Placenta Previa, Choroid Plexus Cysts, and My Husband's snoring......HELP!

I will pray for you. I know nothing about plecenta previa or choroid plexus cysts - but have a hubby who snores. My hubby has sleep apnea which is part of the snoring problem for him. He won't use his bipap machine because the mask makes him claustrophobic. He too falls asleep downstairs in teh chair which lets me get a few hours of sleep until he comes to bed between 2 and 4 am. Tried nose strips, they work for an hour or two. I spend the rest of the night telling him to roll over. If he sleeps on his side, his snoring is less. I wish he was a belly sleeper - that would prevent it. I have tried ear plugs too - but they bother me and I rub them out. the sad thing is we both have learnt to function on just a few hours of sleep a night.
Have the sleep apnea test. It does work if he isn't claustrophobic. Even if he would use the machine just a few nights a week - you could get rested. Also sleeping in an elevated position can sometimes help - Carl sleeps on 4 pillows which is almost sitting up due to having RADS (lung problem from being caught in a chemical fire)

I started going to bed around 9 PM, and that way I can sleep until 2 or so. We get up with our daughter for school at 5:30 AM every morning. Hope something helps - the bipap machine just creates a gentle hum which may actually help you sleep after a night or two.

I am the mother of 2 daughters - one 29 and one 16. Been married for 30 years, since I was 18 to the same man. We beat the odds!

Although my husband wasn't a huge snorer, he was diagnosed with sleep apnea and uses a CPAP machine. It is possible your husband has this also - he could have a sleep study done to see. While my husband uses the machine we all have a good night's sleep.
If he doesn't have a sleep disorder he may have to get his own room! I know that sounds funny, but I know a number of couples who have their own rooms due to the husband snoring, and the wife just can't get any rest!
Sorry I can't help with your other questions. Good Luck to you, I hope everything turns out well.

I am pregnant with a low placenta (discovered at 3 months) that already moved up and resolved at 6 months. I hope this all passes for you, and I don't have other medical knowledge.

As for hubby-I don't know the layout of your house-but can you make a comfy guest room for him? My husband is a saint in my world, because whenever there is a crisis (huge pregnancy causing little sleep for one), he will go sleep elsewhere graciously a couple times a week so I can REALLY SLEEP. He doesn't even mind. I usually think of a nice reward for him the next day. He even does this when I have an urgent event and I need full sleep. He's a HUGE snorer, and all the tricks and products we've tried, are unpredictable. Sometimes they help, sometimes not. I'm the only one who knows lying there awake for hours while he snores when they don't. If I'm completely stress free, his snoring doesn't even keep me awake. But as you know, with worries, stress and physical discomfort-it's all too much!

Just a thought, sometimes it's impossible to sleep with someone next to you!

Dear A.,
I can't help you with the 1st two but my husband is also a snorer and we have had some success with him sleeping on an extra pillow. Also, he doesn't snore if he is on his side so I do wake him & make him change positions.
Good luck to you.
G.

easiest is snoring he has sleep apnea and tell him to go to ent asap and get tested. Then nicely tell him causing you to wake up and not get enough rest and with the problems you say you need it more then him, just a short period of time and can't fix it any fast way before June.

call up the nurses and talk to them, also if it was really important they would have you scheduled earier for the exam rest relax as much as possible

Hi A.,
I can't help with the first two questions, but I can help with the snoring issue.
My husband snores and I am pregnant as well, so I know what you are going through. I would get him to an ENT, but in the mean time I would get him some Sinus Buster nasal spray, saline spray, and breathe right strips. You can get Sinus Buster @ Rite-Aid or homeopathic stores, have him do that in the morning, and at night have him use the saline spray and strips. My husband will fall asleep on the couch and come in at 3 in the morning, if he starts snoring I will wake him, make him spray and put the strips on. It really works. Good luck with the other things and the snoring.

A., My son had choroid plexus cyst in his brain during my 2nd trimester. Turned out to be completely normal and disappeared on it's own He is now 9 y/o and advanced in school.
Take your hubby to the doctor-he has sleep apnea! It can stop snoring and increase weight loss when treated with a CPAP machine. Both my hubby and I use it. Untreated sleep apnea can lead to cardiac problems and even death. Tell him he doesn't have a choice. His energy will increase too. Keep us posted.

