Korean Job Discussion Forums

[decolyon]

I've noticed the last few months that in the middle of the night, I will often wake myself up because I couldn't breathe. I will wake up almost in a panic gasping for air. I'll often notice just as I'm about to drift off to sleep I feel myself taking faint little breaths. Girlfriends have told me that when I sleep my mouth is wide open and my snoring is awful sounding. Not loud, but extremely unpleasant. Every morning when I wake up, I feel so bad I think would have been better had I just stayed up through the night. During the day I constantly fight to keep myself awake by drinking coffee constantly. Even then, I still find myself taking short little naps on my breaks in the afternoon at work.

It hasn't always been this way. Just 6 or 7 months ago, I remember sleeping so well that I could wake up at 6am and feel so refreshed and energized. I would feel so good in the mornings, it was like I was on some drug. But lately, I don't ever feel like I've gotten any productive sleep. I find myself daydreaming and remembering those times I would feel so good after a night's rest.

I've read that overweight people suffer from poor sleep. While I could stand to lose a few, I assure you I'm not fat or overweight. I'm 27, male, about 6 feet tall and generally hang around 190-195 pounds. A touch chubby by Korean standards, totally normal in the West.

I just want to sleep well again. I'm not sure if there is a doctor in Seoul that can treat this. I think if I go to a hospital they are just going to give me pills. I don't want that. I try to avoid chemicals at all costs.

Please help.

[Junior]

Hi there decolyon.

This is quite a common complaint. Surely, doctors should be able to supply you with that device to keep your airwaves open? i think its quite cheap.

Right here:
http://www.sleepapneamouthpiece.net/

[freddy_teacher]

my dad has this problem.

just recently, the canadian government has started to take this seriously as people were falling asleep at the wheel while driving...

anyway, we have clinics set up here that test you can see if you need a device to help you sleep.

my dad got one that pumps air into his lungs via a mask he wears over his mouth.

anyway, it works. get a good one. u should spend about $2000.

www.cpap.com

[eamo]

I suffer from the same condition. Chronic snoring and apnea. That feeling of waking up gasping for breath is awful.

Plus the snoring which was driving my wife crazy. She wore earplugs a lot!

I did go to a sleep specialist in Gangnam.....he was quite good and was able to explain the whole thing to me in English.......but you should just read the Wiki page on apnea to get an overview.

There are two common treatments. A minor operation which only works for less than half of people.....or a CPAP machine....which is supposed to be very effective. Expensive though.

[krats1976]

Does anyone have contact info for the sleep clinic in Gangnam? I've been using a CPAP for over a year and I'm still having fatigue issues (thought it's better than it was).

[orosee]

Somewhere intermediate - have you tried changing your sleeping position?

I used to be able to sleep on my back but a few years back, I would wake up immediately after falling asleep because I stopped breathing right away. If I actually managed to sleep that way, my snoring would annoy whoever was trying to sleep in the same room with me (btw I noticed that a lot of Korean guys snore a lot too).

My solution so far is to sleep on my side (works extremely well) or on my face (which requires some careful positioning to keep the nose free, but it works). That way I sleep the night through w/o problem except that I may have my handprint over my face when I wake up.

Snoring started when I was in my mid-30s but the waking-up began perhaps 4, 5 years ago

Repositioning is not that great if you have to sleep Korean style on the floor.

[swinewho]

Vicks vapour rub works really well - link to photo -
http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://nailfungustreatmentscure.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/vicks1-300x300.jpg&imgrefurl=http://nailfungustreatmentscure.com/what-are-the-factors-that-makes-vicks-vaporub-a-good-choice-for-nail-infection/&h=300&w=300&sz=21&tbnid=-PKjivokfwjfVM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=90&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dvicks%2Bvapour%2Brub%2Bphoto%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=vicks+vapour+rub+photo&docid=WrSuak74I0iYbM&hl=ko&sa=X&ei=mNVeTpqBIOfhiALrvfmyBQ&ved=0CB8Q9QEwAg&dur=156

I've seen in on sale at the foreign food shop in Itaewon (the one next to the OLD what the book location)

My gf has the same problem, I also bought her those strap things that you put over your nose to hold them open a little more. The two together has gotten her snoring down to almost 0!

[Dazed and Confused]

They have sleep diagnosis clinics here in Korea. My husband went to one a few years back. He had to go to the ENT section to get a check up, then a x-ray in the dental section, and then he had to sleep overnight at the hospital hooked up to all sorts of wires.

[anamika]

[DaHu]

I've got the same thing.

Sleep on your stomach.

[Steelrails]

If I ever get the coin I am seriously going to build myself a Bed Room. A room with multiple kinds of beds.

I figure between a Craftmatic adjustable for the knees, a waterbed, one of those fancy foam ones, and a massage whathaveyou I could get a great night's sleep depending on which minor ailment is bothering me and preventing me from sleeping well. Sorry honey, ol Steelrails is off to sleep with something better tonight rather than your space stealing and arm whacking self.

I never thought I'd say this, but as time goes on, the appeal of double beds grows. Getting older sucks.

[Died By Bear]

My dad had this problem all his life, and I have aquired it in the last ten years. Sucks, I've been told that if you get rid of the belly fat (all of it), you can have your peaceful sleep back again.

[krats1976]

[orosee]

[Sherm]

This ENT clinic in Gangnam can do sleep test and diagnosis: www.thesuum.com