Any advice on snoring, please?

I have read with delight, all the tips readers have sent today, my DH snores, he is grossly overweight, tired in the day, works part time, sometimes to midday, then comes home, has a short sleep, then in the evening sleeps in front of the TV, I realise today, he must have sleep apnoea, cant think of anything else making him so tired, I think a Doctors appointment will help, to solve the problem, lets hope so, also to save a marriage! Thanks fellow Gransnets

Yes or a tennis ball!

Never tried it myself but years ago I saw a suggestion of sewing cotton reels into the back of pyjama top to discourage rolling onto ones back.

My son in law has recently lost 5 stone. My daughter say he has stopped snoring completely. Just makes me think, I'm a snorer and weigh 14 stone. Time to do something about it. As to the spray for your throat, I couldn't tolerate it. It made me gag.

I'm a snorer and have just bought a device called Mute snoring aid.This works by fitting inside your nostrils allowing more air to pass through-it has very good reviews and I will let you know if it works for me!

I found earplugs vey uncomfortable until I happened on the wax ones and cut 1/3 off each! Make sure they're really soft by putting them in a warm place (in your bra?!) then squash them in your ears wher they mould to the shape of the ear canal.
I now have custom fit earplugs - best money I ever spent. DH has sleep apnea but couldn't get on with cpap machine.

My husband is a snorer of the earth-shattering type, and I persuaded him to go to the doctor about it. All the GP said was, "Can't your wife wear ear plugs?" I already did and could still hear him, so that wasn't very helpful. We tried the nasal strips but they didn't make much difference. I just persevere with the ear plugs, an elbow in the small of his back and frequent hissed instructions to lie on his side. (Slightly less awful than when he lies on his back.) However, you can't really make a friend wear ear plugs or ask her to roll you onto your side, so advice from the chemist is probably your best bet, unless you've got a really helpful GP.

But are you sure you snore? You've only got your ex's word for it. Could you get a relative to share a room with you for a night, to check it out before you go on holiday? You might be worrying for nothing.

Just a rider, although obviously a personal one. I found ear plugs to be extremely uncomfortable and nasal strips for him not to work one iota. The terrible din continued.

TrishTopcat, I would go to a chemist you feel you can trust and talk through the many options that are available before spending money on anything. It may be that you will need to try several products before alighting on one that suits you and of course if you are normally on your own, you'll have difficulty in knowing what's works and what doesn't. You may find that you sleep better with a product that works which could be a clue.

The nasal spray my husband uses has almost saved our marriage and would save your friendship on your forthcoming trip but perhaps you could speak to a professional for help and advice.

If money isn't an issue, could you book yourself a twin room and hen pay half of hers?

Those little nasal strips actually work, can't remember the name though I'm sure you'll be able to Google it. The sprays do work as well. Have a nice holiday.

My husband's snoring was so bad it was going to be separate houses let alone separate rooms. I can't bear ear plugs and we desperate. We tried all the usual and then saw an advert for Sleep Guard. It's a bit like a boxer's gum shield but it pushes the bottom jaw forward and stops the snoring. It worked and although it took a bit of getting used to, and isn't very elegant, even my husband has to admit that he sleeps better.He was waking himself up with the loudness of his snoring. Since then he has lost a bit of weight and no longer snores but it saved our marriage at the time!!
Not much use for Trish I fear as I think they are a bit big for ladies.

My husband was nearly killed by his snoring.............

The pillow I held in my hands hovered about his orifices (nasal) and I wanted, really wanted, to do the deed and stop the commotion. Just stop it. Something had to change (new husband?)

The solution was that he lost some weight and probably best of all, saw our GP and was prescribed 'Fluticasone propionate nasal spray 50 mcg'.

This seems to have been a lifesaver (his) as he now sleeps like a (quiet) baby with barely a murmur.

I can thoroughly recommend this nose spray. It may be available over the counter, I don't know but it has certainly helped him and saved our marriage! Lucky man!!

Ear plugs tell your. Friend to tell you to shut up if she can't sleep it will make you change your position which often helps enjoy your holiday .?

