any tips !or products for stopping snoring

[jimbob]

anybody got any tips or products for helping me stop snoring...

i am a v slightly overweight man - and seem to snore very loudly, ......much to the annoyance of my partner.

i recently spent over #25 on no snoring products all without much success - these included strips and sprays

has anybody got anything they can recommend or indeed any suggestions for helping me stop

many thanks

[nikkikl]

Jimbob

If your snoring is keeping everyone awake you need to see a doctor. !If you stop breathing, even for a second or two in between snores, you need to see a doctor straight away.

The age old cure for snoring is to stitch something like a tennis ball into the back of a pair of PJ trousers to stop you lying on your back assuming that's when the snoring is at its worse. !

I have much experience of SEVERE snoring as when I lived at home, my dad snored so loudly none of us could sleep and my mum had severe sleep deprivation as a result (this was years ago mind) but eventually he had to have a breathing machine when he slept because he wasn't breathing in between the snores. !His snoring was bad because he was overweight and his nose is genetically faulty - the whole family has constant nasal problems, including me. !

If its that bad, see a doctor and they can send you for investigations. !My dad tried every type of remedy before he saw the Docs, none of them worked.

Good luck

[jimbob]

thanks for that

i have heard that before but ...um ... my fairly new partner may be even less impressed with that than with the snoring!!

just checked and apparantly i do sometimes stop breathing - what does it mean?

thanks

[nikkikl]

Ummmmmm let me try and describe what I mean. If you ask your partner if you actually stop breathing at the height of the snore so as you breath in you are snoring, then you stop breathing for a second or two, then you breath out.

If you actually STOP breathing that can be dangerous as it reduces the oxygen to your brain and naturally if you were to stop breathing for a few seconds everytime you breath in when you are awake, you wouldn't feel great would you? Also, it means you don't sleep so well yourself so you are tired a lot. I must stress though it has to be that you stop breathing very regularly for it to be a problem because we all stop breathing when we snore at some point, but only now and again. My dad was so bad with it he stopped breathing in between every single snore - not good hence he has to have a machine that blowes air up his nose when he is asleep now. It stops the snoring but the machine makes a right noise!

Are you sure its not just that your new partner isn't used to it? My hubby snores but I don't notice it anymore. If you are worried, see the doctor to see if he/she can or needs to intervene.

[jimbob]

thanks again

you might be right about the no breathing thing though i will get it checked out... but i know the snoring is loud and want to try and do something about it

the sprays seemed to work the first few times then stop, and the stick on things seem to ... well how do i say, make me even more unattractive than normal.

if anybody has any complementary medicine ideas or other suggestions i would be grateful

thanks

[Ted_Hutchinson]

Sleep apnea avoidance pillow effects on obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and snoring. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&li st_uids=15611895)

Sona Pillow (http://shop.store.yahoo.com/dotcoms/emsomepi76.html)

[Davesmum]

Thanks Ted, Hubby has severe sleep apnea and we are always on the look out for new products. He currently uses a C -Pap machine but is not any good if he has a cold or similar. Will need to give this a go.

[catznine]

Thanks Ted, am tired enough without the snoring of my other half! ::) Will try the pillow.

[macchicken]

My partner snores so loud he wakes himself up!!!
Dont know if theres any relation butits much better if he cuts out caffine altogether, also we bought menthal pillows and they made an improvement too!
Good luck :)

[Glad]

jimbob
the sleep apnoea episodes are only a problem if they start affecting your everyday life ie. you are extremely tired/fall asleep at inappropriate times during the day. The snoring is a problem if it is waking you up or having an effect on your family/personal life.

Waiting lists for a sleep assessment involving an overnight stay in Hosp are generally 12-18 months, so if you think you need this then see your GP and ask for a referral ASAP
In the meantime try to lose some weight as this is a magor cause of snoring, don't have more than 2 pillows, have bedroom well ventilated, don't have excess caffeine or alcohol before going to bed.

