Any advice to stop or control snoring?

[David1961]

Here’s the deal. I snore so loud that sometimes I wake myself up. I normally sleep alone but whenever I have someone else in the room, they say I snore loudly but they have not noticed that my breathing stops. I’ve been to my family doctor and he will not do a sleep study because he does not think I have sleep apnea since I’m not overweight. And I’m not particularly tired during the day but I do sleep about 9 hours a night. I also use nasal strips and they do not seem to help. Has anyone been in the same situation and have any suggestions? Has anyone used any OTC products to reduce snoring? In theory, to move your lower jaw forward seems logical, but are there any side effects of this? Is there a type of doctor that specializes in snoring?

 

[freebird5825]

Snoring - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Loud snoring is often the precursor to the development of sleep apnea.
I personally would insist on a sleep study to RULE OUT sleep apnea. How can the doctor know you don't have it without a confirmed study?

I snore slightly if sleeping on my back. Simply turning on my side solves that problem.

 

[Martha]

My doctor's husband is a skinny runner and he has sleep apnea.

 

[Rich_by_the_Bay]

A physician can make a fairly reasonable estimate about whether sleep apnea is likely by looking at the history (including apnea observed by a partner), related symptoms (morning headache, daytime somnolence), and physical exam (for blockage in the pharynx, obesity, etc.). Accuracy can be improved by a simple overnight oxygen monitor which, if normal throughout the night, makes sleep apnea unlikely. So a complete $leep $tudy may not be needed in all cases.

However, if key findings are present, or symptoms are severe and persistent to the point of severely interfering with sleep, or if there is unexplained swelling, enlarged heart, etc. then the full study should be considered.

I would not try to second guess your physician's advice, though your ongoing concerns may be worth discussing again.

Be aware that there are some sleep centers which are less scientific and evidence-based than others. I have had more than a few patients who had "abnormal sleep studies" and were put on CPAP with expensive rentals and equipment purchases, lots of inconvenience, insurance-related effects and when the results were reviewed by an objective sleep specialist at an academic center, they were either questionable, technically inadequate, or downright within normal limits. Do your homework as you should with any "agenda-based" centers (those who might benefit disproportionately from finding a particular diagnosis) -- your primary doctor could be a great resource in getting you to someone good.

 

[RonBoyd]

Get a new doctor. Apnea is a killer.

 

[donheff]

I had my uvula (sp?) laser blasted off some years ago. It reduced my snoring but didn't eliminate it. Last I heard that techniques is passe. There were new techniques to harden the upper palate reducing the vibrations that snoring involves. No idea how effective the treatments are.

 

[W2R]

Here's a thread on snoring, that I thought was interesting:

http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f38/snoring-32218.html

 

[SteveL]

As someone who is married to a loud snorer, and assuming you don't have apnea, I offer the following:

1) Get a separate bedroom. Everybody sleeps better.
2) The soft silicone earplugs that you roll into a ball a cover the ear canal really work.
3) Even if you have apnea, and get a breathing machine, the noise of the machine means no one will want to sleep with you anyway.....

 

[Ed_The_Gypsy]

I snored and my wife said my breathing stopped. She badgered me into a sleep test. I learned that I had/have sleep apnea. My doctor prescribed a CPAP machine for me. I wear it every night. I do not snore now and I get a LOT more rest. The machine is very quiet--much quieter than me sawing logs. If your doctor prescribes a CPAP machine, do not be afraid of it. Sleep apnea is real and you can get relief.

Best of luck.

 

[RonBoyd]

Sleep Apnea Connection to Stroke and Death Explained by New Study

 

[jambo101]

Sleep Apnea Support Forum Index
Good support forum for anything to do with sleep apnea.