# Snoring: Seriously, help me out here. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 6, 2012, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snoring-seriously-help-me-out-here/633900 "2012-09-06T20:16:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snoring-seriously-help-me-out-here/633900/21 "2012-09-10T13:31:53Z")
> [@yorick73](#): > > Have you tried those Breathe Right strips? They do reduce, but not eliminate, snoring. They certainly helped my husband a lot. ---
**Author:** ![Rich\_G7subs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85e7bf/32.png) [@Rich\_G7subs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rich_G7subs)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snoring-seriously-help-me-out-here/633900/22 "2012-09-10T14:59:25Z")
I use a product called “Provent”. It cut my snoring down by 90%. MUCH better than the breathe right strips. These things are little band aids with check valve dealies that go in your nostrils. They keep a positive back pressure in your nasal cavity. (Just like a Cpap does) They are kind of a PITA to get in, especially if you have facial hair, but they plain WORK. They ain’t cheap, though (192$ for a 3 month supply). Link is below. You will need a prescription and it’s not covered by insurance. [http://www.nomaskneeded.com/](http://www.nomaskneeded.com/) ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snoring-seriously-help-me-out-here/633900/23 "2012-09-10T15:23:38Z")
Thanks for all the suggestions. In order of increasing intervention it sounds like: Lose weight breath right strips mouthpiece Sleep study provent CPAP. I’m now working on #1, and will try #2 soon. ---
**Author:** ![Rich\_G7subs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85e7bf/32.png) [@Rich\_G7subs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rich_G7subs)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snoring-seriously-help-me-out-here/633900/24 "2012-09-10T16:14:22Z")
> [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](#): > > Thanks for all the suggestions. In order of increasing intervention it sounds like: > > Lose weight > breath right strips > mouthpiece > Sleep study > provent > CPAP. > > I’m now working on #1, and will try #2 soon. I’d change sleep study to number 1, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snoring-seriously-help-me-out-here/633900/25 "2012-09-10T17:50:26Z")
> [@Rich\_G7subs](#): > > I’d change sleep study to number 1, IMHO. Forgive me for not paying enough attention, but how does a sleep study stop you from snoring? ---
**Author:** ![Rich\_G7subs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85e7bf/32.png) [@Rich\_G7subs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rich_G7subs)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snoring-seriously-help-me-out-here/633900/26 "2012-09-10T19:52:42Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Forgive me for not paying enough attention, but how does a sleep study stop you from snoring? It won’t, but how do you know you don’t have apnea? They’ll be able to tell you if your snoring is interrupting your REM sleep as well. I have mild apnea but snore like a chainsaw. ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snoring-seriously-help-me-out-here/633900/27 "2012-09-10T23:42:18Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Forgive me for not paying enough attention, but how does a sleep study stop you from snoring? To be a bit pedantic: It might stop you from dying. If the underlying reason of the snoring is one of the more dangerous ones. But I think you understand the risks there, and are weighing it appropriate for yourself. I’m not criticizing. And I’m certainly not commenting on which path I’d take. 🙂 -D/a ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snoring-seriously-help-me-out-here/633900/28 "2012-09-11T00:39:03Z")
> [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](#): > > To be a bit pedantic: It might stop you from dying. > If the underlying reason of the snoring is one of the more dangerous ones. > > But I think you understand the risks there, and are weighing it appropriate for yourself. I’m not criticizing. And I’m certainly not commenting on which path I’d take. 🙂 > > -D/a You still are not explaining anything, though. 🙂 I presume a sleep study finds out that you have sleep apneia (sp) and explains how they can cure it for a few thousand dollars. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snoring-seriously-help-me-out-here/633900/29 "2012-09-11T01:15:56Z")
I’m not sure how available sleep studies are in my area. I’ll check. ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snoring-seriously-help-me-out-here/633900/30 "2012-09-11T01:52:27Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > You still are not explaining anything, though. 🙂 > > I presume a sleep study finds out that you have sleep apneia (sp) and explains how they can cure it for a few thousand dollars. I can’t really explain much, except that my father used to snore loud enough that my Mom kicked him out of the bedroom quite a lot. He went to a sleep study, got diagnosed, got a CPAP with specific settings, and now sleeps next to Mom. That, and the web claims that severe sleep apnea can be life threatening. I’d say it helps find out IF you have sleep apnea, gives you treatment options, and costs something. I don’t have any insight into the costs in my part of the world, or other people’s. I suppose some clinics may find everyone has sleep apnea. I’d hope a reputable firm would only diagnose people who really have it. That’s why I asked if the OP’s wife had watched him sleep..there are some fairly obvious signs of a bad case. **Attack from the 3rd dimension** doesn’t have do one, obviously..but it’s worth at least seeing what the options involved are. -D/a ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snoring-seriously-help-me-out-here/633900/31 "2012-09-11T02:16:31Z")
