Mattresses - the good bad and strange?
 

I have been mattress shopping for ages now. I am finding a lot of differences from when I purchased one over 15 years ago...Time for a new one? Yes. BUTTTT....these pillow top things are soo high off the ground! Getting in or out could require a forklift or a great deal of awkwardness. I have a platform bed, so do not need a box spring...but measuring all these pillow top types I am finding that a plain 'mattress' could add an extra 4-6" to the bed level from, um ground level? I 'tried' a Temper type mattress last week. It was a very 'deep' piece of something wrapped in 'fabric'. I first sat on the edge, and well, got a real sense of almost vertigo...one definite SINKING feeling! I reclined on my side on this floor sample.. and after about 45 seconds of SINKING I wangled up somehow and got out....Remember that phrase: 'Deep Valley Bed'? That is what I felt like, that or quicksand!

Extensive reading is telling me that either the sleep number types or the tempers... are that a person's gonna either love it or hate it! I am seriously considering on sending my DHusband to check into various hotels that offer these beds for a nite's check out. Considering their costs [the beds that is] this is a good one night stand way to find out if it's even worth one of those 'trials'-- 30 days for one, longer for another.

Right now I have that 3-4" topper, and it's a sort of love/hate relationship...It 'migrates' over the mattress, it can be either super warm or cold to me and a can't scoot about on top of it...to get comfy.

Feedback from one and all would not only help me, but folks like Billye who is truly miserable right now. Speak up folks? thanks - j

not me
 

Dahlek,
I'll not be buying a new mattress at this point. Ours is only 4 years old with a 20 year warranty. You mention new mattress and my husband instantly looks like a Raging Bull. We went thru 3 mattresses until I got the Tempurpedic. It was instant love. But there is a drawback as my recent fractures have proved. You cannot scoot in this bed. You have to lift yourself off the mattress in order to move. But it is a learned thing. I now know I cannot scoot!! I will not try scooting again!!

It's also now difficult to get really good sheets too. Because the mattress is only about 9 in. deep. They were offered in thicker depths but at the time I was struggling to find sheets to fit the pillow top type and so I didn't buy the thicker one. Sheets and bedspreads, comforters etc. are all something to consider before buying. There is no way to get a bedspread for a platform plus only a 9 in. mattress. They all hang on the floor or past the dustruffle. I finally settled for the cotton tshirt type fabric sheets. They stretch and I found one company that makes realllllllllly soft ones. http://www.thecompanystore.com/paren.../&An=102&A=320
I think that's right. Anyway, back to the raging bull husband. He says he will come tuck me in and help me up, but don't ask him for a new mattress. I am hoping this is only temporary anyway. I love my mattress. I just have to carry my cell phone with me everywhere so I can contact him. We use it for a intercom. That's my 2 cents on mattresses.

Billye

We purchased a 'Kingsdown' last year and it's wonderfully comfortable. We each have our own sides which are tailored to our individual body shapes and pressure requirements.

When we were looking we tried numerous options and although the new era latex memory foam mattresses are very allergy free etc I felt very hot (heat that is, hehe) in those ones. It's a time consuming decision to make and an expensive one if you make an incorrect choice.

Hi. I know for me my mattress in MI which I got at Art Van I forgot the name but has the pillow top is amazing but the cheaper one I got here though a pillow top is horrible and I feel it. I got that spa topper for it but stil not the same. I think investing in a real good one is worth it because they usually last awhile. I wonder if there are and I'm sure these would be super expensive but a custom one like orthotics for the feet for someone like silverlady who has extreme problems. I think too some places will let you try it and just pay the delivery but this could be way off base.

I know some love them or hate them - but waterbeds have come a long way.

you can get full flow, 60, 75,80,90 or even 100% wave reduction

lumbar support

memory foam top

frame or frameless

washable

If allergies to dust mites ?? a waterbed would be a better choice I think too.
If interested here's some waterbed links -
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...ds&btnG=Search

HI J,
We bought a Temperpedic bed last Dec. and just love it! It's the adjustable king which is actually 2 Calif. twins. I had to start sleeping sitting up because of my Barrett's Esophagus so we went bed hunting and tried them all out and ended up with the Temper.
IF your dr. will give you a prescription for a medical bed you can get the taxes knocked off the bed....that's what we did! Saved us over $500!

Roxie, you are one smart cookie!!!

mel

billye,

satin sheets on the temperpedic mattress will help you slide. you can even pin a twin size flat sheet to a regular sheet just on your side if your hubby doesn't like them. be careful if you wear really silky jammies. :wink:

i have to be able to move in a hurry with my back condition. i am woken up in searing pain and have to move right then. nothing worse than being stuck.

:hug:

Ahh Yes! The beached....
 

