Weston Couple Sleeping in Same Bed again Afters Snoring Problem is Cured

A COUPLE from Weston-super-Mare who have been sleeping in seperate rooms for five-years have been reunited after a snoring problem was cured.

Daphine and Douglas Buttery have been married for 40-years but after years of sleepless nights she moved into another room.

The pair had not slept in the same bed for five-years but Mrs Buttery felt she had no choice in order to get some sleep.

 

Mrs Buttery, 63, said: “It was horrendous. I couldn’t get a wink’s sleep because the snoring was so loud and that made me tired and irritable through the day.

“We didn’t like sleeping apart but it seemed like we had no choice.”

Their situation changed when the couple learned about a treatment, called the Pillar Procedure, carried out by the private practice Bristol Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Partnership at Spire Bristol Hospital.

During this procedure three implants are placed at the junction of the hard and soft palate which stiffens the structure of the palate and reduces the vibration which causes snoring.

The procedure is carried out in an outpatients’ room and takes no more than 20 minutes, meaning patients can go home the same day.

Although common in the USA there are surprisingly few consultants in the UK who perform the Pillar Procedure and the treatment is currently only available privately because NHS Trusts have gradually cut snoring treatments from their budgets.

Mr Buttery decided to go for the private operation to see if it would make a difference to the snoring rated 10 out of 10 by his wife.

“It didn’t really bother me because I’d be fast asleep,” said Mr Buttery, 65.

“But then in the middle of the night I’d get a sharp elbow in the ribs from my wife because she couldn’t sleep, so separate rooms did look like our only option.” 

The pair say the operation was a huge success and the snoring has been cured so they are back in the same room at long last.

Mrs Buttery added: “The difference was instant and if I had to rate the loudness of the snoring now I’d put it at zero, which is wonderful.”

Mr and Mrs Buttery are now even considering booking a cruise to celebrate their upcoming 40th wedding anniversary.

“We’d been on a cruise before, a few years ago, but because my snoring kept Daphne awake at night she’d be very tired in the day and we’d end up arguing,” added Mr Buttery.

Paul Tierney, consultant ENT surgeon, said: “This procedure compares very favourably compared to more aggressive and invasive surgical procedures, such as uvulo palatoplasty.

“Around a third of all adults aged over 40 suffer from some snoring at varying levels and, although not everyone will get the same results as Mr and Mrs Buttery, nonetheless it is a very simple and cost-effective option for people who snore loudly – and of course their long-suffering partners.”