How much does CPAP cost? I dress out at 110, do not have sleep apneia (sp) and do snore. So have all three of my wives. We are all still alive. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![AndrewL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@AndrewL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AndrewL)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snoring-seriously-help-me-out-here/633900/32 "2012-09-11T02:30:46Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > How much does CPAP cost? > > I dress out at 110, do not have sleep apneia (sp) and do snore. > So have all three of my wives. > We are all still alive. 🙂 The one time I had to buy my own, it was $600. Since then I’ve been able to have health insurance replace the machine and masks/headgear/filters/etc. We paid out of pocket because it was a major health issue. I have severe sleep apnea. Without a CPAP machine, I actually stop breathing repeatedly during the night, and then am a wreck in the morning from terrible oxygen deprived sleep. ---
**Author:** ![Rich\_G7subs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85e7bf/32.png) [@Rich\_G7subs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rich_G7subs)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snoring-seriously-help-me-out-here/633900/33 "2012-09-11T12:28:49Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > How much does CPAP cost? > > I dress out at 110, do not have sleep apneia (sp) and do snore. > So have all three of my wives. > We are all still alive. 🙂 How do you KNOW you don’t have sleep apnea? The sleep study will tell you. I swore up and down that I did NOT have apnea, but study proved otherwise. Like I said, mine is VERY mild and not life threatening but it was disturbing my REM sleep. I sleep much better now using the prescribed provent. They tried to push the Cpap on me, but I wanted other options first ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snoring-seriously-help-me-out-here/633900/34 "2012-09-11T20:44:42Z")
> [@AndrewL](#): > > Getting a CPAP machine cured my snoring completely. You’ll need to go for a sleep study, and then learn to sleep with a breathing mask strapped to your face, but it worked in my case. My husband ( **Typo Knig** ) snored terribly. It’s a family thing: his father shakes the rafters, and as Typo aged, he began to snore and was getting worse, and seriously disturbing my sleep (which for a number of reasons was not something I could afford). I made him go for a sleep study. End result (after the initial sleep clinic said "some apnea, too mild to bother, and he took the results elsewhere where they said "well, OUR standards are to treat that level): CPAP, and no more snoring. My father-in-law has, supposedly, discussed the snoring with his doctor and my mother-in-law claims he had some kind of study. I honestly think she’s misguided and/or he has lied to her. The man is obese and in his 70s and has snored for decades. Pretty much the poster child for someone who needs CPAP. All that said: the OP should definitely discuss with the doctor to see what might be a valid approach. It’s entirely possible he does NOT have apnea, “just” snoring, but it should certainly be considered and ruled out. Then look into things like the jaw positioner. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snoring-seriously-help-me-out-here/633900/35 "2012-09-11T20:50:28Z")
> [@Cartooniverse](#): > > Ha !! My Dearly Beloved™ Nicknamed it Darth… :::snerk::: I got mine before my husband did, so I nabbed the name Darth. His is, of course, Ella. 😃 (alternately, they’re Babar and Celeste). ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snoring-seriously-help-me-out-here/633900/36 "2012-09-11T22:06:27Z")
Is one required to name the damned machines? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snoring-seriously-help-me-out-here/633900/37 "2012-09-11T22:19:30Z")
I can’t imagine…I mean, a shower after sex, maybe, but donning a Darth Vader helmet? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snoring-seriously-help-me-out-here/633900/38 "2012-09-11T22:55:23Z")
> [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](#): > > Is one required to name the damned machines? No, but if you don’t, the insurance company treats it as an out-of-network purchase and you have a higher copay ;). ---
**Author:** ![Mops](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mops/32/16494_2.png) [@Mops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mops)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snoring-seriously-help-me-out-here/633900/39 "2012-09-12T11:15:17Z")
Our solution: I remind my SO last thing before sleeping: “Darling, remember, don’t be shy. If snore then poke”. She reports it almost always works, and I seem to almost never wake up from it (at least I hardly ever remember in the morning) ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snoring-seriously-help-me-out-here/633900/40 "2012-09-12T22:19:36Z")
Moved from General Questions to IMHO. **samclem** , moderator [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snoring-seriously-help-me-out-here/633900.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snoring-seriously-help-me-out-here/633900.md?page=3)