Buying New Bed - can I have some Opinions on what kind you have and is it good...

[Marmar]

I know this has been talked about over and over, but now is the time I need opinions and reviews. Is the memory foam the best? I have a 4 inch memory foam topper on my 17 year old mattress. It is ok, but I want to know what is best. I have had 6 spine surgeries, have stenosis, maybe arachnoiditis, bulging disks, DDD. I am considering all mattresses and beds. Sleep number is one I've heard about. I guess I need to go and try them all, but if there are any I should avoid, I'd appreciate any info, good or bad. Seems silly, but it may be the most important decision I've had to make in a long while.

Thanks in advance to all who reply! Maryanne

[Buttons2]

I bought a memory foam mattress not too long ago & i really like it. does get hot however. hope this helps.

[newcervie]

I purchased a tempurpedic mattress about 4 to 5 years ago. It was well worth the extra money. I sleep much better since we got the mattress and I have less back pain flare-ups. I attribute this to the mattress.

[Mark N]

Marmar, we bought a memory foam mattress and it has really helped my wife except that it holds the heat in. Unfortunately I still can't sleep in bed and have to sleep in my zero gravity chair. We got the new mattress for both of us and it has really been good for my wife and better for me but not good enough. The only other bed that I know people really like is the Sleep Number bed but I have no experience with it.

[Marmar]

Thanks!

I had a feeling memory foam would be a hot item. I was also thinking about those beds that raise your head up and also raise your knees. Almost a hospital bed, but bigger, LOL! Thanks for the replies so far. I have until early next year to decide, so keep those reviews coming!

Sorry, Mark, that you sleep in your chair. That can't be fun for you or your wife. It is horrible what this does to us, and what we will do for a decent night's sleep...

[Mark N]

marmar, it isn't much fun for us to have me sleep in my chair but it is sleep in my chair or not sleep at all. My life is so disrupted with pain, discomfort, and poor sleep that it often feels like I ignore my wife or at least I am not doing as much as I want with her. She has adjusted to it though and it doesn't cause a problem other than with my own feelings of failing.

They now have memory foam mattresses that have a cooling gel next to your body and it supposedly stops the night sweats.

[Marmar]

Terrible time sleeping

Thanks, Mark! I have terrible flushing from Roscea and get overheated very easily. A cooling in the mattress would be great. My sleep is terrible. With the pain, allergies, sleep apnea and a cat, I never get restorative sleep, so I'm tired every day, and sleep 10-12 hours. I hope a better mattress will help a little. I bought a Zeo Sleep device, which you wear on your forehead while you sleep. It tells when you are in the different stages of sleep, and when you wake up. After wearing it for a month, I knew why I was always tired.

image.jpg

This is a pic of a bad nights sleep. At least I know why I'm so tired all the time. Since I don't have a partner to tell me I snore, or whatever, I would never know I woke up, etc. so it was very helpful.

Man, the image is so small, but the graph shows that if the white part is up to the top, you are awake. The next step down is light REM sleep. The third is light sleep and the bottom is deep, restorative sleep. So the bars to the top show how much you wake up, and not even know it!

[Mark N]

marmar, our pain causes so many associated issues like sleep apnea and it is no wonder most of us have very bad sleep patterns. I would gladly give up 12 hours a day to feel so much better. I had a 8 week stretch 4 years ago where I slept every night for 10 or more hours and I felt so much better every day. Unfortunately it ended as mysteriously as it started and I have no idea what caused it. I have tried every combo of conditions and meds to try and get decent sleep but nothing helps.

I hope a new mattress helps you out as I know my wife sleeps much better with our memory foam mattress.

[HellBoundTroll]

Haven't been back here for a month or two.....but got sidetracked by something I was looking at, ended up at a spinal site, which led me back - and here I am...

Anyway, I forget the exact number, but I think the life span of a mattress is 10-12 years according to Consumer Reports -- it is like five years according to the mattress people. In other words, you should replace the darn things every decade or so, depending.

Probably depending on weight, or other "uses."

So, you probably need a new bed, no matter what kind.

