Friday 3 August 2012

Are you getting enough sleep ?

If you have been reading my blog you will know of my on-going struggle to sleep when A's snoring kicks in - so much so I often take my doona and pillow and move to the couch (which is really comfortable so not really a bad thing to do in order to get some sleep). 

It has been getting worse and eventually the other day I had the conversation with him that went along the lines of this :

Me : How many mornings of waking up alone do you think you will have before you think about doing something about your snoring ?
A : I don't know.
Me : Doesn't it make you sad when you wake up alone ?
A : Yes
Me : So why don't you do something about it ?
A : I don't know - what should I do ?
(By now I am thinking that maybe I am talking to a 3 yr old not a 48 yr old)
Me : How about going to the dr to get a referral to someone who can help you ?
A : But there is nothing they can do.
Me : Really - what makes you say that ?
A : Well X and Y have both had these operations and they still snore.
Me : Oh - how do you know that ?
A : Because they told me.
Me : The last time you spoke to them was before we left South Africa over 13 years ago - don't you think they have made progress in how to treat snoring along with everything else ?
A : I don't know - never really thought about it.
(Clearly at this point it is evident that he is never kept awake by me snoring !!!!!)
Me : Well let me tell you - I have thought about it plenty - especially when I am lying there and all I want to do is sleep and I can't because of your bloody snoring - GO AND SEE SOMEONE AND GET IT SORTED OUT ! (OK maybe I didn't quite yell it but I made sure he knew in no uncertain terms that I expected him to do something about it !!!)

He did land up making an appointment and got a referral to go to the sleep doctor and off we went to his appointment on Monday.  The problem is that the dr sent him straight to the sleep doctor instead of going for the sleep test first !!!!! Good work doctor !  But he saw us anyway - explained how many cycles of sleep we should have and how long each one should last and how if your sleep is interrupted this or that happens and what can interrupt sleep (elbows rated quite high in this category).  He drew lots of little pictures and throats and how they are open or closed or partially closed and then delivered the words that nearly saw me jump over his desk and kiss him :

Help is at hand - this can be resolved.

Those words were like a glass of Amarula after a cr*ppy day - pure gold to my soul !!!

So, he has a sleep test booked for later this month when we get back from NZ and then an appointment the following week for the results and a plan of attack for how we can sort this out.

Linking in with Stacey-Lee at getonwithitalready for Team Friday because when you don't get sufficient good sleep, life can becoming pretty over whelming. 

And linking in with Dorothy from singularinsanity because I know that snoring sucks, I know that he can't help it and I know that help is at hand - I've put up with it for so long another few weeks will be a breeze to get through (I hope !!)

Now to get through two weeks holiday in hotel rooms that don't have a loungeroom I can escape to !!!

Are you getting enough good sleep to allow you function when you wake up ?  Do you have any tips for me for dealing with A's snoring while we are away ?

TFTD : Obstacles are put in our way to see if what we want is really worth fighting for.

36 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Thanks for that suggestions Lisa - think I will invest in a pair before we leave.
      Have a great weekend !
      Me

      Delete
  2. I have to admit I'm not the best sleeper and maybe one day it will catch up with me..actually the fact that I am usually in bed by 10pm probably indicates it already has :)

    I think you should wake hubby up and tell him he is snoring every single time he wakes you up....maybe then he will see what a serious issue it is...particularly when you are both cranky pants the following day! Best of luck.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL Kirri - I do wake him up - he rolls over and is asleep before he has turned !! Thankfully it is only me who is cranky. The dr asked about what worries him with the snoring and his reply was "Getting it in the ribs !"
      Have a great weekend !
      Me

      Delete
  3. oh man. Hubby and I both snore, but we stop once our noses are held (probably not recommended by professionals, but it works for us). I feel your pain though. I've been on at my husband since we got together to see a Dr about why he can never breathe through his nose and why I can hear him breathing at the opposite end of the couch. But has he? No. It was almost the straw that broke the camels back when we were first together!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If I get to sleep before him I am OK - it is only if I am awake when he starts that it drives me nuts. I've tried holding his nose but didn't make any difference. He turned over and carried on snoring !
      Have the best weekend !
      Me

      Delete
  4. have you tried those nasal strip things? hate snoring my hubby does it every now and then.. makes me very pissy and I kick him one to get him to stop.. alcohol makes it worse for him..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yip - tried the nose strips, tried the nose sprays - make no difference. Alcohol also makes it worse - and because that is self inflicted, I make him go to sleep in the lounge if he has had a few drinks !!
      Have a great weekend !
      Me

      Delete
  5. I'm still giggling at the thought of you leaping over the doctor's desk to kiss him... in front of A! :D
    Wonderful to know he's finally on the right track for you both though! Have an amazing weekend! xxXOoo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL I think that the dr would have been a bit surprised - A would have taken it all in his stride !!! The dr, at stages, was more interested in talking rugby union to us once he realised we were from SA and followed the game !!!! No wonder he was running so bloody late.
      Have a great weekend with lots of photos !
      Me

      Delete
  6. Oh Sleep how I love it, when I can get it! My problem is not so much a snoring partner as an overworked mind but I do find when my Hubby is very tired, he snores and it is very irritating and hard to sleep next to so I know your pain, how awful to deal with that every night. I have found Hubby only snores when he moves to sleep on his back, I give him a bit of a shake to half wake him and he automatically moves to lie on his side, snoring stops!

