It’s been awhile since I have posted on here, my bc treatment was over four years ago and I will go for my 5th yearly mammogram next April. Anyway. Been on Letrozole since July 2022. Another 3 years or so to go. My side effects are weight gain, muscle aches and hot flushes but I am starting to wonder if it has contributed to my snoring which is truly awful now? Anyone else found this? I am on sertraline (although I have started baby steps to wean myself off, or at least reduce from 100 to 50) and know that might contribute but a quick Dr Google indicates that lack of estogen contributes to worsening of snoring and possible sleep apnoea. I have actually taken this up with my GP surgery to get checked and await details of referral but in the meantime would be interested to hear if anyone else has found this?
Hello
I’m speaking here as someone who has had a long term problem with snoring which was eventually diagnosed as mild sleep apnea in 2021 . I was in denial initially as I had none of the daytime sleepiness that research told me to expect with sleep apnea but I have other health problems ( not the breast cancer ) that may have been caused or aggravated by it. I ended up paying for a private test after 2 clinicians asked me if I had sleep apnoea .
I have researched it a fair bit there are various factors that predispose to increased snoring and risk of developing sleep apneoa .Firstly you mentioned weight gain caused by Letrozole - excess weight particularly around the neck and upper body will make snoring worse . Secondly as we age the muscles in the throat / base of the tongue become weaker making it easier for the tongue to fall backwards during sleep when we are relaxed - I'm a tongue base snorer. I suppose that reduced oestrogen may have adversely affected / weakened your neck / throat muscles in the same way that it can cause other unwanted MSK side effects . I stopped taking it after a few months due to mainly MSK problems.
If you have any other degenerative health problems they may be contributing to your snoring as well .
Other factors to consider/ look into if you haven’t already - some people have or develop reduced nasal entry due to nasal polyps / nasal septum defects/ chronic sinus problems etc. which will cause also cause snoring . You can buy pillows that keep you on your side when lying down which might help as snoring is worse when you lie on your back - even if you are mostly a side sleeper you will roll onto your back at some point during the night . The other option would be to sleep propped up .
In my case I’m overweight ( though currently losing ) however from what I’ve been told even when I was much slimmer I snored and that’s down to my physiognomy as I have a short neck and in particular a receding chin which makes it easier for my tongue base to fall backwards . If you have these features it may make you more prone to snoring . Both of my parents were normal weight but they both snored - I have my Mum’s chin . However Mum did have a number of medical conditions which may have contributed .
I use a CPAP machine now - it’s a pain but I wouldn’t be without it as I believe my sleep apneoa has worsened over the last few years as the last time I slept without it ( I had gone away and brought the machine but forgot the mask ) I felt groggy til lunchtime .
I’m considering joining a choir as I like to sing and I have heard that this can strengthen the throat muscles and help improve snoring .
I hope you get some help with this soon . Xx
Somehow a paragraph has gone missing !
I’ve researched sleep apnoea a fair bit . Excess weight around the face / neck and upper body can aggravate snoring - and you said this has been a side effect of Letrozole for you . Ageing causes the muscles in the throat / base of tongue to weaken allowing the tongue to fall back during sleep . As reduced oestrogen can affect the MSK system as a whole I’m thinking it could also affect the throat / tongue base .
I stopped taking Anastrozole after a few months - didn’t notice any affect on my sleep etc. from it but I was in CPAP by then . However the benefit to me was very low and I had lots of other unpleasant side effects .xx
Thanks Joanne, that’s helpful and has given me plenty of food for thought. My dad died young (but was overweight for many years) but my mum snored, she had three siblings and physically I have come to the conclusion that I have inherited the physical attributes of two of them, my aunt and uncle who, judging by photos, took after their dad. My mum and younger sister looked like my nan with slimmer features and pointed chin but I now have a squarer face and thicker neck. Hopefully it won’t be long before I get my NHS referral letter and wait time so I can provide them to Benenden Healthcare and get seen. My snoring is slightly better using the wedge pillow and the anti snoring spray but I know what you mean about the morning fuzzy head. I thought that was just old age. As for singing, can’t see me in a choir but I do sing in the car and on and off during the day as I get songs stuck in my head. Maybe I should do that more!
I’m glad that I managed to help despite the disjointed post ! I also tried a mandibular advancement device while I was waiting to be assessed - it worked but after a while it became soft and was less effective and I had to buy another . It also moved my teeth ! However they have returned to their normal positions after I stopped using it .
As previously mentioned I paid for a home test from then made a GP appointment and sent the results to her electronically and she referred me to the NHS Sleep Service . I had to wait a couple of months for a machine . It took a good few weeks to get used to It but as well as less fuzziness I also get fewer headaches . Xx