My husband and I sleep in two seperate rooms. He goes for a sleep study, which is cover my our insurance, later this month. Although my hubby is also overweight, we both think it is more than that, possibily sleep apnea, which runs in his family. Best of lucj!

Hi A.,
I do not know much about your first problem.Hopefully everthing will be just fine.However I have the same problem with my husband .Once he wakes me up I hear and wait for everysnore and cant sleep.I beg him to stop and sometimes when he sleeps on his side he stops.Sometimes he gets so upset because I wake him up but now I just tell him that he wakes me up. I heard that some men need to lose weight to stop the snoring .my husband needs to lose around 10 lbs. But he is very stubborn about it. My suggestion is start off together and if you cant sleep go into another room for the remaining of the night. You need your sleep right now even more than him.
Goodluck.
L.

Hi A.!

We just went through the sleep apnea issue two weeks ago. Your husband should get a referral for the sleep study from his pcp. The ENT comes AFTER the sleep study. If you go to the ENT first, he will just send your hubby for the study, so wasted appointment to do that first.

My husband has apnea and stops breathing 38 times an hour!! He is now on the CPAP machine and is doing much better. I bought Mack's ear plugs a year ago and use them every night (in the one ear that is not on the pillow). I LOVE those ear plugs, they have saved my marriage!!! Now that I hear the CPAP instead of the snoring, it is definitely better, but I still use the earplugs as I am a light sleeper. Good luck to you!!!!

Well, I am able to comment about 2 out of your three problems... As you have probably found from the internet research about choroid plexus cysts, they seem to be "common enough." I have a 4 year old and when I was pregnant with our 2cnd son, his ultrasound revealed two..The level two ultrasound did not find any other "soft or hard markers" for Trisomy(no clenched hands, normal measurements...) It was stressful to hear but after doing the research and talking with our extremely up-to-date and awesome OB, we felt much better..Given that there were no other indications of a problem, the chance of a "Trisomy baby" was 1 out of 300 which were the same odds of complications from an amnio..My doctor was not concerned in the least and said that because of the better sonogram machines and the fact that they are doing them more often, they are seeing these fluid filled sacs more often. It might even be a "nomal varient." I found it calming to know that had they have done the sonogram two weeks later, these cysts would most likely not have even been seen. I am sure you found most of the same info and I am sorry to make you read all of this ;-) Rest assured, we have a very energetic, happy and healthy 19 month old! If you have any other questions about it please feel free to drop me a line..I enjoy talking medical and my has been a mother/baby nurse for ever and she is a great resource.
OK as for the snoring, I would highly recomend that your husband have a sleep study..My husband did not have much of a snoring problem but was gaining weight and feeling tired all the time, his doctor recomended a sleep study and they found that he had very bad sleep apnia. I know that snoring can be an indicator and it might be something you might want to keep in mind, like you don't have enough on your mind already, right ;-)
Well, there is my novel for the evening..I don't post very much but I saw your title and I thought I should share so that you know that you are not alone. Hang in there, and good luck! Drop me a line anytime :-)

Hi A.,

I am a NICU nurse, I don't know about the cysts, but will look into it. I am a mom of 4, so if I forget to get back with you please send me a message. You mentioned placenta previa. Please be careful & follow your doctor advice. If you have any bleeding you should call him immediately. You also may need a c section as you don't want the placenta or the cord to come out first.

For the snoring I would recommend you hubby see his MD. He may have a health problem. This can simply be he is overweight. My husband has gained weight in the last year & his snoring is really bad now. He even snores on his side, which for many people will stop it. You mentioned he falls asleep on the couch. Perhaps he is really having sleep apnea-some stopping of breathing & snoring after. This is a health problem. You can wear a cpap mask to bed that provides constant pressure to keep the airway opened. Also, there are appliances that some people put in their mouth to keep the airway open.

Have you looked under Webmd.com or another health site?
Have you tried having him come to bed when you do so the snoring doesn't wake you when he comes to bed later? It sounds like he has no problem falling asleep. Maybe you would be more tired & not notice the snoring at this hour.