    Thanks for linking up with TEAM Friday! Stacey-Lee :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Stacey-Lee - unfortunately A will snore on his back, his side or his stomach - I normally nudge him (actually more than nudge but less than a push) and tell him to change positions from whichever position he is in - that will stop it for all of maybe a minute or two and then he starts up again !!
      Have a great weekend and thanks for organising Team Friday !
      Me

      Delete
  7. Oh, good luck with the tests! I hope it gets all sorted out soon!
    Nothing like trying to sleep with a snoring partner.
    The. Worse!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Grace - I also hope the sleep test shows what is wrong and what they can fix.
      Have a great weekend - love, hugs and positive energy.
      Me

      Delete
  8. I can totally imagine how hard it would be to feel the love! My Dad is a shocking snorer (sleep apnoea) and Mum has tinnitus so she sleeps with head phones with the radio on. They are quite the picture, he with his CPAP machine and she with her head phones, but the still sleep together! I am amazed.
    Mr J and I rarely sleep together and I hate it. I definitely do not get enough sleep. I run on about 1 -2 gears, where I used to run on 5. One day we will get a full nights sleep. And hopefully SOON! xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh Lee - I so hear you - for about 15 years I survived on 3-4hrs sleep a night - purely because I could not switch my brain off. I tried everything - meditation, music, exercise, breathing exercises - you name it I tried it but nothing seemed to work. I would be totally exhausted and not able to sleep. Eventually I would take a sleeping tablet which would give me 4 hours of solid sleep. Back then A's snoring wasn't as bad as it is now otherwise I am sure we wouldn't still be together !!!!
      I don't know if I could sleep with him and the CPAP machine - hopefully they can find something else to fix the problem !!!
      Yes, here's to a full nights sleep for you soon !!!! I do manage to get some sleep when A is away on business.I hope you get some sleep soon - maybe someone can have A & J one night and let you sleep ?
      Have as good a weekend as you can !
      Me

      Delete
  9. I read every word of this post with great attention... Thank God my husband doesn't snore but I can tell you my mum and my brother did and I remember how painful this was. I remember I use to hear them from my bedroom. But I'm so happy your husband decided to do something about it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL - my Mom and Dad both snore and I can remember lying in bed listening to them at night if I got home late and they were already asleep !!!
      Have a great weekend and thanks for popping by.
      Me

      Delete
  10. I hope your get a fast easy resolution , sorry no ideas for how deal with snoring on holidays. Sleeping pills ? For you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for stopping by Trish. I have some sleeping tablets that I will take with me - the trouble is that even if I take them he always seems to fall asleep before me and if I can't get to sleep before it starts - it's hard to get to sleep once it has started !!!! I reckon he is just lucky I love him so much otherwise we probably wouldn't be celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary this year !!
      Have a great weekend !
      Me

      Delete
  11. No help on how to cope with hubby's snoring... sorry.
    My husband snores a bit, but it doesn't stop me sleeping.
    Apparently I SNORE too... lol!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL Chris - that sounds like both my folks !!!! When they used to visit (before they moved here)it was like a concert coming from their bedroom !!!
      Have a great day !
      Me

      Delete
  12. Definitely ear plugs, and god on you for giving him the kick up the bottom he needed to get it sorted out. In our family it's me who snores!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Seana - good luck to your husband !!!
      Have a great day.
      Me

      Delete
  13. Thank heavens you have a plan!

    I used have a kidlet or two in my bed occasionally which mucked around with my sleep, but these days my sleeplessness is usually self-inflicted. Functioning on limited sleep is hell...

    Thanks for linking up for Things I Know this week!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My sleep patterns are cr*p to start with - his snoring just makes them worse !!
      Have the best Tuesday.
      Me

      Delete
  14. I also head to the couch quite regularly due to a snoreathon happening next to me! I may have to book Mr Handyman into the Drs to see what can be done...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Will definitely let you know how we get on with the sleep test and the solution they come up with to help resolve the problem.
      Have the best day !
      Me

      Delete
  15. Yes, it's amazing how the other half "doesn't know what to do" - I keep saying, "see your GP first"... blah, blah, blah. I've solved the problem as we're now a FIFO family and I only have to wear earplugs when he is home..ah the serenity!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL - wonder if it is a male thing !!!!! There have been times when I have been pleased he is away on business because I know I can have some peaceful nights !!!!
      Have a great day !
      Me

      Delete
  16. Lol I hardly think I'm getting enough sleep with an. 18month old that doesn't sleep through the night. Do I get enough sleep to function? Ummmm barely. Do I have any suggestion for A, ummmm no I'm to tired to think straight.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL - no with an 18 month only you definitely aren't getting enough sleep !!! Hope you can nap during the day sometimes !!
      Have a great day !
      Me

      Delete
  17. You're very fortunate that your husband was willing to see a doctor! My husband makes all kinds of freaky noises all night long but he could care less if it wakes me or keeps me awake. I have a "white noise" machine to drown him out as much as possible but often time, I will just get up and go down to the sofa. Doing that is a better option for me than punching him in the nose (which is what I'd really like to do).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL - I have thought of using a pillow some nights but have managed to control myself !!!! Yes, I am really thankful that he is going to do something about it - just hoping that there is something they can do to help and not make him wear one of those CPAP machines otherwise I might just send him to the lounge each night !!
      Have the best day !
      Me

      Delete
  18. My husband was snoring badly and had a sleep test, he was recommended for a Temporo mandibular splint, a type of mouth guard which is less intrusive than a cpap machine, he has had it about a year now, I never hear any snoring unless he forgets to put it in. He is much healthier, has a better colour in his face/cheeks, and I sleep much better too!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for that - it certainly sounds better (and more pleasant) than the cpap machine !!! He went for the sleep test last night and we go to the specialist next Monday to get the results. The lady did say that he had snored because I was a little worried that last night would be one of his very infrequent 'non-snoring' nights !!
      Will be posting about how things go.
      Have a great day and thanks for stopping by.
      Me

      Delete

I love getting comments - please feel free to leave a comment to let me know you were here !
Have the best day.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...