On suggestions of eagle2 and KimberlyH, I'm starting my own thread. I hope my experience may possibly help someone else as I continue to receive help from all the wonderful posters on this forum .Summary from two previous posts (edited): 1) Background (sorry, if you've already read it skip it): 60 yr old F, 5' 7", 128 lbs, side sleeper -- Fibromyalgia. Extreme pressure points in hips, (tingling, burning, numbness, pain). Currently sleeping on aTP Cloud Supreme... not really sure it's right for me (How can something feel so soft when you first lie down, and be so hard a few hours later?). Still have 6 weeks before deciding to either exchange it for TP Rhapsody (a special "thank you" here to budgy for all his TP information) or get refund and start over. OR new option - try FloBeds and compare! I had tried an Englander Natures Finest Latex and was in so much pain on it, I had quit the idea of latex altogether because of it (I never was able to find the exact content of that particular bed). I admit, at the time I made that decision, I was totally ignorant about different ILD's, thicknesses, customizing layers, coverings, latex actually helping with pressure points, etc. 2) Well, I did it! My new bed should be here no later than Monday. I'm excited and nervous at the same time. Dewey was very nice and helpful and thanks to you all I had a list of questions, but he really answered most of them before I could ask. Which was great because I don't do phone very well, and I did do the "ah... ah... ah.."  . I went with all his recommendations except for the vZone, which we decided I could upgrade to later if needed. So my new bed is:Natural Deluxe - Natural Talalay Latex Green Mattress Organic Cotton & Wool Cover Natural Talalay Latex Convolute Comfort Pad Both sides: Natural Talalay Latex Core-Soft Natural Talalay Latex Core-Medium Natural Talalay Latex Core-Firm I told him about how informed and extremely helpful you've all been, (though I think most of you spoke with Dave who was unavailable) Dewey was glad to hear about how impressed I was about this great forum. These large purchases always scare me, but he assured me if for any reason I didn't love the bed, I would only be out the shipping cost of sending it back, which is very reasonable. Eagle, you are so right about how reassuring it is to deal with the owners! I do realize no bed is going to cure my fibromyalgia and all the issues it creates, but I am hoping this bed will provide some relief and comfort... without all the rules the TP demands you follow. -------------------- This message was modified Jul 15, 2010 by Natalia
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Natalie said: "I have a tight 100% cotton mattress pad on it right now, but I plan on removing that tonight and seeing what difference it makes. eagle and others have stated many times that tiny changes make a huge difference, and I know this was so true with the TP Cloud." Yes, do take off the mattress pad and see how that feels. Remember, please remember, it's going to take some time to adjust to your new bed. Particularly in light of the fact that you strained yourself putting it together. I think the biggest mistake we all make, as I have stated many times before, is that we want our beds to be so cuddly, cushy, and soft. If I could make some magical arrangement where I could lay down on this soft cuddly floating cloud of a mattress, and still get the kind of proper support for my spine that would keep it aligned, I would do it in a heartbeat. Alas it is not to be for me. I tried it! I went so far as to get a soft piece and another medium piece after putting my mattress together, and put it on top of an extra firm piece. I had back and hip pain almost immediately. I don't recall now, but I think I only slept on it for two or three nights before I had to give up. Now I weigh a lot more than you do, so what you need is going to be much different than what I need. I just state the foregoing to try and make the point that we all want a mattress that is softer than probably what is really good for our spinal alignment. In any event, good luck, and keep us posted. This message was modified Feb 25, 2010 by eagle2
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| Leo3, the FloBed zippered cover is wonderful for me since I am sensitive also to stitching on mattress pads that I am no longer using. I just prefer my fitted sheet (that I wash) to be directly over the zippered cover so I can feel the latex the best. |
Hi Lynn, Nice to see you posting again  Some day I will get an all latex bed, maybe Flobeds will be having a sale soon. Thanks for the response on the wool cover, that was one of the reasons I didn't want a bed with the stitching and puffiness like other beds have, and the mattress pads. Glad you like yours still and the mattress pad does make a difference. Do you sleep on the other side of your mattress for a softer feel like some people here do? That would be a plus, when you want to side sleep switch to the softer side. My problem is my O-stock latex is too soft and I sink in too much, but since I have no clue on the ILD I have no idea on what ILD to order. You are so thin, and I really don't think you can go by weight to know what ILD to get, because when I did the Flobed test I was suppose to get medium, firm. I think I may want firmer after my experience of my hip being painful from sinking in too much, as well as my leg has pain from side sleeping. Do you sink in with medium? I am looking at natural talalay instead of blended. I can't remember if you have all natural or some blended now. Also I would like to err on the side of too firm since I have extra layers of latex that is too soft that I could add. Is there room in the mattress casing for 1 1/2" latex added? That is what my latex is exactly 1 1/2". I still do have the 1" brylane home latex I use too. |
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Leo3, I just lost my post from trying to see the whole thread. I am tired since 1 hour ago I took the cough medicine that is a prescription to help me sleep tonight since I can't stop coughing with this cold that has lingered on for three weeks. Hence, I hope my post makes sense. 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. |
