Monday, March 3, 2008

Sleeping like a cat

I have posted previously about Ken's snoring. He's always snored, but it's become a more serious problem lately.

My first line of defense is earplugs. I wear them every night, without exception. Previously, if Mr. Snoralupagus woke me in the night, I'd just elbow him aggressively until he rolled over onto his side, and the snoring would stop. But things have changed around here lately.

Firstly, I'm more likely to wake up in the night and less likely to be able to fall back asleep once I'm up, even without the snore factor. Thank you, various stress factors.

Secondly... I was recently awakened by the sound of a six-cylinder engine revving on the next pillow. I turned, elbow primed for action, and what did I see? HE WAS ALREADY SLEEPING ON HIS SIDE.

What? That was supposed to be physically impossible. Turning Ken's body was equivalent to turning down the volume knob. The volume knob is now broken.

I bought him a package of plastic nasal strips - the ones that stick on the outside of your nose and physically pull your nostrils open. Dutifully, he slept with one every night. They were working really well, reducing the snoring volume, until Friday night. Friday night he snored me right out of bed onto the sofa. That was at 3:00 am. At 5:30 am I was woken again. He was snoring so loudly that it woke me from a deep sleep, and I was already as far from him as I could be. I thought: this cannot go on.

Not only is my sleep being interrupted, but that dang couch is not designed to be slept on. My neck hurts, my back hurts... it's not a long-term solution.

Other possible solutions are limited because Ken has a sleeping disorder. It flares up when he's under stress, but it's always a consideration. When it's activated, he can't get a deep sleep. His brain will pull him half-way to wakefulness once every 15 minutes or so. A few years ago when his dad was severely ill and Ken was stressed all the time, he was like a zombie. He'd spend 12 hours lying in bed, and yet he could never get enough rest. He was always whacked out.

Triggering Ken's sleep disorder is to be avoided at all costs. I would not want to see him living like that again.

So on Saturday afternoon, we bought a second bed. Twin size, to be installed in our 2nd bedroom, which we've been using as the computer room. It'll officially be The Guest Bed, but really it will be my escape pod when the snoring gets to be too much. I'll always start the night in our shared bedroom, and hope to stay there most of the time. I figure I'll sleep like a cat - I'll have more than one sleeping spot and choose between them as circumstances dictate.

In fact, I'm looking forward to having my own bed. It means that sometimes, when I wake up there, I can actually TURN ON THE LIGHT in the morning. When the clock radio goes off, I can lie in bed listening to it for a while, instead of lunging to turn it off before it wakes Ken. I'm looking forward to buying sheets and a pretty duvet.

Yay! My own bed. I'm excited.

23 comments:

Warped Mind of Ron said...

Congrats on the new decorating chance. Does this mean Ken gets to redecorate the old room?

Anonymous said...

Shouldn't Ken be the one to sleep in the other room. He's the snorer. Not you.

My father who snores like Fred Flintstone and I once shared a hotel suite for a few nights. Because he snored and it kept my up at night, he moved into the other room and slept on the couch.

Anonymous said...

Wow I can't imagine how loud that must be. You sure are nice to put up with that kind of thing. I hope he's making it up to you in some other way.

Jameil said...

lmao @ new bed excitement when snoring is to blame! this story is insane! my dad is that kind of snorer. my mom amazingly learned to sleep thru it when i could hear it down the hall.

Jameil said...

with their door and mine closed!!

Pixie said...

OMG it reminds me of how my husband used to snore that loud too and sometimes stop breathing. He had that sleeping disorder for awhile, maybe that's what your hubby has added along with stress. Hmm just a thought =)

Keera Ann Fox said...

I've heard that for some couples, separate bedrooms is the only answer. But why does Ken snore so much? You may have said, but I probably missed that.

Sparkling Red said...

Warped Mind of Ron: Actually, yes. He has been inspired to redecorate the old room, although I'll still have a say in the process. Also it might be a while before we're ready to get to that stage of spending. Beds don't come cheap!

