Have you been tested for sleep apnea? I'm getting fitted for cpap next week.

 

I use SnoreRx. Been using it for years. Yes, my teeth have shifted slightly, but I sleep well. Worth it.

Plus, I wasn’t good-looking to start with.

 

I tried SnoreRx for a month but it made me drool like crazy and could not fall asleep with it in. I would lay there for hours wide awake and within minutes of taking it out would be asleep. Amazing to me that you can sleep with it but it's awesome it works for you!

 

I just sleep on my side. After years of that it makes my hips and back hurt.

 

Getting old sucks, I'm just at the elbow stage now. But we are moving fast.

 

I started with CPAP, then moved to chinstrap only to hold my mouth closed, then to side sleeping with a body pillow that I hug and put between my legs (no back or hip issues here.)

 

The appliances are a little bit like your Invisalign retainers only thicker and with a connection between the top and bottom to pull the mandible forward, you wont be able to wear the retainers at the same time. Its like all things, properly done there is a lower risk of complications but the biggest issue we see is not so much shifting of teeth but remodeling of the joint and bone to where a persons bite can be changed in a negative way. The pros and cons have to be weighed and so that's where having a qualified provider makes such a big difference. I know there are "over the counter" options and while they can work, when they don't it can be pretty catastrophic. But there are lots of folks who can't/wont do CPAP and these mandibular advancement devices are the ticket.

 

Thanks everyone for the info, and FF for about how they compare to an invisilign. My dentist mentioned another "tool" that you use in the morning after wearing the MAD all night, it's a plate or something that also is fit to your teeth, except it is designed to move your jaw backwards (using an initial bite mold) as you bite down onto it. He said you bite down onto it for 15 or so minutes in the morning to pull your jaw back into alignment. I think those have to be ordered from your dentist, and not an over-the-counter thing. I can wear my retainers during the day for a few hours to correct teeth movement, not sure about jaw movement though.

I did a quick search and it seems the custom units from your dentist cost ~$1800, whereas the OTC units are ~$70 to $100, much more reasonable, especially if this is an experiment.

Far as sleeping positions, nothing makes a difference for me, snoring is something I've done my whole life, I think in part because I have really narrow nasal passages. I spoke to a local nose doctor about it, and he goes "your wife is too sensitive, spray your nose with saline solution" 😒 Neither of those work as a solution.

 

I've used one for 7 years now it greatly reduces snoring and helped my blood oxygen levels for apnea. Finding a provider can be a challenge especially to get insurance coverage most are out of network. I started with one in Salem then she went out of network. Changed to one in Portland and they went off network. Always a pita to get claims paid even in network.

 

I don't have dental insurance, so they are all in network for me My dentist offers their own plane for covering cleanings and such, plus a discount for other work. If I bought dental insurance on the open market, it'd cost more than what it covers, so I just stay with the simple route. Extra things, like this, I just pay out of pocket with HSA money.

 

I did a sleep study and stopped breathing some 58 times per hour. They put me on a CPAP which sucked. I lost 20 pounds and put the CPAP in the closet. Problem solved.

 

Nah, my wife uses ear plugs. It's just easier that way.

 

Maybe you need to lose more than 20lbs. 🤣🥱

 

I'm 6' and 160.

 

Why?

 

Think about it.

 

I appreciate your concern for my health. But I get around just fine for my advanced age. I see a doc once a year for a physical and blood work, never had covid though my wife has several times, rarely colds. I was 175 when I got out of boot camp so I've lost 15 # of muscle mass in 50 yrs, most of that in the last 10 probably. Haven't gained any wt in fat. If I do it's belly fat which is no bueno, so I don't. It's just my metabolism. I have one sore joint, my right wrist from all the manual work. Lighter body then and now also means less lower body joint wear. I still cut some wood, work on my own cars and house stuff, dug a ditch for a new well circuit a few days ago. Not bad for 74.

Not too bad in my younger years either. Grew up swimming, 7 liter lung capacity at 35, cross country skied 20 miles or so across the cascade crest a number of times in my 40's and 50's. A gold and silver medal in tennis in the '98 Nike World Masters Games. Outrun most people in chukar country. I'm a foot hunter and have taken several elk which I have gotten out by myself, once on skis. Hope to get one more in a month or so.

I appreciate your concern, but my weight is fine. I sound like a wife don't I?

 

look in to Inspire sleep apnea innovation

 

While interesting, that sounds pretty invasive to me, even though it's marketed as "minimally invasive". Suppose it'd be fun while going through the airport security line... I'll stick with snoring or a plastic mouthpiece long before having an electronic stimulator surgically implanted.

 

I avoided getting a CPAP for years. Was dead set against it. Tried 3 different anti-snore mouthpieces but each one stretched my jaw, caused my minimal TMJ to go bonkers. Couldn't chew without my jaw popping: forget that nonsense.

Gave up on the mouthpieces, finally broke down and got a CPAP. The key to a comfortable CPAP is getting the right head gear. During my sleep study, they let me try various head gear and I found one that is easy to live with. The CPAP has been a life changer. I wake up refreshed in the morning. No more feeling tired during the day. No more fighting staying awake when driving. I can sleep on my back if I want to (without the CPAP, sleeping on my back was impossible due to too many choking 'events').

And the best part is the CPAP made a huge difference in the number of times I need to get up and hit the head at night: usually none, maybe once when wearing the CPAP. When I forget the CPAP (or don't bother on overnight hotel stays), I still have to get up 2-4 times a night to hit the head. The CPAP is the best!

 

I was replying to the op.

When I said think about it, I meant think about why you replied to me?

Why would I reply to you and said think about it if you didn't reply to me?

Common sense apparently ain't so common.

If you don't know then, well ...

Well what?

Don't know what?

 

So of all the things they have to stop snoring which is the best. My wife is ready to burn me in bed. I never snored before I went in for surgery and now I snore. The weird thing is I don't think I snore or at least not as bad as the wife says i do.

 

After reading reviews and using microsoft copilot for summaries, I ended up purchasing VitalSleep mad unit, two for $100. It's supposed to arrive today, so next week will be the first exposure, hopefully all goes well! I'll report back if my face blows up or something unexpected

 

If anyone is considering any medical solution and you drink red wine, give that up first and see if you see a difference. It eliminated obstructive for me within a few days, I'm guessing because of the histamines red wines have in them. It wasn't the alcohol, thank god!

 

Maybe switch to a Rosé? Maybe more your style? 😉

 

Maybe a nice Chianti

 

Never heard of it but I'll try it. What color is it?