Whale Syndrome? Does nothing for your self-esteem, self-image or bolster much for any sort of 'can-do attitude'. Either you get stuck and flomp, wiggle, slide or whatever to get into bed or out of it?
Worst is falling off the edge/side isn't it? Then getting up becomes a new adventure in avoiding broken bones in any or all body parts. I take my cane to bed with me....sort of, it's next to my headboard and in easy reach to help do the 'pushing' whichever way I need to help propel me up. It is NOT graceful, pretty or the like but it IS effective.
Curious, I like the idea of silky sheets and a tempur type bed....I do have to say I almost got vertigo [sinking feeling] just sitting on one tho! Didn't quite get nauseous, but? The old 'don't like this' bells alarms and whistles were going off loudly in my brain - as in WHEN am I going to well umm, 'bottom out' if ever? It is absolutely NO fun to be in a bed, with a death grip on that foam topper holding on for dear life as to not fall off the bed.
I suppose it's next the 'mall adventure' as SleepNumber types can only be found at such places. I cannot deal/do escalators anymore, my balance, vision and coordination create a 'deer in the headlights' type of FREEZE at the precipice/prospect. So I the trek to a Mall w/DHusband [bribe him w/lunch out?] and 'try one' -with a try-out at an area hotel that has them...I think that'd be lots easier than having delivery [finding a place to keep the old one] and then paying for the return-if not tolerable ... and, then whatever 'handling' costs that come with it?
Gee whiz, even Consumer Reports can't give any definitive answers as to types/brands etc to 'recommend'! Too Subjective they say...Humm, does that sound like some doctors we know?
The hunt will continue...tho really I'd rather be shopping for some nice fun, soft roomy and fitting clothes! Not to mention 'pretty'? Here is to everyone having a good and pain-free night's sleep! :hug: :hug:'s and more! - j

I got a real laugh at this memory, it was true, every single bit of it. I still would not trade the mattress but I don't turn much.

What is it with men and their MATTRESSES??? I absolutely hate my bed.
I didn't buy a temperpedic mattress. I bought 3 mattress toppers, because the mattress that we had previously purchased was two low, too hard and we decided "hey, everyone is talking about the temperpedic, let's build out own".

So we got three visco elastic foam toppers, placed it over our existing mattress which is on top of our box spring and VOILA!!! instant temperpedic mattress.

Which, about 4 years ago, Alan fell promptly in love with. So did I in the beginning. I already had king sized sheets so I just tucked them all around and no sheet problem. I had various kinds of pillows and pillow cases so no problem there.

The problem is the color that the mattress toppers turn after a few years. They get yellow and they do something which I think is called PILLING?? in which bits of the foam flake off. I mean, if there is a sheet over it, you can't see anything, but when you are changing the sheets, well, it doesn't look appealing.

Try telling that to my husband. I showed it to him and he said "what does it matter what it looks like, I LOVE my mattress, we are not getting a new mattress.

And since he goes to bed at 8a.m. (when I get up), we just pass each other by and say Hi, have a good day, he goes to bed and I go to breakfast.

Works for us and works for his neuropathy because he sleeps better during the day as do many people we know who have neuropathy.

BUT I WANT A NEW MATTRESS. I told him "lets go to Bob-0-pedic and get his version of the temper pedic. Then we could throw away all the mattress toppers and have a REAL mattress!!!!"

Not gonna happen.

So until the mattress toppers disintegrate, I shall just continue to sleep on what I've been sleeping on. And you are so right about having to lift up your body when you get up. That to me is very annoying.

But I must say, when I go to bed at night and I sink into that feeling, it's like clouds.

Very nice sleep.

lol

Melody

We tried double topping on vacation...and it seemed good for about 10 days, then my right side and right back, seized up!
I couldn't bend or do anything! Off the bed back to one topper, and I was better in 4 days.

Consumer Reports said it best in one of their mattress review articles.... EVERYONE is different. What works for one will not work for all!

I love my tempur-pedic mattress/pillow...and my latest great find, my tempur-pedic seat cushion. I was unable to sit comfortably for more than 30 minutes. I found sitting at my desk at work and driving to be the most challenging. Any pressure to the backs of my thighs leads to pain in my lower legs /feet. This seat cushion has provided me with such relief, that I bought a second one so that I could leave it at my office:).

I had a mattress pad over that thing for years. The mattress pad eventually wore out due to wear and washing. I really should get another mattress pad but why do it now. The foam things are disintegrating too.

lol
Mel

I'd rather get a new MATTRESS!!!

lol

Mel

I agree -
 

This is a great idea.... I spent a couple of days looking at chair cushions online last weekend. I settled on a large firm wheelchair cushion with 1/2 memory foam and 1/2 regular firm foam...from Overstock.com It came yesterday, and it is divine!
It was only $27.00!

Why didn't I think of this? I want to thank you for the idea. Much less expensive than getting a new chair, --my old computer chair I think has been making the backs of my legs ache.

Mrs. D,
You are most welcome! I work in a residential facility where many people are in wheelchairs, so I was able to consult with one of the PT's to get recommendations for what might help with my "sitting". I continue to be very happy with my cushions. As I mentioned in another post, I recently took my cushion to a 2 day conference. So as not to feel odd walking into the conference carrying my cushion, I carried it in a large tote bag. Without my cushion, I probably would have done a lot of standing during the lectures. I hope you continue to enjoy your new cushion. Happy sitting:)!

I like the Temperpedic mattress. We have it on our platform bed (an old one from Scan). I use a mattress cover and I like cotton, high-thread count sheets. Also, I do put an electric blanket on the bed in the winter. We keep our bedroom cold and the mattress can be cold; so preheating is vital. The only drawback I see with the Temperpedic mattress is that it is extremely heavy. We have a king-size bed. Therefore, the job of sheet changing is passed to my husband, along with my (sometimes) nagging as I do like fresh sheets at least biweekly. :o

I also want to add...

we stayed at the Sheraton Hotel in Chicago last week. A total of six nights. I was worried about the mattress being uncomfortable and having added pain. Well, it was not uncomfortable. It was great. I slept wonderfully and had no residual pain. And, it was such a luxury to have a clean, puffy bed each night. I just love that.

Apparently, they sell the beds and linens

http://www.sheraton-hotelsathome.com...&itemID=SH-124

I already have a good mattress, but I would consider this otherwise.