HELP ! My Husband Is Bringing down the Roof !

Has he seen an ENT? Sinus surgery, although unpleasant and painful could be the solution.

Hi S.,

I feel your pain and know the temptation of the pillow over the head! My husband snored horribly for years. Not getting enough sleep made both of us constantly irritable. After many years of requests from me, he finally saw his doctor (ENT) about the possibility of sleep apnea. He was sent for a sleep study, and learned that he indeed had sleep apnea. His doctor told him it was very serious -- young people die of this (he was 39, otherwise very healthy, not overweight). He had obstructive sleep apnea, meaning that physical airway obstructions caused him to snore so badly and actually stop breathing for periods of time. He was never going into a REM sleep cycle, which contributed to irritability, fatigue and overall poorer health. His doctor recommended surgery over a breathing mask, saying it was better to permanently correct the situation rather than rely on the mask for the rest of his life. The surgery was difficult -- he had a previously undiagnosed deviated septum repaired, some sinus tissue removed, his uvula removed and his tongue and throat sculpted and reshaped to create a more open airway. It was a very painful recovery, but the surgery has done wonders! Everyone sleeps now and we're all in much better moods. He snores occasionally, but it's soft and I can tune it out.

I did a lot of reading about this at the time. If your husband is overweight, that's a major contributor to snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. Regardless, it sounds as though he should definitely see a doctor. For years my husband didn't take me seriously, but the doctor scared him into action.

Best of luck to you,
J.

Dear S.,
I know how awful and disrupting it is to lose sleep. It sounds like your husband needs to see his doctor. He could have sleep apnea and could benefit from a sleep study to determine if he may need a special machine and mask (CPAP or BiPAP) to help him breathe at night. He is probably the only one sleeping but doesn't wake rested. My advice for you is ear plugs, white noise, and a separate sleeping space (if necessary). Good luck. K.

If you husband is overweight, this can be part of the problem. My husband was overweight, he went on SouthBeach and is no about to his dating weight. Once he lost the weight, the snoring improved tremendously. Still there but not as loud.

You might want him to see an ENT, to see if there is anything anatomically wrong elongated soft palate, deviated septum. He may also have sleep apnea that can cause snoring. (I threaten my husband to go to the Dr. with the life insurance policy. If he doesn't go and has something that causes death, I become a well off woman. Seems devious, but it works)

Good luck. I have had to sleep on the couch a time or two, with my husband's snoring. And have come close to putting the pillow over his face.

If all else fails, seperate bedrooms on opposite ends of the house if that is possible.

Hello S.,
My husband snores bad too, did you try that new gargle for snorers? It seemed to help better than the spray and nose strips. If all else fails, go for the pillow! J/K of course. If he forgets to take it, I make him go on the couch. Good luck! M.

There is an essetial oil that can help...Thyme. We buy our from Young Living because it's a pure, theraputic grade. I put it on my husbands feet (or have him do it) before he goes to bed. Makes a big difference.

HTH

S.

Hi S. -

Bless your heart...I'm going through the same sort of Hell with my husband. He's only 30, but snores like he's an old man. Furthermore, he's been snoring his ENTIRE life as witnessed by his mother, brother, former roomies, etc. He's a little overweight now, but was not always, so I think he definitely has sleep apnea. He's not open to surgery anytime soon, but I hope and pray that he has a change of heart - more for his own health than my own comfort. As for my comfort and sanity, I've asked him to sleep on the couch (it's actually more comfortable than our bed), and that preserves some of my own sleep during the night although I can still hear him with a pillow over my head, a closed bedroom door, and a wall between us. We've tried patches, sprays, oils, and all sorts of proverbial "jams and jellies," but his snoring still persists. I agree with the other respondents on this request...get your husband into see a doctor about his snoring and hope and pray that he will get the surgery if he needs it. If he refuses, make HIM sleep on the couch! ;)

Blessings to you and yours.