Sometimes it is best to sleep in different beds. That doesn't mean you can't have fun in the bedroom. I know it is nice to snuggle all night, but sometimes sleep is all you need.

Hope everything works out.

R. Wigginton

My oldest son had choroid plexus cysts during our first ultrasound and we had to go for a level 2 ultrasound as well. at the second ultrasound the looked to see if they had gotten bigger or had gone away. they were still there but all other views of him were perfect. the doctor explained that many people grow up with these cysts without even knowing and they are not found until after death when (if) an autopsy needed to be done for some other reason. i understand why you are freaked out because the complications of these cysts leads to something called Edwards Syndrome which i don't advise lookingup on the internet because you will just worry more. just know that the majority (very high %age)of these cases turn out to be fine.

i also had placenta previa with all three of my pregnancies and in all cases the placenta moved enough during the pregnancy in order to have a vaginal birth.

Well on you medical conditions..I really have no advise or expertise; however, you might want you husband to have a sleep study done...he may posssibly have sleep apnea...it might be worth checking into. Dr. Francis Janton at PA Neurological Assoc in Lemoyne is wonderful...Good luck

A.,

I would agree with the others re having your husband tested for sleep apnea. Also, it may be easier for the doctors (and not family) to tell him to reduce his weight!

As for the placenta previa, I had it with two pregnancies, and both times I was put on total bedrest immediately. Both times it was at the beginning of my pregnancy, so earlier than the previa you have...

I was on complete bedrest from about 6 weeks to about 14 weeks with my daughter, now 13. The previa lifted at about 14 weeks.

I had ultrasounds every few weeks, and doctors' appointments; those were my only times out of the house in those weeks.

My obs were in Center City. They were not a high risk practice but they sent me to a high risk practice to have my untrasounds done.

Good luck.

Hi A.,
I had marginal placenta previa (meaning partial previa, not totally covering) with both of my pregnancies. In both cases the placenta moved up as my baby grew, which my dr. said is usually the case with marginal previa. I had to have extra ultrasounds as my pregnancy progressed, probably about 1 every 2 months, and more frequently right before I was due to make sure everything was fine. I was told that if the placenta does not move a c-section is required (which I had both times anyway...even though my previa was not an issue any longer...LOL) due to potential complications to both mother and baby, my dr. scheudles patients a few weeks early to prevent going into labor. So as far as the slight previa, I wouldn't worry about it too much, they should monitor you pretty closely with that. Please feel free to e-mail me if you have any other questions or concerns with the previa(____@____.com)

Good luck with everything!!
L.

Hi A.,
I can try and help with 2 of the 3. First, if your husband is willing he should have a sleep study done. Obviously, losing wt is a benefit but at this point there are mouth support devices that he can wear and it is suppose to help the muscles in the back of his throat from totally relaxing. Secondly, my daughter was diagnosed with a choriod plexus cyst as well. We were sent for geneic counseling and given the worst case birth defects that she may possibly be born with. I was to have an amnio but d/t the increase of contractions they were afraid it would send me into labor. A level 2 ultrasound was done and according to the readings it was felt by the neonatologist that it was a false(+) that origianlly showed on the ultrasound. We had a decision to make and that was to risk the amnio(which could cause premature labor at 23-24wks) but the doctor that did the level 2 US was confident she was fine and today I have a healthy 13yr old. Each case is different but the possible birth defects is something that should be discussed by you OB. Easier said then done but try and relax and if not done already I would ask for a Level 2 US.
R. M

Good Morning!
I am sorry that I do not know anything about the cysts - but I will ask my mom when I ssee her today - she is a nurse.
As for the snoring husband - I would bet that he has a sleeping disorder called Sleep Apnea. Which is very treatable - if your husband is not stubborn! He would have to go to get a sleep study which involves sleeping in a "lab" that looks just like a bedroom and he would be monitored overnight to see how many times he wakes during the night. When someone and a lot of people do have it -has sleep apnea - they stop breathing at night - literally and they snore before their "throat" closes and that starts an apnea. I would guess that he is tired during the day? If it is determined that he has sleep apnea then he would get a c pap machine which essentially blows room air via a mask and keeps his air ways open - thus stopping the snoring. I have worked in this industry forever - if you want to respond and get more information - please do and I can send you a private email with my phone number or email.
I hope this helps you out. My husband snores - but only when he has a cold - I am also pregnant and it is a struggle to even sleep let alone have someone snoring beside you - he doesn't get rest 'cause I kick him all night. Hahahaha! Goood Luck.
By the way - your husband would need a referral from his Primary Care Doctor - Clearview Imaging off of Tilghman Street (Hausman) is a really nice sleep lab - not overwhelmeing. I can help you with this too if you want. And Insurance does pay for these.
They really make a difference too.