I holiday several times a year with a friend who snores like you would never want to hear. The noise builds up to a full operatic crescendo before repeating itself all night long. The first night (and we had to share a double bed) I wondered what on earth I'd let myself in for, I barely slept, but she looked relaxed after a good night's sleep. Next morning I was at the pharmacy door when it opened buying earplugs, and they do make a difference as they blank out the worst of the noise. I now insist the hotels always allocate us a twin room which is marginally better. In uk budget hotels we have a room each though.

Also give your friend permission to poke you in the night if you roll onto your back and start snoring.

Hi Trish, I agree you should tell your friend, she will probably be more sympathetic than someone who sleeps with a snoring a partner every night. My DH snored loud enough to wake the dead. He had it checked out and it turned out to be sleep apnoea. He now has a mask at night which has cured it completely.

However you won't be able to sort this out before your holiday. Sadly, we tried every remedy known and nothing really works.The only advice I can offer is not to drink alcohol in the evening, as it makes the palate collapse in people who have a propensity to snore. If you happen to smoke, that also has the same effect as alcohol. Try to sleep on your side, and yes, warn your friend to take earplugs. If you take some exercise on holiday it might help your friend drop off more easily if she is tired enough.

Your friend could take a herbal tea which promotes sleep at bed time. A friend of mine has a DH who snores terribly, asks her GP for a mild, short term sleeping tablet for when they go camping. She gets it on prescription. It might seem a bit extreme for your friend though, but it is an option.

Do get checked out for sleep apnoea though. Enjoy your holiday both of you.

Hi Trish. This is one of those 'unspoken' things that once you actually speak of it to your friends you will find almost everyone admits to! I never go anywhere without earplugs. They don't blank out all noise but they do make it bearable. Enjoy your trip.

Oh what a delemer Trish Topcat, my DH suffered for years from storing or should I say, the whole family suffered, we tried every product that was available over the counter, but to no avail. He even had an operation, to lazer his uvular(wiggly bit at the back of the throat), to shorten it. This was a private preceedure which cost us dearly, but we were desperate. Unfortunately after 3 months the Snoring returned, we were not told that it would grow again!!!. No way would I put him under that again as he suffered extreme pain. However after tests from our GP it showed he had accute sleep apnea, and was given a breathing mask to wear at night, now he and everyone else can sleep perfectly well, all thanks to our National Health system. I advise that after your holiday you contact your doctor, and arrange for tests, without the pain of surgery, good luck, happy holiday.

Sorry for posting again, Nytol is only £11, even at pricey Boots. I buy from Amazon online at £10.

Pattie is right, it works! It's like a mousse/foam. I take pain meds for my back and I snore if I take any at night, so it's an ongoing problem for me.

If you sleep on your side, choose the twin bed that puts your face so that you are not facing your friend's bed. She might snore too, though. It seems to come with age. LOL!

An extra pillow helps too for me.

Good luck! Bet you will have a great time.

Stay awake for the duration of the holiday.

I second the spray , but like skyjoe4 I have sleep apnoea & now thanks to my darling cpap machine don't snore at all. Other symptoms of sleep apnoea include thing like being tired during the day, falling asleep incredibly easily & lack of concentration

Nytol anti snore its £14 but works.

Apparently I snore... He says. And apparently I don't if I sleep on my stomach. I'm getting quite good at it now and usually manage to wake myself when I roll onto my back.
Also, those strips which you stick over the bridge of your nose help and there's a spray you can get from the chemist. One squirt on the back of the throat before bed tightens the soft palette. It helps - but tastes horrible.
Enjoy your holiday.

Tell your friend that you snore, you may find that she does too which will reduce your anxiety. This is exactly what happened to me. I had always made excuses not to go on holiday with anyone after I developed the dreaded snore, however my friend and I really wanted to go to India. I told her I would love to go but I snore so therefore would not go, to my relief she said 'so do I'. What a relief, we both took Iplayers and put the earphones in to listen to music or an audio book until we slept. I don't know how loud my snoring is (since been diagnosed with sleep apnoea), but my friend snored like a train. It didn't cause either of us a problem as we were prepared and we did loads of travel together around the world before we retired to our respective countries.