Sleeping issues! Heavy breathing

I can't offer any advice, but I can sympathise with you. Apparently I'm also a heavy breather when I sleep (I think it comes from suffering badly from allergies as a child). My OH just kind of got used to it and he never brings it up unless I do. He knows there's nothing I can do about it but that doesn't stop me from feeling guilty as I know that I make a lot of noise when I'm asleep (my daughter's mentioned it before when she's had to sleep in the same room as me).

The only thing I thought of for your OH was ear plugs but you've ruled that out. I haven't found anything that stops it for me - I tried the anti-snoring stuff but the thing is, it isn't actually snoring - just heavy breathing. If you do find anything that improves it, please let me know.

As I said - not much help, but it might be nice to know that someone else is a heavy breather too!

Aww not silly, sleep's important! I'd be feeling grumpy too.

Do you sleep on your back? My breathing gets heavier if i'm on my back. Luckily, i can sleep in any position so OH just nudges me and I roll over.

Are earplugs a no because theyre uncomfy? My OH used to have the radio on overnight but me moving in put a stop to that - i need silence! He tried headphones but they weren't comfy & he'd wake up with the wires round his neck!! Got him a speaker for his pillow which he can plug into radio/ipod - it's marvellous, I can't hear a bloody thing on my side of the bed!

Nice to know i'm not the only one! Somedays he has said obviously he knows I can't help it so not much he can do but try to put up with it, but other nights if there's extra stuff such as the fan rattle and any coughs/colds keeping him up then it gets to be moan central. I fall asleep on my side but quite often do wake up on my back yes, and have been known to be nudged back.

Earplugs are out because (TMI) he's constantly needing his ears syringed which he hates so tries not to put things in ears as will speed up the wax build up! But the pillow sounds cool, that could be a christmas present that starts as a 'lets joke at the situation...but actually this could be really useful!'.

Ooh good idea making it a jokey xmas gift!

This is the one I got from amazon. Didnt want to buy one of the expensive pillowspeaker ones because we'd only just got nice new pillows! It doesnt look very pretty but it's all about function, and at £3 how could i resist!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Soundlab-A012A-Pillow-Speaker/dp/B002GJ0ES6

I know you've said its not actually snoring, but have you tried the snore strips that you put over your nose?
My OH always breathes very heavily and it was keeping me awake ... he tried the snore strips out of desperation and they work a treat!
I don't really understand it tbh, but it works and that's all I care about

If not, those speaker pillows are brilliant as well

The pillow speaker is a bargain! Ordered, thank you!

And i will pop to Boots on my way home to look at snore strips, dubious me is wondering how it would work but recommendations are what i always go by so will happily give them a try. Thanks everyone ? feeling better than this morning knowing i'm not the only one who can make my OH miserable with my breathing (haha how wrong it sounds - especially when most nights his goodnight sentence is 'no breathing tonight' lol). Hopefully some cosier nights on the horizon x

This is a really really difficult one. My Ex was a very heavy breather and snorer - result - he slept like a baby - I didn't and the damage it did to me can't be underestimated, especially as he became immune to prods and kicks. I remember one night actually punching him in tears because I was so exhausted. Without a doubt what contributed to his was his weight and drinking beer. He often ended up sleeping in another room so it was not pleasant for either of us. My H2B is a quiet sleeper and it's bliss

Your breathing is unlikely to have changed overnight but it could be that your OH is becoming more weary and so less tolerant to the disturbance. If however it has changed suddenyl then you should get it checked out in case you have something like asthma developing. Either way, check your health out then you can look at other options. Have you tried sleeping propped up for example?

I think it's worth OH considering quality ear plugs - at least on an odd occasion - quid pro quo and all that. I must admit I'm not an advocate of covering up one noise with another - that just escalates things imho. Good luck.

My OH and I have ahead hell with this situation. He is terrible, I tried ear plugs and in the end he was moved to another room. Anyway, it turns out he has sleep apnoea. While you OH. My not have it would defo be worth seeing a doctor cos you never know.

Hmm sleep apnoea really doesn't sound correct for me. At most for me i would put it at allergy or similar. I had breathing issues when i was young and i still have an inhaler which gets used at most once a year. Last winter we had first year of heavy breathing issue, it coincided with winter (our first winter in new home), condensation problems on windows, and i had streaming eyes. I suspected dust mite allergy, so bought all the products available for bedding. We got through it, but with fair amount of moaning.

Spring time the fan always comes back on, as it's too warm and we always have it 7-8 months of the year so bringing in a noise isn't an issue as we're used to it, but it's a benefit if it covers up also. Now this is another full winter and am trying to tackle it earlier. If the nose strips don't help physically i'll mention it at next appointment with doc just incase they have pro tips, but i'll probably always link it to a winter only problem.

I really don't know what to suggest. My husband is a heavy breather as well and it driives me insane. Maybe you need to go to the doctors to see what they think about it?