My husband went to the ENT for issues with his tonsils. They are removing his tonsils and adenoids. The doctor said as an added bonus, it will help with his snoring. Just a thought...

I can only comment (and sympathize!) with the snoring. My husband has an entire repertoire of snoring noises, and I can't stand any of them! We have been married for 12 years and it didn't take me long to realize I just cannot "take it" or "ignore it." I'm the kind of person who need to have all of my planets aligned before I can sleep. We, like you have tried everything. He was tested for sleep apnea nd does NOT have it. Your husband MAY have it. Cannot be diagnosed on a message post! Have him go for testing if you can but he will most likely NOT like the treatment.
Yes, he deserves to sleep in your bed as much as you, but you BOTH deserve a good night's sleep. With our differing work/sleep/wake schedules, we sleep apart most nights. Otherwise we are just waking each other all night long with snoring/nudging/wake up times/bedtimes, etc. I am amazed at how many married couples I know that do NOT sleep together because of this issue. It seems like the only week of the year we can stay in the same bed all night/all week is when we are at the beach! Weird. Good luck!

I'm sorry I can't help you out on the cysts or snoring, (except to suggest one of you try sleeping in the guest room, which is where I ended up toward the end of my pregnancy) but maybe I can offer you some piece of mind about the placenta previa. One, the US may show that everything is ok, so try not to panic until after that. I was told I have previa but then it was ruled out, luckily. However, it's really not that different than other positioning. My doctor told me that it's not anything to worry about, there are just certain precaution you have to take. I remember that one was no intercourse for the last trimester and no heavy lifting. One good thing about it, you will get lots of US pictures of your little guy and be able to get first class treatment when you check into the hospital. Try not to worry...and that might help you sleep too!

My husband used to snore really badly too. I convinced him to go to the doctor about it. He was sent to an "ear, nose & throat" specialist. This doctor sent him for a sleep study and some allergy testing. He was diagnosed with sleep apnea, a deviated septum and a few allergies. These were contributing to his snoring as well as his weight. Now, my husband wasn't massively overweight, but just enough to contribute to these problems. He was placed on a cpap machine which fits over his nose and mouth while he sleeps. This helped a lot. He had to use is every night. But now, he has lost enough weight that he doesn't need the cpap machine anymore. So, my suggestion to you is to try to convince him to go see the doctor. And, if you can, you go with him so you can tell the doctor what you are hearing while he sleeps.

Hope this information helps you.

I'm sorry I have no experience with your first two issues. I wish you the best with both of them. I can say that with my first son we were told that he had symptoms of polycycstic kidneys and by the time he was born his kidney's and function were perfect.

As for the snoring, I agree with the other ladies to have your husband checked for sleep apnea. For the time being though this is what I receommmend: Have your husband come to bed with you. Wake him up and make him come to bed or send him there before he falls asleep. I'm currently 35 weeks pregnant and once I've had a few hours of sleep if anything wakes me up in the middle of the night I'm up for a couple of hours. I can't get to sleep even if my husband isn't snoring. He does snore so I know how difficult that is, but by the time he's asleep I'm so exhausted from the day that sleep isn't that difficult for me to acheive. Do you have a tv in your room? I find that helps me get to sleep these days when I can't get comfortable and he's distracting me with his snoring. Some tv's come with a timer so set that. I don't know if that will keep you awake or help you relax, but it works for me.

Good luck with everything!

Definitely have your husband go for a sleep study. I was keeping my husband up with my snoring and it turned out I have sleep apnea. I now have to use a CPAP machine at night, but it has stopped my snoring.