New and Confused...but making headway
Jan 20, 2010 11:37 AM
Joined: Jan 19, 2010
Points: 12
Hi All ! 

I would appreciate any and all feedback.  Here is my Story:  Bought a extra firm board....oops...mattress from Beauty Rest...Black label.  My husband got sick of the pillow tops divoting out ....so we got this mattress with the understanding that I could get a topper as I need support around my body.  I am 5'10" and 140 pounds.....he is taller and can sleep on anything....so this post is about ME .

I purchased a Costco memory foam 3" topper to go over the mattress.  I have been in pain ...hips and shoulders....since.

I called Sleepez and talked to a really great informative guy.  He said the memory topper was not helping me as I am to skinny  to generate the heat needed to get "into" the foam and it is like nothing on top of the mattress.  Plus my body temp is very low anyway.

I first thought take a 1" latex topper and put over the Memory foam topper...but he said.....it wouldnt work.....not enough weight or body heat.

So he suggested return the Costco topper...which I can do.  Buy a 3" 19 - 20ILD  Tallaly topper.

So does this make sense?  Is Sleep Ez a good company?  They are a little more expensive...they will take returns.

He said Blended feels the same as all rubber.

I just dont want to make a mistake...too expensive and a hassel

Hope to hear from folks...all advice and opinions are very welcome.  THANKS!!
Re: New and Confused...but making headway
Reply #1 Jan 20, 2010 12:42 PM
Joined: Oct 15, 2009
Points: 966
I am a little skeptical that you are too light to sink into the memory foam.  Most people have the problem of sinking in too far with memory foam- not getting enough support - and that causes the pain.   Do you feel like you are sinking in a lot or just laying on a firm surface?

He may be right that a talalay latex talalay provide more support , and it is not heat sensitive.  So, that might work better for you.  I agree with sleepez, that I would not put 1" of latex on top of the 3" of memory foam.

The opinion on this board seems to be that the 100% natural talalay is a bit heavier, denser and more supportive than the blended latex.  It may not be a huge difference though.  I have not compared both to know for sure.  You could probably go with either for for a topper. 

I would be worried about the plushbeds one, unless you can confirm who makes it and how it is made.  It is probably made with the dunlop process, which will be more firm.  If you like a soft plush feeling, the talalay will be better.

Not sure if 3" will be best or 2".  Each person is different.  If you bought 2", you could add 1" later, but that is a more expensive way to get 3 total inches.  It is more flexible though.

Foamsweetfoam and rockymountainmattress also sells 100% natural 3" pieces (rockymountain has 1 and 2" too) with free shipping (I think).  You may want to compare the prices

I don't think there is a deadline to return the Costco memory foam.  So, maybe you should hand on to it until you find the right solution.

Re: New and Confused...but making headway
Reply #2 Jan 20, 2010 12:44 PM
Joined: Aug 30, 2007
Points: 464
lds001 wrote:
I just dont want to make a mistake.

Your expectations are unrealistic!  How could others know which configuration is right for you?
Re: New and Confused...but making headway
Reply #3 Jan 20, 2010 12:57 PM
Joined: Jan 19, 2010
Points: 12
Thanks Sandman...very helpful info.

Sager66...Thanks.......I should have been more specific......I would like to lessen the likelyhood of gross mistakes.  Thats why I am here.

To ask those that have gone before me.....what their experience has been.

How about you?  any feedback on latex?
Re: New and Confused...but making headway
Reply #4 Jan 20, 2010 1:48 PM
Joined: Oct 15, 2009
Points: 966
Ids001, is your perception that it is too firm or do you feel like you are sinking in a lot?  How does the mattess feel with the memory foam compared to without it?
Re: New and Confused...but making headway
Reply #5 Jan 20, 2010 9:21 PM
Joined: Jan 19, 2010
Points: 12
Sandman,

Without the memory topper....the bed is like a board.  With the topper....its a bit softer...however, I feel like I am on top it...not in it.  The small of my back has nothing under it...and by 3 a.m.....my hips are killing me and I need to keep turning every few minutes.
Re: New and Confused...but making headway
Reply #6 Jan 21, 2010 12:28 AM
Joined: Oct 15, 2009
Points: 966
I assume you are sleeping on your side?  It is possible that your weight on your hips is going right through the memory foam and hitting the hard surface below?   That is where most of the weight is for a side sleeper.  Hard for an outsider to diagnose.  In any event, the latex should provide more support than the memory foam - you won't sink through it as easily to hit the firm surface below.   If you do, then 3" may not be enough.  You might need a slightly firmer piece below the softer piece, but won't know that until you try the softer one first.   Unfortunately, we all seem to need to go through some trial and error since everyone is different.

