Snoring husbands....HELP!

erinkate23

My DH snores like CRAZY when he sleeps on his back. 

In the past, as long as I wore earplugs and fell asleep before he flipped over, there's been no problem....but now that I have to get up every 3 hours to pee, it's really becoming a challenge!  I have to wake him up, get him to flip over, or lie there and want to kill him every time that lawnmower noise echoes through our bedroom.  Plus, he's a super heavy sleeper and it's really hard to wake him up.

I ended up on the couch last night at 3am.  When DH wakes up and finds me on the couch, he feels terrible...and I don't think I'm gonna fit on the couch much longer! 

Any suggestions? 

chrisloveskristen

I am totally with you! It didn't really used to bother me, but now I have a harder time sleeping and wake up more frequently so it is really bad. I have to get up and move the the couch too...I wear earplugs too but then I end up taking them out in the middle of the night and then I can't find them. I am curious to know what other people are going to recommend...

jen-dale

I wish I had an answer. I end up on the couch after I have to wake up to pee.

Cow-girl

My Dh is the same way.  I swear he snores on purpose.  He can be quiet as a mouse then I get up to pee and when my butt hits the bed he starts snoring LOUD!  Ugh, makes me want to hold a pillow over his face.  And it is worse when you have to get up a couple times a night to pee.. 

I wish I had some advice for you, but I dont...  Know that I am in the same boat with you!

Irishsapphire

We have a second bedroom with a double bed--technically it is for guests.  And it will be for the baby when the baby comes.  But I normally go into the second bedroom when my husband breathes harder or snores. 

I also figure that this is going to work better to have the second bedroom as well with the extra bed because at least one of us will get a good night sleep and the baby will learn to sleep in its own room but I can watch the baby if I am sleeping in the second bedroom.  I was thinking about putting a cradle in our bedroom that can easily be moved.  And the crib in the second bedroom. 

The second bedroom (for guests, etc,) is a godsend. 

GershiGirl

Okay, this might sound weird, but I've heard it really works.  If the problem is when he sleeps on his back try putting a tennis ball into a sock and then attaching it with a safety pin to the back of his t-shirt or whatever he wears to bed.  This is supposed to keep him from turning on his back at night, because it will be too uncomfortable for him to roll onto his back.

Of course, I have to qualify this suggestion by saying that I've never actually tried it   My DH snores a lot, but usually I can just nudge him and he'll turn over and stop snoring (for a few minutes anyway)

erinkate23

I like the tennis ball idea.  I was thinking about putting a twin/full bed in the nursery, but I don't know if there's room....it's not a huge room. 

 And I'm really glad to know I'm not alone!

nicobean1

If he's snoring like that, he could have sleep apnea which is actually a very serious condition (DH and my dad both have it). Your DH needs to speak with a doctor about it. The solution could be as simple as Breathe Right strips (have him start with those), and the doctor may start with prescribing a nasal spray if there's inflammation, but since he only does it on his back, it could be because of a low palate or his airway is constricted. The doctor may ultimately prescribe a sleep study, wherein DH would sleep at a hospital or sleep center while his vitals are monitored. If it's determined that he has sleep apnea, he will probably be referred to an ENT and may be prescribed a CPAP (mask to wear at night that provides continuous positive air pressure to keep his airway open).

My DH has slept with a CPAP for 3 years, but the snoring has worsened (he's now snoring through the mask), and since I don't want to take lunesta and wear earplugs (which is what I have to do if we sleep in the same room), he sleeps in the other room and has for almost a year now. We went back to the ENT, and he has a septoplasty planned for January (surgery on his septum in the nose) and it may have to be followed by another surgery in February to open up the palate in the back of his throat.

So start with the breathe right strips, but if this does not improve, he needs to talk to his doctor.

Eviebee

I have no suggestions, I am in the same boat.  It's awful.  I have to try the ear plugs though.  Right now I will head to DD's bed b/c it's big and comfy and she's quiet. 

erinkate23

nicobean1:

If he's snoring like that, he could have sleep apnea which is actually a very serious condition (DH and my dad both have it). Your DH needs to speak with a doctor about it.

Unfortunately, he has.  He has had apnea pretty much his whole life; when he was 16 he had surgery to remove his adnoids and some of the soft tissue.  As long as he's not on his back, he's fine, and the surgery made it so he keeps a continual flow of air.  No need for a CPAP, thankfully.... just better earplugs for me!!

1stTimeMommy2Be

nose strips ALL THE WAY! the breathe-right ones... my husband said the tan ones are better than the clear ones by the way... he says they stick better... loveeee them.... he doesn't use afrin or neosenepherine anymore!