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.

 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.

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.

 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.

 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

I have just read this story from the London Daily Mail, where a 70 year old pensioner slashed her throat after her husband had ordered her out of the marital bed for snoring. The couple had been constantly bickering and husband Harry had threatened to divorce her, an inquest heard. 

“There was a large disagreement about the fact that Harry wanted his wife to sleep in another room. In desperation, the 70-year- old – who believed that marriage meant ’till death us do part’ – threw her wedding ring at her husband of 49 years and slashed her neck with a knife.”

Wow let’s hope that there are not too many other couples in this situations and if so, hopefully they will find my website and get my book, or at least seek some counseling help.

Jennifer Ross-Taylor

Snoring Relationship Author

http://snoring.lotsforall.com

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

 Now I want to show you that authors do ‘walk the talk’ – that is, I do take my own advice. Last week my hubby caught a bad cold, and so was up half the night coughing persistently. This of course had an impact on my ability to sleep, with the bed rocking and shaking with each violent coughing session.

 So out of consideration for me, my husband moved to another room to sleep. It was not a decision that we liked, as we both enjoy our ‘cuddle times’ and conversations before falling asleep. So we made sure that before going to sleep that we spent 15 minutes in bed together, as we normally do, before my husband went to the other room. Then in the morning, before we jumped out of bed for work, he would join me again in bed, for a morning cuddle and good morning kiss. It is not ideal but it means that we are still spending quality time together and not letting our relationship suffer because of illness. It is also showing consideration for each other, and not viewing going to sleep in another room as a punishment.

So if this analogy interests you, come and visit my website http://snoring.lotsforall.com and read more about my ebook. I was amazed in all my research, how many people in the US snore (over 90 million!) and although lots was written on the physical effects of snoring, how little is written on the emotional impact to their relationship.

 Does this ring a bell with you or someone you know?

 Jennifer Ross-Taylor
Snoring Relationship Author
http://snoring.lotsforall.com