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Hi. Got a Simmons BackGuard last week after returning an NXG 250 Firm which turned out to be both too soft and too hard at the same time (butt sank too much, back was pulling while shoulders were in pain and arms went numb). The BackGuard has zones (thinner coils under hips and shoulders and very firm for lumbar support) that I can distinguished with my ribs when I lay on my side after a minute or so (I weigh 250 lbs). Every morning, I wake up in pain (shoulders, ribs, back) so I'm looking for a topper but don't want to go overbaord to avoid making it too soft. Budget is limited so I'm leaning toward Foambymail latex topper. Don't know if I should go for 20 or 32 ILD. Any advice? Also, does anybody know how bad will their topper smell? How long before it dissipates? This message was modified Dec 7, 2010 by ZZZZ
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Interesting. With the thinness of the toppers you have now, it's probable that stomach and back sleeping would give you the best alignment. It certainly isn't suitable yet for side sleeping (as you know :)) The cracking you are talking about could be your back "coming back" into alignment similar to a chiropractor's adjustment who does something similar (cracks you with your leg lifted) in certain circumstances. I have noticed the same thing when my back is "on the edge". It can also happen to me when I shift weight from one leg to another and sort of "relax my hip outward". I really doubt that the underlying mattress will ever be suitable for side sleeping even at a much lower weight. It wasn't designed that way which is part of the reason it is more suitable as a base than the old one was. Thinner layers on top after you have lost weight ... possibly ... but I doubt it would ever be the bare mattress. My other half is about 125 and needs more than 2.5" and preferably 3" to relieve pressure on her side. I am tall and 195 and need the same as her. Weight distribution and body profile plays a big role rather than just weight itself. There are others here who really know their stuff about mattress pads and cotton and have some preferred sources. Hopefully they will post. If I see anything I'll add a link. Phoenix |
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Got a hold of Literie Laurier today. Turns out they only have 36 ILD toppers. The 3 inches is 439$ and the 2.5 inches is 399$. Both prices are with taxes included. Wouldn't 36 be too firm? I contacted another merchant who has quoted me 2 inches of natural talalay 21 ILD topper for 399$ (before taxes). They told me it’s all I would need to sleep on top of a very hard mattress, even at my weight. They invited me to come give it a try but it’s a 2.5 hours’ drive and it does seems rather expensive. At this point, I want to wait before making another move, at the very least until my back has recovered a bit more to be able to discern the difference between what’s comfortable and not (I’m still finding the sofa too hard to stay on it more than 10 minutes!) but once I’m better, I’m wondering if another inch of soft talalay could end up being enough. This message was modified Dec 6, 2010 by ZZZZ
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IMO, 36 would be too firm. And the guy that told you 2" of 21 would be enough on a very hard mattress was IMO blowing smoke. It wouldn't even be enough for my other half and she weighs 125 (laughing). Srange ... a few days ago the guy from Laurier told me they had 19 and 40. The price is OK for a king though (assuming he meant the one with a cover). And I wouldn't get an inch of Talalay. Thinner layers added together aren't the same as one thicker layer and with not really knowing what the other two pieces really are you'd be a lot safer going with 3" of a known quantity. I suspect you might even need a little more than this in which case the other two you have would come in handy. Phoenix |
| Not getting any better today. I just spoke with a chiropractor and the told me that lower back pain + sore shoulders almost always equate not enough support due to hammocking. I do feel that my butt goes down more than my shoulders and I noticed that the sides of the pillowtop curl up a bit when I'm in it but I still have pressure point issues. Could it be that my setup is at the same time a little too hard (pressure points) AND a little too soft (not enough support)? |
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There is no doubt in my mind (with the limited testing we were able to do with the materials you have) that YES your mattress is both too soft and too hard although it is a little more than just ILD as well. I also have no doubt that the materials you have in any combination will not be suitable and we have gained about as much information from using them in different combinations as we can. I would just use them as best you can for now until you are able to take the next step which is when we can actually move towards fixing the "issues". It sounds like it been quite a journey for you but at least now I would have some hope that you can make some real improvements. Phoenix This message was modified Dec 7, 2010 by Phoenix
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Just went through another miserable short night and long, painful day. Picked up a used futon sofa for 150$ that I put in the basement. It's about 10 years old, but it's quite clean. Just tried it for one hour and although it's still too firm to be comfortable, it feels straighter and slightly softer than my new Beautyrest, with 3 inches of foam on top. Will give it a try tonight. It can't be a long term solution (too narrow to sleep in any position other than my side and too short to spread my legs completely) but I'm curious to see how my back will feel tomorrow. Got my complete radiology report today and found out I have sacralization of the L5, a transitional vertebra at the lumbo-sacral and degenerative retrolisthesis at L4-L5. I now realize I have no choice but either get a 3 inches topper or get a new bed, once again. Phoenix, do you think that a 3 inches of latex topper would feel straighter and sag less in the middle than my actual setup? Is it worth trying or should I just invest more and get a new bed altogether? I'd hate to spend 400$ on a topper that I can't return and find out that it doesn't work. |
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There is no doubt in my mind that you will need a thicker topper. 3" may not be enough by itself but with what you have you would still be able to "adjust" it in increments which is why I believe 3" would be best. A 1" adjustment with known and appropriate materials can sometimes make a huge difference. In other cases it could make very little. Putting all the layers you have on the futon would also give some valuable feedback as this would be ... or should be ... different from your mattress. I am still "very aware" of he affect that the foam on top of your mattress may be having on your results and I do believe that it is a total of 1 3/8 inches which is certainly enough to make a difference in alignment ... and perhaps even support issues ... for someone as sensitive as you are. The futon with no foam may help refine things a bit ... even though the layers you have are really not enough and are somewhat unknown. I would put the layers on the futon in the order of softness (softest on top). I am really sorry to hear about all your diagnoses ... even though you already knew there were some issues there. I am hopeful that fixing your mattress will make your journey back a little easier. Before you order, I would check to see if you can get an appropriate topper from somewhere that would allow you to exchange it at a very reasonable cost. While I am guessing that around 24 would be the best only because heavier weights create a perception of softness in slightly firmer materials, the layers we have been using for testing make it really difficult to know for sure. If it can be ordered with an "exchange" then the expense would be well worth the relief it can provide. Phoenix This message was modified Dec 8, 2010 by Phoenix
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Turns out my tender half had decided to wash the covers of the futon (you can unzip them) late last night, so I had to wait for them to dry. Meanwhile, I tried another experiment: remove the cover of the Ikea pillow top to see if using its foam uncovered would feel any different. It’s quite a tough foam, not soft all and very resilient. By itself on top on the mattress, it made the bed feel a little harder than the bare mattress. I then layered the latex, the egg crate, mattress pad and quilt. Right away, I noticed the bed was much flatter so I guess the cover of the pillowtop, which is loose enough to make the bed sag a little in the middle, was the culprit. One minute later, I had bottomed out to the Ikea foam, which as I said, feels harder than the bed itself. I tried to sleep a couple of hours but I kept being waken up by the pain. I then moved to the basement; put the covers back on and slept the rest of the night on the futon. I still had to toss quite a bit but it was definitely less hard than the bed, even if my shoulders still went numb at times. Today, I still have quite a bit of pain but since I didn’t sleep the whole night on the futon, I’ll give it another try tonight. I may try throwing the egg crate on but since it’s just a narrow sofa, it will probably be awkward to use. |