British Snoring & Sleep Apnoea Association

Hi
I have snored loudly since childhood. My partner regularly has to sleep downstairs on the sofa with earplugs in and still it can sometimes wake him up.
I am a female and nearly 1 stone overweight (so nowhere near obese) and sleep on my side. It is tongue related snoring. I may have mild sleep apnoea too.
I went to the doctor and he said there are tests they could do but wouldn't refer me until I lost weight. I explained that I'd snored since childhood and wasn't overweight then.
I have been trying to lose the 1 stone for over a year now but not managed it yet.
I believe the snoring is due to having had a cleft pallette (which was repaired very well).
My previous doctor said that I will snore life long because of the cleft pallette.
Is there anything I can do apart from continue to diet?
thanks

You mentioned your 'previous' doctor. S/he didn't seem to be able to offer you any immediate help.

Your present doctor seems over cautious ... you don't have to be a heffalump to have OSA ... there are stick insects that have it too. I suppose s/he doesn't want to send you for tests until s/he's ruled out any possibility that your weight has caused you to snore. We do know that being overweight (even slightly or in specific places) can cause a narrowing of the airways at night when we relax and go to sleep. Also that snoring can be made far worse by loose skin on the soft palate.

That said, you have a problem that is impacting on your life and wellbeing. And that should be taken seriously. Might I suggest that you download the Epworth Sleepiness Questionnaire from this site and try it (less than 5 mins, no pain whatsoever!). This might give some weight to your thoughts that your snoring is being caused by OSA.

Make another appointment with your doc and show him/her the results of the test. You may have to push for a sleep study ... they're not cheap and seem to be more readily available in some parts of the country than in others.

I hope this will lead you to a diagnosis and a treatment that will start to make things a bit better for you ... and soon.

At the very least you need an appointment with ENT to see if they can help. Bring up Sleep Apnoea with them. Take it from there, get your Gp to refer you there, they in turn my put you forward for a sleep study.

Thanks very much for your replies guys.