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Thanks, Lynn. Sorry bout your cold, hope you get well soon. So you mattress cover isn't baggy with 1.2" less room? You don't sleep on wrinkles? I was just thinking if I did get that I would probably just use my Brylane Topper since I have it and not sure I would really like a convoluted topper. The cover is very important for my comfort I know I am extremely particular. But maybe the reason you don't feel lines from the mattress cover is because it isn't stuffed like it would be if the convoluted topper was on it. Is there a time of year Flobed has sales? Guess I should ask them  but I am no way ready to make phone calls. I just know my toppers have softened up in the year I have had them (and it never was pain free on my hips anyway), and I need to get a new bed. I keep checking their website and they haven't had sales lately.This message was modified Feb 28, 2010 by Leo3
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My mattress cover fits just right without being too tight and is not baggy just the way it is. Before I felt it was difficult to zipper it up when I had the thicker latex topper and the thicker latex core on the bottom of the bed. 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. |
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Hi Everyone, Here is my update with more pictures - until my camera battery went dead  :After trying every configuration possible with two layers each of Soft, Medium, Firm, and still not being able to find a compromise between softness, needed for Fibromyalgia, and support, Dewey sent me two vZones. 1 Medium, and 1 Firm. (For those interested here is a <a href="http://www.flobeds.com/pdf/vZoneSpecs.pdf"target="_blank">link</a> to the vZones configurations.) First the inevitable heavy box arrives with the vZones: <img src="http://webpages.charter.net/nickit/flobed2/boxvzones.jpg" /> The follow pics show setting up the vZone on my side. What you see on the other side is the rolled back convoluted topper. The Meduim vZone placed on top of the Middle under layer: <img src="http://webpages.charter.net/nickit/flobed2/mediumvzone.jpg" /> vZone from head to almost foot (couldn't get it all into one pic): <img src="http://webpages.charter.net/nickit/flobed2/vzone1.jpg" /> The rest of the vZone: <img src="http://webpages.charter.net/nickit/flobed2/vzone2.jpg" /> Showing the canvas with velcro strips that hold the vZone layers in place. Also, you can see the different layers waiting to be placed. Each individual layer has velcro attached on the front and back of the bottom which line up with the velcro strips on the canvas. There is also a square of velcro on all four corners of each layer. The small layer at the top is a spacer which counts as one of the 7 zones: <img src="http://webpages.charter.net/nickit/flobed2/canvasvelcro.jpg" /> <img src="http://webpages.charter.net/nickit/flobed2/canvasvelcro2.jpg" /> All but the bottom layer attached to canvas: <img src="http://webpages.charter.net/nickit/flobed2/layersoncanvas.jpg" /> Over the past 10+ days, we have changed layers around from both vZones, trying to find the best combination, only to end up with the original Meduim vZone over Medium, over Firm. The most comfortable the bed has been for me was the way it was when first bought... S/M/F. Unfortunately if you've read my other post "<a href="http://www.whatsthebest-mattress.com/forum/need-help-flobed-back-pain-please/10081-0-1.html"target="_blank">Need help with Flobed and back pain, Please!</a>", you know this wonderfully soft configuration caused me lower back pain. I will be trying it again just in case the backache was a fluke... oh I SO hope it was!! I do have one other problem and that's with the stitching on the cover. I feel it through the sheet and it does irritate my hips, but even a wrinkle will do that. I am THAT sensitive. Though I don't know if you can see them clearly, here is a picture of the indentations left on a thin jersey bottom sheet. (I now use an old blanket over the cover under the sheet... thank you Leo): <img src="http://webpages.charter.net/nickit/flobed2/sheetwaves.jpg" /> Now, I am NOT giving up!!! I do believe this is a great bed and the components are top notch! If I can get it to work for me over the next few weeks, I'll definitely be keeping it. The company provides the utmost in customer care, so if there is a problem, it lies with me and my fibro... not with FloBeds! I'll keep you up to date on my progress and yes..... once again, I must thank you ALL. You are each so helpful and openly supportive.  Natalie This message was modified Mar 18, 2010 by Natalia
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Natalie, Thanks for such good pictures, I will have to look that over again tomorrow, it is after midnight! Glad the blanket helped. Finally someone who is as sensitive as me  lots of challenges. Hope you get it all worked out soon, I know how tiring it is and frustrating. 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. |
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Natalie, are you sure you've exhausted all the combinations on the vzones? I ask because I only have one vzone and I think it took me longer than 10 days to work through it. 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 This message was modified Mar 18, 2010 by lnkholder
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lnkholder wrote: Natalie, are you sure you've exhausted all the combinations on the vzones? I ask because I only have one vzone and I think it took me longer than 10 days to work through it. 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 There just aren't many "less sensitive" areas. Not to sound like a big boo hoo, but every area is sensitive.. whine, whine, whine So what's next? Trying the vZone configured a little firmer down one layer This message was modified Mar 18, 2010 by Natalia
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. 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.
, S/MvZ/F, or S/FvZ/M, or other combos. I'm on a mission and I'm not giving up before 90 days!