Snoring!

LegacyUser

This might seem like a trivial issue, when I know there are a lot of people with worse things going on in their lives, but I'm having a real problem with my snoring.

I'm a girl in mid twenties, and, according to my parents anyway, I've always snored. But, it's only in the last few years that I became very self conscious about it.

My ex (obviously) knew all about it, and he called it "purring", but that didn't stop him having to wear earplugs at times! Now I'm single (not 'cause of the snoring though! ) and I'm actually backing away from some guys 'cause I don't want to spend the night with them and have them hear me!

Now, I don't mind taking the p/ss out of myself, and there are some guys who I've told, look - I hope you're a heavy sleeper! But other ones, especially if I've gone on dates with guys from work or who would know me fairly well, are the ones I feel uncomfortable sleeping with. I'd like to think of myself as fairly - well, ladylike is the wrong word - but not somebody who sounds like a half slaughtered pig when unconscious!

Years ago I paid €200 for a consultation for laser treatment and was told that there was nothing that could be done. I believe there are new treatments out there, but they're working out at a couple of grand, and I just can't afford that - especially as there are no guarantees. I've tried the strips and sprays but they don't work for me, nor will a mouth guard seemingly.

It's actually becoming a huge issue for me, because, when I do spend the night with a guy, I generally wake up feeling very paranoid - wondering if I've kept them up all night and driven them mad! I'm actually afraid to ask them how they slept in case they didn't sleep at all. I know myself, if I'm with a guy who snores badly, I want to smother them with a pillow!!

It's really horrible having this thing that I have no control over. I breath normally during the day - I wish I could just do the same at night! It's really harsh as well because I was hoping to do a bit of solo travel this year, but I couldn't stay in a dormitory hostel 'cause I would drive everybody mad!

Of my friends, I only know one other girl who snores - it really seems like a guy thing more than a girl thing. Fellas wouldn't expect to be seeing a girl and things are going nicely and then the first night together ends in noise of the wrong kind!

I don't know. I'm probably making this into a bigger issue than it should be, but everything else is grand. I'm happy meeting guys, going on dates, getting to know them, etc., but this is like - "Yep, nice girl, dresses well, we can have a bit of craic... Wait, wait - she sounds like a jackhammer FFS!!!"

meoklmrk91

I know plenty of girls who snore, you're asleep you can't help it, a friend of mine would keep the whole house awake lol.

Have you tried different sleeping positions, you are far less likely to snore on your side than your back.

I'm not trying to minimise it as I can see you are self conscious about it. But try and laugh at it, I've found that if I'm self conscious about something and I'm the first one to make a joke about it, it takes away its power over you.

spankysue

I'm a snorer too and I've often kept my OH awake at night with it but he's stuck with me for 15 years regardless so I think that when you meet the right person, they'll love you even if you do sound like a jackhammer when you're asleep.

The advice about sleeping on your side is good too, I do this now and it helps a lot.

It's definitely not just a man thing either, I know plenty of women who snore and snore loud. My SIL once stayed in our house and she was snoring so loudly, I thought our house was being broken into and sent my fella downstairs to check

JuliusCaesar

British Snoring Foundation has a quiz on their site so you can check what's causing the snoring, and is there anything you can do about it. Worth checking out.

mud

I could have written your post myself OP. I'm a little older than you and my snoring really stresses me out. I've had long-term boyfriends, one didn't care, another was really enraged by it

I've tried the sprays, the snoring ring and the nose/mouth guard and nothing has worked.

I usually tell people before they go to sleep beside me and keep some boxes of ear-plugs handy!

I know how you feel. I am so reluctant to share a room with someone. Even and, I guess especially good friends. I just hate the vibes the next morning. I can't help it! I've had my adenoids removed and sleep on my side naturally yet still manage to sound like an angle-grinder getting ridden by a cement mixer.

Go forth and purchase an earplug stash and try to accept it. I really know how hard that is but on the scale of things it's not so bad.