that I don't snore or have apnea when sleeping on my side. Since then I've tried to train myself to sleep on one side or the other only.

[hippywife]

6. I haven't had a sleep study

and the DH tells me I snore pretty good. Not sure if I have any apnea episodes or not. I too have trained myself to sleep on my side but after so many years of doing it, I'm really sore when I wake up. Using too many pillows to elevate my head, as I've done for years, really ends up with a lot of pressure on my hip all night. I have to put a very large pillow under my torso for about a week, then switch up and get rid of it the next. Whatever works, I guess! :hi:

[Flying Dream Blues]

12. I wonder if the wedge would work better since the angle is slighty graduated?

It doesn't seem to cause that problem w/ DH and he is prone to back/hip issues. Might be worth a try! I sleep w/a pillow between my knees on my side because I was having hip troubles, and that's helped me a lot. I really hate being achy when I wake up.
:hi:

[Flying Dream Blues]

11. I remember reading a suggestion for keeping snorers on their side...

sleep in a pocket T-shirt on backwards, with a tennis ball sewn in the pocket. Ow! But maybe it works...
:hi:

[Skittles]

13. if you cannot train yourself

sew some marbles on the front and back of your pajamas - that'll do it :D