WhatIgotsofar: Ken has offered to be the one to move. However, it works better for me to move into the 2nd room. That's where all my clothes are stored, and that's also the computer room, so I use that room a fair bit in the morning when I get up. If Ken slept in there, I'd have to worry about waking him.

Unsigned: He more than makes up for it. He's sweet, charming, and my BFF. Also, he does more than his share of the housework. How could I complain?

Jameil: Wow, I'm impressed by your mom's selective hearing. Both doors closed, eh? That's LOUD!

Pixie Von Azia: Fortunately, when Ken went to the sleep lab they did not diagnose sleep apnea. That would worry me.

Keera: I don't have a definitive answer. Ken has allergies so he's often congested. I think that's the biggest snore trigger, because he does snore more during allergy season.

R.E.H. said...

My aunt snores so bad that her husband has a bed in a room by the garage that he has been using for the past 10-15 years. He doesn't even try to sleep in the bedroom any more.

They are a funny couple - there is a lot of love between them, but I have never seen a couple bickering as much as they do... but they never actually fight over anything.

The Ex said...

I think that's a good solution. I shared a room with my sister for years and she snores so loud I swore she would suck in the drapes. It bothers me to no end and now I'm quite sensitive to it.

red's little sparkle said...

i didn't know ken had that! i have that too! i went to a sleep clinic back in high school and they said that i wake up aproximitly 20 times every hour, and that i never reach deep sleep. and we have the same birthday. weird.

Sparkling Red said...

R.E.H.: As long as the bed isn't IN the garage... Old couples are funny like that. Makes me wonder if, at some level, they actually enjoy the bickering.

The Ex: I never had to share a room with a sibling. It's got to be a helluva lot more annoying when the source of the snoring isn't your beloved honey bunny.

Little Sparkle: Huh, that is weird. I never thought of you two as having much in common. I wonder what other hidden parallels might emerge...

Karen said...

Ken needs to get that sleep mask thingy. I once "dated" a guy who wore one. They look freaky but they work and it will help you both sleep better. Send him to the doctor.

Jenski said...

Ha! My Dad used to be the snorer; now both parents snore. They alternate, usually. Quite touching. I am glad you have a quiet haven when necessary! Sounds like sometimes Ken's nose has a mind of its own. Really, on his side and with nose strips? IMPRESSIVE!

Sparkling Red said...

Karen: I know about the sleep mask gear; I thought it was just for sleep apnea, which he doesn't have. I did consider it, but I'm afraid that it'll be uncomfortable enough to trigger his sleep disorder, and that would really screw up our waking lives. So for now it's not a serious option. If he ever gets diagnosed with sleep apnea, then we wouldn't have a choice. I hope that doesn't happen.

Jenski: Yes. His quiet nights are very quiet. The loud nights are impressive!

Leighann said...

Try putting a pillow over his face! MUWAHAHAHA!

Sparkling Red said...

Leighann: That would stop the snoring once and for all. None of these stop-gap measures for you. Leighann goes for the long-term solution!

Emma Gorst said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Emma Gorst said...

Ah, I saw a comment at the end that he doesn't have sleep apnea; I was going to suggest the sleep clinic. Congrats on the sleep pod. I hope you have good dreams!

Tink said...

I dream about having a legitimate reason for having my own bed sometimes. ;)

I think you should get Tink pillowcases.

Sparkling Red said...

Aurora: I plan to have quiet dreams. I shall dream of floating in outer space, empty churches, and the insides of clouds.

Tink: That would be supercool. One reason why I was excited to get a twin sized bed is that I have the option of getting kids sheets that fit. When I was a kid I had Holly Hobby, Raggedy Ann, and Bambi.

Meg Wolff said...

Your blog is really funny, laughed out loud on this one. You found a creative solution!

Sparkling Red said...

Meg: Thanks! I'm glad to have you here. :-)