Mattress Forum

My bed started out with the Natural Talalay Split Latex Cores (3 on each sides) with a topper over them on top of the pine slat box.  I keep making the bed firmer and then I finally had to cave in to request blended latex cores since the Super Firm Latex (44 ILD to 46 ILD) did not come in the natural Talalay Latex.  Hence, the two bottom cores are the 44 - 46 ILD blended Talalay Latex while the next two cores on each side range from 35 ILD to 39 ILD (Extra Firm cores... one I wish was a 36 ILD but it averaged to a 35 ILD) . My topper is the 1" soft Brylane Topper. I took the Overstock too short topper off my bed.  I had to cut the Queen Size Brylane Topper to fit my queen bed since it was a little bit big but it fits perfectly and I love it. 

My zipped up Mattress bed is made for up to three 3" split natural latex cores on each side and a 2" convoluted topper on top.  Hence, I deducted 1" on top for having a less thick topper and another .2" on top from using one blended latex core on each side of the bed that is only 2.8" thick.  I actually like this set up.  There would be no room inside if I had all 3" latex cores and the 2" latex topper.

When I was sleeping on my carpeted floor with the 1" topper, I needed to put a thin exercise mat under it since it was just too hard.  Even very firm latex has a tiny bit of give and is better than sleeping on the floor.  My set up is very comfortable for me right now with the set up described above and my medium Natural Talalay latex pillows. 

By the way, Natalie, I love the look of your headboard and footboard.  Please keep us updated.

I think sales happen around holidays so I would wait to see what the Easter Sale is, the Memorial Day sale is and then there is the labor day sale.  I think I bought my bed in May  on one of the sale days and ended up getting a price reduction with the labor day sale.

Natalie

I ordered the Natura wool on top to make my latex toppers more firm and help with the hip pain.  Note I am trying to sound positive as if it is going to work.  Also even sheets make a difference, I hope the thicker jersey sheets help.

My point is, as you know, any small thing can aggravate or help the hip pain.  Keep the faith that it will work in the end.

I have kind of the opposite problem from you - I need a lot of firmness for my fused middle and lower back.  A very firm mattress supports the back but makes my arms fall asleep during the night.  So I need to balance support for my back with at least some softness for the aging joints. 

I started out with a natural F/F/XF, which didn't quite work for me (too soft) and upgraded to the extra firm vzone, which Dave customized for me.  But after a couple of weeks of moving around the vzone pieces I was getting close to giving up on the latex bed - nothing seemed to help.  Until I took the small piece of superfirm foam and put that under my hips.  Bingo.  Now my shoulder/lumbar/hip area are M/F/SF, and I've had no pain in 10 days.  None.  It's a miracle.  That's a pretty huge difference between the shoulders and the hips and I really did not expect that to work, but that's what my back wanted after all.

They generally say that back pain means too soft and shoulder pain means too hard.  That was true for me. You're kind of stuck since the softness that helps your fibro hurts your back.  But I wonder how much you've played around with different levels of support under the less sensitive shoulders, lumbar region, and perhaps even the legs.  Maybe there is a combination of those that would let you leave the hips soft.  Or maybe use just a 10 inch strip of soft foam under the hip instead of the larger piece normally placed under the hips.  10" isn't much to aim for (that's how big the SF under my hips is; Dave is sending me a larger piece), but perhaps just a small soft spot would cushion the fibro while leaving the rest of the body supported.

Don't give up.  Pain relief is a very good thing.  I know better than to get my hopes up too far, but I hope mine lasts. 

Linda

Hi Linda,

Congrats on 10 days of no pain! YAY! I hope it continues for you. That is indeed amazing!

You're right. 10 days is in no way enough time to exhaust the possible configurations of the vZones , especially for those who can really give all the M/F/XF pieces a good try. I should have said, "After trying every configuration possible using the vZones as a top layer".

One night of pain using firm anywhere but second to last zone, was enough to know they are too hard for me. Right now, other than the soft, I'm only using two mediums, 10" lumber, and 18.5" lower leg foot and am still having pressure points on ribs and ankles.

There just aren't many "less sensitive" areas. Not to sound like a big boo hoo, but every area is sensitive.. whine, whine, whine. After all, I'm just trying to find a combo that leaves my neck, shoulders, ribs, hips, knees, calfs, ankles, and heels pain free... joking, but one can dream.

So what's next? Trying the vZone configured a little firmer down one layer , S/MvZ/F, or S/FvZ/M, or other combos. I'm on a mission and I'm not giving up before 90 days!
 

I'm also curious about the cover, do you find it soft enough? Does it get overly warm? Is it necessary to have all that wool between you and the latex?

Hi cynical,

I've never tried flipping the topper. I like the cushioning of it and I don't notice any bumps or uneven feel.

I think the cover is very nice (minus my stitching issue). It's not overly stuffed as store mattress covers seem to be these days and I don't notice any heat retention at all. I also don't notice it feeling cold when I first get in bed as my Temper-pedic cover felt.

I wouldn't characterize it as "all that wool". It's not really that thick, and I don't feel it detracts from the feel of the bed in any way. After a month, it looks like new. I sleep alone always on the same side and you can't tell which side. I don't see or feel any compression or stretching of the cover at all.

Like everything else I post, it's just my humble opinion, YMMV.

Best to you,

Natalie