With one in four couples sleeping in separate rooms, how much loving do you think will be going on this Valentine’s Day? One of the major contributors to this, which many people are not aware of, is snoring.

Are you one of those many people who dread all the publicity around Valentine’s Day because even though you love your partner dearly, the intimacy and romance has seemed to have gone many years ago. Maybe it is because you sleep in separate rooms you think, but then you rationalize this by saying, it has to be this way so that you can both get a good nights sleep, because your partner’s snoring keeps you awake.

But the real problem is that you are not valuing your relationship as much as you value a good nights sleep. You soon forget about how the two of you used to each night, get into bed, and snuggle up together and talk about the day and the things that may be bothering you. The physical intimacy becomes less which is more obvious than the disappearing amount of emotional and conversational intimacy that is between you. So before you know it, it is like living with someone you love but not ‘in love’ with anymore.

But it doesn’t have to be like that. I believe that if more couples recognize that snoring is causing damage to their relationship and them together work on resolving the problem, then it never has to get to the point of sleeping in separate rooms.

This Valentine’s Day, why not agree to give each other the best present of all – restoring that love and intimacy back into your relationship and yes, sharing a bed together again. It may take time but we all know, good things often take time to create and when it happens, it is cherished so much more because you did it together.

Happy Valentine’s Day and may you keep loving each other for the other 351 days of the year too.

Since writing the blog on Injection Snoreplasty, during further research I came across a similar technique that is actually FDA approved

 As is the Injection Snoreplasty technique, the Pillar procedure is still relatively new but works on similar principles. Instead of injecting of the scarring agent into the roof of the mouth, three pillar implants are placed into the soft palate to make it firmer.

 Both techniques by firming the soft palate make it less susceptible to vibration, which can cause the ‘snoring sounds’.

 In October 2004 the Pillar procedure became the first, FDA approved, insert procedure for the treatment of snoring and sleep apnea. It has also recently been approved by Health Canada.

 Success rates vary between 70-95% but will depend on whether the snoring is related to the soft palate vibration or not.

I have just been reading about this amazing non surgical treatment for snoring, and was fascinated to hear that it has been around for years. So why haven’t we heard more about it before.

Army researchers from Walter Reed Army Medical Center introduced this procedure at the 2000 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery Foundation. Their early findings indicate that this treatment may reduce the loudness and incidence of primary snoring (snoring without apnea, or cessation of breath) and had a success rate of 75% on average.

The procedure is done in as little as five minute under local anaesthesia where a scarring agent is Injected into the soft palate which causes the roof of the mouth to stiffen., A few weeks of healing later, tightening of the tissue and scarring will have occurred, stiffening the palate and thus reducing the palate’s vibration, which make the snoring sound. It may take a few weeks, even up to 2 – 3 months to see the end results and frequently the first procedure is followed up by one or two more to get best results.

The advantages of Snoreplasty are compelling as it is very inexpensive, virtually painless, and appears to be highly effective. For several days after the injection, patients may have a minor sore throat and feel like they have peanut butter stuck to the roof of their mouths.

But it is still best to keep in mind that because the technique has been developed so recently, long-term studies of its efficacy and safety have not yet been conducted. However the sclerosing agent which is injected has been used intraorally for twenty years and has an excellent safety record.

Certainly worth further investigation for those serious about eliminating snoring.

A few days ago I posted a question on one of the internet Community Notice Boards, asking people to tell me if their marriage or relationship had broken up because of their snoring or their partner’s snoring.

 One of the replies I got really moved me and I would like to share it with you.

 “I have snored for years. About two years ago my wife constantly woke me up when I started snoring. I finally gave up and slept on the couch to get some sleep. I then never slept in our bed again. Fairly soon I was not welcome in the bed anymore. My wife started texting & sexting all sorts of men because I was not in bed with her. She had several affairs shortly after-wards. She has since moved out. Says she needs to get her head straight. Yes snoring ruined my marriage of over 25 years”.

 This man has been brave enough to share with me his story and I feel honoured that I have actually reached out and touched someone. It has confirmed to me that I am on the right track with my book and if I can help others by preventing them ending up in the same situation as this man, then all the time, money and effort I am putting in to get my book known out there, will be well worth while.

I found this video on YouTube of a baby being woken from its peaceful slumber by its snoring dad really funny, so thought that I would share it with you.

 Makes the phrase  ’sleeping like a baby’ seen in a whole different context! Click on the description below and then you might want to send the blog link on to others (or bookmark it) who may enjoy a smile today.

Snoring Dad wakes baby

It’s now 10 days since Hubby moved to the other room because of his cough. And last night he came back because his coughing was now more under control. I must admit that I have missed him sleeping next to me, and that maybe it has not been his snoring that has not been the culprit for waking me up. Why? Well I must confess that my own snoring woke me the other night and Hubby was not there to blame(oh the shame of it). Thankfully though the white noise machine made it sound less audible!

Has anyone else suffered this embarrassment and realization, when they hear the big snort which wakes you up, and then you blame your partner?