CPAP machines are used to correct sleep apnoea, if snoring is the problem without any sleep apnoea then other options are available, usually involving a minor operation to either the soft palate or the nose depending on the cause.

[shaz1000]

I have sleep aponea and use a CPAP machine which is very good, but it can take ages to find a mask that is comfortable. Mine is still not great even now. Even mild sleep aponea is very bad for the heart and increases blood pressure. If left untreated it can lead to heart attack.

[Ted_Hutchinson]

Thanks Ted, Hubby has severe sleep apnea and we are always on the look out for new products. He currently uses a C -Pap machine but is not any good if he has a cold or similar. Will need to give this a go.

The pillow link wasn't a personal recommendation but as it is backed up by the independent research it probably will work for some people. It would be helpful to others if anyone who tries the Sona pillow does post back irrespective of whether they find it helpful or not as it's quite expensive if it doesn't help at all.

I used to snore a lot but losing weight, together with cutting out caffine and alcohol in the evening has made a difference.

[MimiJane]

Generally, if you tend to wake yourself up snoring and make loud, spluttering, uneven noises (as opposed to "normal" snoring), there's a good chance it's sleep apnoea. !You will also feel yourself getting very tired throughout the day and most probably find yourself "dropping off" sporadically as you're not getting the sleep you need. !This is not necessarily related to weight, although losing some weight can in many cases make a difference.

CPAP's are just one of the many types of devices for pushing air up into the nasal passages. !If diagnosed, it depends on the type of apnoea you have as to what machine is recommended. !CPAP's are I believe the most commonly used nasal/facial "masks".

If nothing seems to work for you, I'd recommend visiting the doctor who may recommend an overnight sleep study at one of the specialist hosptitals throughout the country who, by monitoring you for one/a few nights, will be able to determine exactly what the problem is and what (if any) !treatment is needed.

Do not be put off by the descriptions of the CPAP ... yes they're loud and uncomfortable to use at first, but they'll most probably prolong your life and give you loads more energy throughout the day.

Having said all that, here's hoping it's just a case of loud snoring and you find an over-the-counter remedy that helps you. :)

[shaz1000]

Re. the last post - I went to my local general hospital for my overnight sleep study.
My CPAP machine is not loud at all and it is only the mask/headgear that can be uncorfortable - not the machine. I belong to a CPAP forum and many people say that it took them a long time to find a mask that was suitable for them.
Although there are several different types of CPAP machines e.g. some are automatic and only deliver air when needed and not all the time like mine, they all do basically the same thing. I would love to know what these other ways that you describe are, as I do not know of them. ???
CPAP works well for me.

[Glad]

I work on one of these units that have a specialist sleep apnoea ward,
we only use CPAP machines to deliver air into the nasal passage

[MimiJane]

Re. the last post - I went to my local general hospital for my overnight sleep study.
My CPAP machine is not loud at all and it is only the mask/headgear that can be uncorfortable - not the machine. I belong to a CPAP forum and many people say that it took them a long time to find a mask that was suitable for them.
Although there are several different types of CPAP machines e.g. some are automatic and only deliver air when needed and not all the time like mine, they all do basically the same thing. I would love to know what these other ways that you describe are, as I do not know of them. ???
CPAP works well for me.

Not all general hospitals do overnight studies ... people are often referred to specialist hospitals which can be some distance away. !You were obviously lucky. :)

As well as CPAP's, there are also different types of NIPPY machines ... these differ in as much as they do not deliver a continuous air-flow, but an interrupted air-flow. !It depends on what type of apnoea you suffer from and the severity of your condition.

The machines do make a noise (I suppose it depends on what you call "noisy") and can keep partners awake at night but, on the whole, people tend to get used to them.

I agree, the masks can be a problem initially and it can take some time and experimentation to find one that suits you. !Also, some people like the nasal masks and others prefer the full facial ones.

[Savvy_Sue]

Sona Pillow (http://shop.store.yahoo.com/dotcoms/emsomepi76.html)
Has anyone found this in the UK, or ordered and received successfully from the USA? I'm a bit leary of ordering from overseas in case there are problems.