I have a "foam/gel" pillow I have been using for exactly a month. $12 at Big Lots. $50 at every other store. I love it and it seems to do good things for my cervical woes. It's a "Serta" brand, but is made by sleep innovations (the name on the actual tag on the pillow).

A "girlfriend" of the past had used one and loved it, so when I saw it at Big Lots had to bite. But, I don't think I would want a foam mattress.

I think you could do fine on a "traditional," but you are not going to get anything good for less than about $1200 or so for a queen....

Try Consumer Reports, etal. Your library would have free copies. I am currently on the Westin "heavenly bed," which I bought at a premium through Westin Hotels -- although I got a somewhat discount/deal because I sleep at Westins a few dozen times a year.

Anyway, sleeping on those mattresses, I came to love the Westin Heavenly Bed and I love mine at home. I got sort of a "free trial" during my business trips.

But, again, it was pricey. Someone, once, however, told me that you take the price, divide it by numbers of sleep nights, say some mumbo-jumbo and throw some dirt in the air and you will see that the price is actually pretty cheap on a per-night basis.

dave.

[Mike Weins]

Haven't been back here for a month or two.....but got sidetracked by something I was looking at, ended up at a spinal site, which led me back - and here I am...

Welcome back

But, again, it was pricey. Someone, once, however, told me that you take the price, divide it by numbers of sleep nights, say some mumbo-jumbo and throw some dirt in the air and you will see that the price is actually pretty cheap on a per-night basis.

dave.

I agree when you consider how long you will own the bed the price doesn't seem as bad.

I'm in the market for a new bed myself but have no clue as to which one would be best for me. I'd like to try one of those sleep number beds. Right now I have a queen size box spring with a pillow top and it's starting to look like a taco

[Marmar]

Thanks for all the info

I know my mattress is shot, but I have a four inch memory foam topper that has given me extra life until I move and buy a new bed. This is my marital bed, from 1977, lol. All things considered, it outlived its usefulness. That's why I'm clueless about what to buy. Consumers is a great start, I subscribe to both the mag and the website.

Due to a settlement, I am not going to skimp on my new abode. Probably the last time I will ever move or buy new furniture. So, with money not an issue, I have to decide if I want a sleep number bed, a memory foam mattress, or a mechanical bed that raises and lowers. A trip to Sleepy's might help with the mattress, but the bed would be separate. I am considering a platform bed with storage, so I guess that cuts out the Sleep Number bed. I would have to concentrate on mattresses. Luckily, I do not have any neck issues, though to look at my cervical MRI, you would wonder why I don't have issues. Shhhh. Might wake the pain gods, LOL!

Thanks for all the good info, which will help me in my search. I'll be moving next year, so my search will be lengthy and I hope successful. It pays to ask the expert spineys.

[HellBoundTroll]

I just was cleaning out my e-mail box and found a contest for a free westin bed and they are 25 percent off right now. I swear, really swear, I am not going to benefit from anyone using the link I am going to post -- oh wait, I don't I have enough "wizard wonderful posts" to post a link....sorry...

But, if anyone cares, find the Westin store and you can save a few cents on their stuff. Again though, it is pricey to begin with.

Marmar, I don't remember, but last time I looked at Consumer Reports, Sleepy's./...????

[HellBoundTroll]

O.K.: Bad troll, but I was curious and went to the Westin site, not that bad price-wise with the discount...for a queen, under 1,200. I bought mine in 2006 and I think I paid a few hundred more than that and that makes it seven years old....I guess I should wait, and to be honest while I weigh 205 (6'2" so not that bad), in the past few years my bed has not been used that much for other "uses."

Anyway, again, check consumer's and all that stuff. Mattresses are one of those very important things to those with spine issues, but one of the toughest to break through all the marketing hype.

[Mike Weins]

-- oh wait, I don't I have enough "wizard wonderful posts" to post a link....sorry...

Hahahahaa "wizard wonderful posts" I like it ... seriously though you should be able to post a link. You're in a user group that isn't restricted from posting links.