Mattress Forum

In other words the core can "help" the upper layers distribute downwards pressure and improve comfort and the upper layers can "help" the core to target upwards pressure and improve support.

The "progressive" resilience qualities of either the springs or the core materials along with the ability to "target" pushback through "point" compression as opposed to "broad" compression are key parts of how different mattress constructions provide support to different sleeping styles and body weight/measurement distributions.

Phoenix

http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/products/70163102 which felt not too soft and somewhat supportive.

150$ for the queen size. I brought it home and will try it along with the latex (took off the quilt and egg crate foam). Should I put the latex on top or under?

"As request topper Talalay latex ILD 40

Queen topper 2 inches 189.00

Queen topper 3 inches 269.00

Queen topper 2 inches with cover Bamboo quilt with wool 249.00

Queen topper 3 inches with cover Bamboo quilt with wool 329.00"

Their prices seem very reasonable indeed (especially when you consider lower shipping, no exchange, and no cross border hassles) and they would probably be the same or similar in other ILD's and similar value in other sizes. I am impressed with their cover and pricing there as well. This is one of the few times where I've seen better value in Canada than an equivalent in the US.

As far as latex on top or under the poly I'm not sure as I would need to know the ILD, density, and quality (HR, HD, or something else) of the poly and the "real" ILD of your latex to give a more "thought out" suggestion. I would "probably" try the poly under the latex first though and give it a couple of days before you switch.

Phoenix

Just made the bed and I set it up with the poly under. Still feels firm but a tad softer than before. Strangely enough, even though the latex foam feels softer than the poly, it seems to give more "pushback". If my arm goes numb again, I'll switch and see. I could also try the poly along with the egg crate. Hours and hours of fun....

2.2 lb foam, this should last how long?

If it really is 2.2 HR poly and made by a good manufacturer ... it should last you a long time ... meaning years. It would last longer under something else than it would on top of the mattress.

The only thing missing in the description (unless I missed it) is the ILD. This in combination with not knowing the ILD of your latex (which from foambymail is always unknown) makes it a little difficult to "theoretically predict" what layering would be best so we'll just have to go with your personal experience here. Typically though the HR denser poly that you more commonly find has a higher ILD although it is available in much softer ILD's as well ... it's just a little harder to find.

The next option I would try after a couple of nights on this one and depending on your "sleep all night" or at least your "sleep part of the night" experience would be the eggcrate over these two layers.

Phoenix

If you go with poly you need information like this ... http://www.foam-futon.com/foamspecs.html. As you can see from the specs on the 1.8 poly, it can range from soft to firm with the same density. If you go to foamdistributing.com (foam by mail) you will see everything there that would be suitable is mid 30's and higher. Same with foamorder.com. Without knowing the ILD of a polyfoam you buy it's pretty safe to assume it will be in the 30's or higher.

What i would suggest if you can is to take a trip to literie laurier (not sure exactly how far it is from you to montreal) and lay on their 3" 19 ILD over 40 ILD mattress. This will give you a sense of what an accurate 19 ILD over a firm (like your innerspring) 40 ILD core feels like and will give you a way to know if what you have is softer or harder. They probably even have latex over springs which would be even better. You need known quantities as reference points to make real progress. I would try to spend at least an hour there so you can also try other ILD's and thicknesses they may have. If you lay on this combination (or others they may have) for at least 10 minutes in your normal sleeping position as relaxed as you can be, you will likely get a sense of how close a combination is and get a much clearer sense about what might work than any random assortment of layers where you don't know exactly what you have. They may also have good memory foam which would give you a chance to try that as well. I also suspect that they would give you some good feedback if you take your time there and tell them what you are facing.

In the meantime for tonight ... and given what you have said ... I would go as soft as I could which probably (guessing here) means the eggcrate over the poly over the latex.

If by soft memory foam you mean low density like 3 lbs over your springs ... it would destroy you unless it was on top of something else. You would go right through it. Higher density memory foam can actually be just as soft or even softer (distribute pressure much better) than low density (like polyfoam which it really is). You want honey (denser) not water (less dense) to distribute pressure..

A cuddle bed is just a soft puffy layer that needs to be on top of something as well. By itself on your springs it would also probably destroy you.

More than anything you need reference points ... either by buying known quantities or preferably by going somewhere and laying on known quantities first which would likely be the fastest way to get to what you need.

Phoenix

It's strange how the layering can make such a difference. I have come to realize that while the latex does a much better job at redistributing weight than regular foam, it may not be ideal as a top layer in my situation. Under the foam, it acts more like a suspension on a car.

I would be a little careful about reacting to one nights sleep or making any assumptions based on a single night though. 2 nights on a particular layout would be much better. I would especially not make any assumptions based on a single inch of latex. The foam on top is HR foam which means high resiliency and given that it is thicker and may have higher resiliency and/or sag factor even than the latex (some HR foams do) this could be what is giving the effect you are describing. If you make any changes based on believing that an inch of latex can cause "springiness" then it is likely that the next step you take could make things worse again.

I would go very slowly and make sure you really know "why" something is happening before taking another step.

Did you have the eggcrate on top of this?

Phoenix

From page 4 here: http://www.pfa.org/intouch/pdf/ntouch51.pdf

The very minimum requirements for a foam to be regarded as HR is ... Density of 2.5 lbs/cu ft, Resiliency of 60%, and Support factor (also called sag factor or compression modulus) of 2.4 - 1. They can be any ILD from very soft to very hard.

These numbers are the very minimum and while these are still below latex, many HR foams are higher than latex in resiliency and/or sag factor.

I know I'm ahead of myself but I'm so desperate right now that any positive sign is a welcome blessing that lets me hang on. I don't wish for anyone to go through the pain and the despair I've encountered. The pain was so great at times that I even considered ending my life on some nights. LIfe is miserable when you can't sit, lay down or stand without hurting. I've vowed to lose 100 lbs. and so far, I've lost 18.

If I add the inch of foam inside my mattress, I'm currently sleeping on 4 inches over the coils. Is that an average amount? I know it depends on the type and quality of foam but how much is usually needed for someone my size?