[Ted_Hutchinson]

You might find it worth asking for further details about these
ebay PUTNAM KINGSIZE VISCO MEMORY PILLOW BRAND NEW (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=20445&item=4350594 956&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW) which looks like it might be a copy of a SONA (compare with original link)

or this one which again is possibly a copy of the original (http://www.conformuk.com/harley_orthopaedic_pillow.html) however I'm only guessing. The original Sona link doesn't give an option for shipping costs out of US so you'd have to ask for a special quote anyway.

[shaz1000]

Re previous post
Not all general hospitals do overnight studies ... people are often referred to specialist hospitals which can be some distance away. You were obviously lucky.

As well as CPAP's, there are also different types of NIPPY machines ... these differ in as much as they do not deliver a continuous air-flow, but an interrupted air-flow. It depends on what type of apnoea you suffer from and the severity of your condition.

The machines do make a noise (I suppose it depends on what you call "noisy") and can keep partners awake at night but, on the whole, people tend to get used to them.


I was pointing out that not everyone has to go to a specialist unit.

Yes I have mentioned the automatic machines that only deliver the air when required, but what are all these other ways that you refered to ??

My old machine was very noisy, but my new machine isn't and my partner cannot hear it at all.

[MimiJane]

I have already covered these points in my post above and do not feel that reiterating my post and going into greater depth will help the OP. ::)

[Glad]

mimi
as someone who works on one of these units I'd be interested in hearing of the 'many types of devices for pushing air up into the nasal passages' you mentioned
I'm looking into the nippy one now but the more info you could give the better, we only use CPAP at the moment and are looking for alternative methods if they are more effective :)

[MimiJane]

mimi
as someone who works on one of these units I'd be interested in hearing of the 'many types of devices for pushing air up into the nasal passages' you mentioned
I'm looking into the nippy one now but the more info you could give the better, we only use CPAP at the moment and are looking for alternative methods if they are more effective !:)

Hi Glad,

As a regular visitor to a specialised respiratory unit, I've seen a number of both CPAP and Nippy machines. The Nippys are (I believe) for more serious and rare apnoea cases, i.e. central apnoea where intermittent non-breathing is caused by messages from the brain, rather than a purely physical problem. I think there are at least three Nippy machines, although I'm not sure how they differ. CPAP's are by far the more common sleep aid and many units would probably have no cause to use any other machines.

The "many" breathing machines I mention are the number of different types of CPAP's and Nippys available, each tailored to an individual's specific breathing problem.

All these machines obviously work on the same principle though ... to force air up through the nasal passages to open up the airways.

Hope this helps a little. :)

[shaz1000]

As CPAP stands for

Continuous
Positive
Airway
Pressure

I wonder what NIPPY stands for ???

[Davesmum]

[quote]

The pillow link wasn't a personal recommendation but as it is backed up by the independent research it probably will work for some people. It would be helpful to others if anyone who tries the Sona pillow does post back irrespective of whether they find it helpful or not as it's quite expensive if it doesn't help at all.

I used to snore a lot but losing weight, together with cutting out caffine and alcohol in the evening has made a difference. !


Even though this is not a personal recommendation,thanks again Ted. Hubby has tried cutting out EVERYTHING and no change. Still toying with the idea of the pillow.

[MimiJane]

As CPAP stands for

Continuous
Positive
Airway
Pressure

I wonder what NIPPY stands for !???