I am a little worried that 19-20 might be slightly soft.  Do you like a real soft surface or something more supportive?  At foamsweetfoam, they say most people put medium on top, which is 24-28 ILD.  Their soft is 20-23.   At rockymountainmattress, their softest Talalay topper is 24.  Even at sleepez, their soft is 22-24.  

You could even try the memory foam over the latex to get a fairly soft surface.  My guess is that will be too soft without enough support, but maybe best to hold onto the memory foam for a while to keep your options open.

Re: New and Confused...but making headway
Reply #7 Jan 21, 2010 8:48 AM
Joined: Jan 19, 2010
Points: 12
Sandman,   Again thank you.   I dont think I am going through the memory foam and we are going to hang onto it until a good alternative solution is found.

You have nailed the question.  What is too soft?  It seems impossible to tell until you have tried it out.  Sleepez is the company who suggested 19 -20.....so I guess its about
taking a deep breath and jumping in.....being prepared to reorder if too soft.

I think I am leaning toward around 22 ILD and 3 ".  Who knows!!
Re: New and Confused...but making headway
Reply #8 Jan 21, 2010 2:52 PM
Location: L.A. area
Joined: Jan 18, 2008
Points: 1161
Hi, since I don't know that much about you, this is a generalization but I would say that absolutely 3" of memory foam is going to cause back pain to MOST people. I don't think it's that you aren't heavy enough, I just think memory foam does not work for most people especially when there's more than 1" of it.

As to latex, the guy at SleepEZ may be right, but if I were you, I"d buy one x 1" medium plush and one x 1" soft latex for toppers, not 3" of soft latex. Again, he COULD be right that you need all soft and no medium, but I'd be inclined to try 1" of a soft and 1" of a medium together, and you can try that and then get a feel of whether or not to try another 1" of soft or another 1" of medium.

By the way, I was told by SleepEZ yesterday that they do NOT offer an exchange or return on their toppers, only on their full mattresses. So if you are counting on an exchange or return, better confirm that.

And like sandman said, check out rockymountainmattress.com to see if their price for what you want might be cheaper - they have free shipping but their prices are a little higher so I figured out that it depends on what you buy as to which is cheaper after shipping costs are factored in.
Re: New and Confused...but making headway
Reply #9 Jan 21, 2010 3:35 PM
Location: Yosemite area
Joined: Sep 10, 2008
Points: 249
How did the pain differ with memory foam to the mattress without? Or maybe you couldn't sleep on it at all without a topper?  Generally speaking, if your hips and shoulders hurt, there is too much pressure, ie not enough cush.  If you get too cushy, then your low back starts to ache.  There is a fine line for lighter, curvy, women. 
The problem with so many mattresses these days is that they are over-filled with foam, quite often cheap foam, and unless you are heavy, you don't even get down to the springs, which support you.  You are sleeping the really firm foam.  Not fun.
Memory foam just doesn't support, IMO.  It gives, you sink, but there is no upward response from the foam to cushion the hips and shoulder IMO. 
I think latex is a good idea, providing you like the feel of it.  If only your side needs adjusting....do what I did and just buy twin size pieces of foam(for a CA king).  Cheaper, lighter, and you can dial in exactly what you want.   After wrestling with a king sized piece of latex (that ultimately was returned) at once point, I got smaller pieces ever since.  
I also am a side sleeper, but our mattress didn't have too much foam, it just was a bit firmer than I needed at first.  I use a polyfill topper.   Soft, no rebound, but a different kind of softness than memory foam.  I like it a lot.
Good luck,
Kait
Re: New and Confused...but making headway
Reply #10 Jan 21, 2010 4:09 PM
Joined: May 3, 2008
Points: 827
I agree with Jim that putting soft latex or soft anything over a firm mattress you will just smash the soft stuff and still fill the hard mattress.  Been there and done that.

I have medium/firm piece of latex over the hard spring mattress, then soft latex over that.  Good luck and let us know what you do.