Stop my snoring - PLEASE!

[Trace166]

HELP ME PLEASE!!!

I am a 29 year old woman, married with 2 children, and for the past 2 months i have begun snoring every night and loudly!! Back in August 2009 i had the same problem, went to my GP who basically said not much could be done, however, i was due to have a routine thyroid check ( i have an underactive thyroid) and the test showed that my TSH has risen quite considerably.  My medication was increased and the snoring stopped within 2 weeks.....until now!

Around the time my snoring began i had and prolonged cold virus, which took me longer to recouperate than usual (almost 3 weeks) and put the snoring down to that, and it has not subsided since.  I feel i have mucus at the back of throat quite frequently, but my nasal passages feel clear.  My husband no longer sleeps in the same bed as me, but when he does try to attempt spending the night with me and i usually fall asleep before him and quickly, he explains the snoring as coming from mouth ( i do sleep with my mouth open), so i bought some chin strips, and when i snore with those on, it sounds like it is coming from my nose ( i have tried nose strips too).  My GP has prescribed a steroid nasal spray (2 puffs, twice a day for just under 2 weeks) and if there is no improvement, get my thyroid checked again (although i feel everything is ok in that area) and refer to a Ear Nose and Throat Specialist.  

Although i have confided in my close friend, but this is so embarrassing!  My relationship with my husband is strong, and know that this would not cause any maritial strain, but we have only been sleep separately for 2 months, what happens after 2 years!  What options that work do i have?  
I am 10 st (140 lb) and 5ft 2in, making my BMI 25.5, but my weight has been this for years, so could it suddenly be this?  If the GP he felt weight was a good possibility of cause he would have asked me to address it?
Your thoughts/advice and expertise is much appreciated and look forward to hearing from you.

[Jdcut]

Hi. Here are some tips, that i used to stop snoring:
# Try to stay at a healthy weight.
# Establish a routine. Make an effort to go to bed at the some time every night.
# Avoid sleeping on your back.
# Put some bricks under the legs of your bed to raise its head by 4-5 inches. This can help you stop your tongue from falling towards the back of your throat, which can result in a blocked airway.
# Quit smoking to reduce the inflammation of the airway.
# Stay away from sedatives and antihistamines.
# Get regular exercise.
# In case the air in your home is too dry, you should use a humidifier.
More tips and detailed techniques to stop snoring, i described at http://blocksnoring.blogspot.com/
Good luck!:)

[Steven Y Park, MD]

You have the classic history with someone that has the anatomy that's susceptible to sleep-breathing problems. Take a look at my articles sleep apnea:

http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/42145

You should see a sleep medicine doctor since it's likely that you have obstructive sleep apnea. Untreated obstructive sleep apnea can frequently cause hypothyroidism, mouth breathing, and nasal congestion. Most likely you have a small mouth and your tongue falls back easily, leading to snoring and possible obstructions. Yes, weight can aggravate things, but it starts from having narrowed anatomy.

For a more comprehensive description of all these issues, I recommend you read my book, Sleep, Interrupted.