"Non Invasive Positive Pressure Ventilator", but with the "V" substituted for a "Y" for ease of speech I presume. ::)

[Glad]

As CPAP stands for

Continuous
Positive
Airway
Pressure

I wonder what NIPPY stands for !???


as you say CPAP stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure
and you can get various types of CPAP machines from various companies ie. REMstar, DeVilbiss range, Orion, Pegasus, Sullivan and many others are all names of CPAP machines

The NIPPY is one of many machines that all deliver Non-Invasive Positive Pressure Ventilation (NPPV), there is also a NIPPY2, a RESmed, VacuAID, Polaris etc

the manufacturers of the Nippy have been clever enough to encorporate the the NIPP into the name of their machine as a selling point

[Glad]

CPAP is one of the treatments available for people suffering with Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) which occurs when the muscles controlling the tongue and soft palate (roof of mouth) relax, causing snoring and breathing difficulties including the cessation of breathing, for up to 2 mins.
During this time the blood oxygen level drops, this eventually alerts the brain to wake the person up in order to take a breath. These awakenings can happen from a few times to several hundred times a night. The person is not fully woken by these events and in the morning will be unaware of any disturbances to their sleep, but as they have not had a long period of undisturbed sleep it will have an effect on their daily life.
These include, exhaustion during the day (to the point where they cannot stay awake), depression, irritablity, intellectual deterioration, sexual problems and morning headaches.

A CPAP system works by continuously pushing air through a mask into the nose (occasionally masks which cover the mouth are used). The air passes through the nose and into the throat, where the slight pressure keeps the upper airway open. This results in a night of uninterupted sleep.


Non-invasive Positive Pressure Ventilation (NPPV)
is used as a treatment in a variety of respiratory diseases such as, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), Cystic Fibrosis, Neuromuscular Disorders, Central Nervous System Disorders, where the patient suffers some level of respiratory failure during sleep, resulting in a type of sleep apnoea but not OSA, these patients would probably have been treated in a Hospital setting with a NPPV device before being discharged home with one,
NPPV devices are also used in the weaning of patients from Invasive ventilation.

[Ted_Hutchinson]

Anti Snoring pillow £29.98 (http://www.yourwelcome.co.uk/acatalog/Snoring.html) With a partial money back guarantee if it doesn't work UK supplier.

How To Sleep Better 2 Feb, 8pm BBC One
How to Sleep Better (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sn/tvradio/programmes/sleep/index.shtml)
BBC How to sleep better programme details and links (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sn/tvradio/programmes/sleep/programme.shtml)

[Savvy_Sue]

Anti Snoring pillow £29.98 (http://www.yourwelcome.co.uk/acatalog/Snoring.html) With a partial money back guarantee if it doesn't work UK supplier.
Now THAT's what I call a good idea! Will be showing the old man when he comes upstairs!

BTW, read something in my local paper about a chap who is trying to invent a "Virtual silence device to 'turn down' the sound of snoring". I thought they were called earplugs myself ...

[Glad]

....or seperate rooms :D

[Tran]

....or seperate rooms :D

we've tried that and i can STILL hear the snoring. I have even tried been downstairs at the opposite end of the house while he is upstairs in the other far corner - it still disturbs my sleep. Only solution is sleeping in the summer hosue at the bottom of the garden (on summer nights - no good on winter nights!). It's a bit extreme when you feel driven out of your home due to snoring.

We're waiting to see the specialist about sleep apnea, apparently on the sleep study his oxygen levels were low.

[Testee]

Fortunately snoring is not a problem in my household but there is a natural supplement formulated by Higher Nature called Neversnore - might be worth a try:-

www.highernature.co.uk

It says you take 1-3 capsules a day depending on body weight or for fast results double the suggested intake for three weeks - 30 capsules is £6.90 and 90 capsules is £17.90. P+P is free.

Whilst I have not tried this particular product I can highly recommend Higher Nature as a supplement supplier - I have been using them for many years and find their products and service excellent.

Good Luck

[loopy_lass]

apologies for the spelling mistake, but my partner has SEVERE sleap apnea to the point of moving out and living in a seperate house, cancelling our wedding etc.

he has now being diagnosed with this and has been told he stops breathing 22 times per hour per night!!!!! its is extremely difficult situation, and i would reccomend a drs visit...

we are waiting for the next move from the hospital so will keep you informed..

loops

[pester]

have u ever heard of the anti-snooring dental device

u sleep with it overnight and it protudes your lower jaw forward hence keeping the airway fully open.

In some cases it works wonders

[catsonic]

my husband snores really bad!! i bought him a snore stopper! It was on sale at my work!! reduced from £30 to £15 and it has worked!! sad git that he is really likes it!! even plays with it when hes awake!! lol

http://www.healthcare-shop.co.uk/Hivox_Snore_Stopper.html

[catsonic]

I got mine from woolworths so check there if there is any left in your store first before buying from anywhere else. if there is none out on the shelves ask!! we dont mind checking in the stockroom incase there is any up there!!

[Penelope Trotter]

apologies for the spelling mistake, but my partner has SEVERE sleap apnea to the point of moving out and living in a seperate house, cancelling our wedding etc.

he has now being diagnosed with this and has been told he stops breathing 22 times per hour per night!!!!! its is extremely difficult situation, and i would reccomend a drs visit...

we are waiting for the next move from the hospital so will keep you informed..

loops
Hi Loops I too have sleep apnea & stop breathing 36 times per hour, also been told not to drive!! I've completed a CPAP trial which did the business so now have to buy my own - costs around £500+£600 - if you know where I can find one cheaper I'd be very grateful. Meanwhile I wish you & your partner luck & hope he gets treatment fast. Sleep Apnea is the pits! Penelope Trotter

[Penelope Trotter]

CPAP is one of the treatments available for people suffering with Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) which occurs when the muscles controlling the tongue and soft palate (roof of mouth) relax, causing snoring and breathing difficulties including the cessation of breathing, for up to 2 mins.
During this time the blood oxygen level drops, this eventually alerts the brain to wake the person up in order to take a breath. These awakenings can happen from a few times to several hundred times a night. The person is not fully woken by these events and in the morning will be unaware of any disturbances to their sleep, but as they have not had a long period of undisturbed sleep it will have an effect on their daily life.
These include, exhaustion during the day (to the point where they cannot stay awake), depression, irritablity, intellectual deterioration, sexual problems and morning headaches.

A CPAP system works by continuously pushing air through a mask into the nose (occasionally masks which cover the mouth are used). The air passes through the nose and into the throat, where the slight pressure keeps the upper airway open. This results in a night of uninterupted sleep.


Non-invasive Positive Pressure Ventilation (NPPV)
is used as a treatment in a variety of respiratory diseases such as, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), Cystic Fibrosis, Neuromuscular Disorders, Central Nervous System Disorders, where the patient suffers some level of respiratory failure during sleep, resulting in a type of sleep apnoea but not OSA, these patients would probably have been treated in a Hospital setting with a NPPV device before being discharged home with one,
NPPV devices are also used in the weaning of patients from Invasive ventilation.
Hi - thanks but there are 4 main causes of sleep apnea besides OSA, the message from the brain to breathe doesn't get through, also shallow breathing & sorry can't remember the last one, maybe because I have 36 apneas in every hour so now feel totally brain dead. My biggest problem is not being able to drive until I have my own CPAP machine. Apparently not everyone is told NOT to drive when they are diagnosed. I was unlucky to find a consultant who was insistant I must not drive & have had to inform the DVLA.....Penelope Trotter

[Penelope Trotter]

Hi Glad,

As a regular visitor to a specialised respiratory unit, I've seen a number of both CPAP and Nippy machines. The Nippys are (I believe) for more serious and rare apnoea cases, i.e. central apnoea where intermittent non-breathing is caused by messages from the brain, rather than a purely physical problem. I think there are at least three Nippy machines, although I'm not sure how they differ. CPAP's are by far the more common sleep aid and many units would probably have no cause to use any other machines.

The "many" breathing machines I mention are the number of different types of CPAP's and Nippys available, each tailored to an individual's specific breathing problem.

All these machines obviously work on the same principle though ... to force air up through the nasal passages to open up the airways.

Hope this helps a little. :)
Hi Mimi - any idea where I can get these CPAP machine. I now have a script for one from my specialist. My apnea is a mix of all 4 causes! They are so expensive - cheers Penelope Trotter