Help me choose a mattress or topper
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Hi everyone, I'm searching for either a topper or possibly a new mattress that will help me feel comfortable. I have a severe type of rheumatoid arthritis and am currently "sleeping" on an 8 year old S**** pillowtop mattress. The innerspring feels like its in good shape, but the pillowtop has seen its better days. No impressions, it just doesn't cushion me anymore. I've tried a cheap 2" 4lb memory foam topper and I felt like I was sinking to the bottom of a pit. It really hurt my back too. I've ordered a 1" 7lb topper from Big O hoping it will be more supportive and have less to fall into. I'm thinking the pillowtop is causing the pitlike feeling though by taking up empty space. Assuming I should try and save this mattress, will the 7lb topper work? Should I exchange it for a latex topper since they're firmer and that seems to be what everyone else is using? I'm really thinking I have a lost cause on my hands, though and I've been looking at other possiblities for getting a good night's slight. I looked at healthy back's latex systems and they were comfy, but way too expensive for my current budget. I've also been looking at SleepEZ, which is more affordable and I've heard good things about, but its still expensive. I've also been considering the DIY route. For this, is FBM as bad as people seem to think? Its definately cheap enough, but I don't want to pay for something that will breakdown in time (I really don't care about the cosmetic issues people have reported, but I worry the cosmetic issues indicate lesser quality foam all around. If someone from FBM could address this, that would be great). The configuration I'm thinking about from FBM would be a: 1" Venus memory foam topper 2" Medium topper 6" Firm base The other DIY place I've been looking at is foamorder. I have a few questions - Would their 6" Mattress work or would it bottom out. Here's the configuration I'd like to do: 1" Venus foam topper 3" Medium Upper Layer 3" Extra Firm Bottom Layer According to their guide, this will give me a Medium Firm mattress. Plus my Venus foam will help with pressure points. Is this good or do I need the middle layer? Also, will I bottom out having only a 3" bottom layer? I figure I can always add layers when I have a larger budget or need to change to softness. I also realize a 1" soft latex topper would probably be better, but I already have the Venus coming and might as well make use of it (so long as its comfy). Oh, just so you know, I'm a male, 5' 7" in height, and I weigh about 140 lbs. I really appreciate any advice. My first choice would be to save my old bed, but I don't want to keep throwing money at it. A couple last questions...How much do the latex Mattresses weigh? Is it easy to get them up to the bedroom? And how do I get rid of my current mattress when the UPS guy drops my latex foam off? More questions keep popping into my head...Can I use a latex mattress on my current box spring or do I need to buy a special one? Lastly, these DIY options are considerably cheaper than, say, SleepEZ. Am I loosing much in quality by going with FoamOrder, or is it more of a convenience issue -- that they help you to find the right sleep system. Sorry, for rambling on...its late, but I really don't want to go to bed because I've been so uncomfortable lately. I'm leaning toward foamorder since they have the extra firm base, I'm just afraid 3" will bottom out. Please, let me know what you think of the prospect of saving my old bed, and the setup of the DIY mattresses. If I should make any changes, let me I know. Thanks again for reading my post and answering my questions? |
Re: Help me choose a mattress or topper
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There was one more thing, this gets a little more complicated. How portable are latex mattresses. If they are disassembled, can they be moved easily? The bed is currently in my parents' guest room. I bought a queen Venus topper to go on the current bed, but if I replace the bed, my parents would like a double bed put into the room. Of course if I take the new mattress with me I'll be getting a queen. I know there's no right or wrong answer here, but I feel like I'm skimping from the start by not using SleepEZ, maybe I should save even more money by getting the double bed and cutting my Venus down to fit. If the mattress is something they like, they'd probably buy it off me when I leave and I can either repeat the process or maybe have the disposable income to go with SleepEZ for my long term mattress. If they don't like the mattress and I do, I may be stuck with a double (not the worst thing in the world). Or I could just buy everything in queen and let them figure out the guest bed situation after I move. Its looking like I'll be here at least a year. Again, I realize there's no right answer here, just thought someone might want to weigh-in on this as well. |
Re: Help me choose a mattress or topper
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One last post tonight... Assuming I go with full size, My setup on FBM costs $700 (including the cost of the Venus foam) My setup from the mattress section of FoamOrder costs $946 - Again, Venus included. From the block section its $798. Is there any reason not to order a "block" rather than a mattress. Lastly, are these prices too good to be true. Do I just bite the bullet and go with SleepEZ or do these companies make comfortable mattresses? Thanks and Good Night, Jeff |
Re: Help me choose a mattress or topper
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Hi hope you managed to have an ok sleep! my first advice is stop throwing money on a mattress that wont ever perform, save all the money from toppers and spend it on a better mattress. if there is a depresion in your fillings the new topper will just follow the same shape and all you will get is a more padded depresion. i would suggest replacing your base too, i know this means more expence but unless you are sure the base has not weakened in the area where you put your weight then whatever new mattress you put on top will follow this shape and weaken faster than it should. i cant really comment on the companys you have mentioned as im from the uk and neither of them feature here. i tryed a quick search on 'SleepEZ' and couldnt find anything usfull, but one comment i have to share ..... this site seems very heavy on people who DIY a mattress (or at least these people are very vocal so you hear about it more) there are thousands of mattresses out there and there will be a combination that suits you, i am constantly amazed that people with an internet 'degree' in beds have decided they know how to make a bed more than the multimillion dollar companys that have many diffrent ways of deleloping and testing a new mattress. as about the size, i would say if you can save money by buying a smaller bed then do that and use the saved money to upgrade the quality. the quality is the only thing that will affect your health. |
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Thanks for the reply. I think I will go ahead and get a full sized mattress. I don't need anything bigger at the moment. Anyone experienced with DIY mattresses know what thickness is best to get? Is 6" enough (Extra firm + medium = medium firm). Or should I add another layer to get 9". Seems I can start with 6" and then add 3" more later if needed, I'd just need a new case. As far as the current mattress, there aren't body impressions. Its weird, its like the padding has matted down fairly evenly, the pillowtop used to be taller and a little more supportive. Now I just feel the springs underneith. How long should a Mattress last? My parents used it for 4-5 years, then it sat for for a couple years and I've used it for 3. Thats 7-8 years use...seems to short for a $1600 mattress. Oh well, I guess I'll stop wasting money on this one. I just wanted to add that I'm probably looking like a bit of a cheapskate, but I'm currently out of work and the little I saved is starting to dwindle. So if I can get something usable and comfortable, I'd gladly add more layers to it when I have the money. This message was modified Jun 18, 2009 by Sleep_Deprived
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Re: Help me choose a mattress or topper
| I just spoke with someone over at Foam Order. I think this might help other people trying to build a mattress as well. He said the difference between a block and a mattress is that the mattresses come in a fire retardant wool cover whereas blocks come as raw material without the cover and don't meet code to be called a mattress. He also said that the extra 3" of foam changes the feel of the mattress to make it more firm, but can be added later. |
Re: Help me choose a mattress or topper
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I've pretty much narrowed it to two choices (if the memory foam doesn't help my bed). SleepEZ - More expensive, but simpler and complete from the start. Choice of Dunlop or blended Taladay. FoamOrder.com - 3 layer block + case is more reasonably priced. Dunlop processed. Feels more DIY. I have a few questions left: 1. How do I get rid of my old mattress. If I ordered locally the company would haul the old one away. Should I advertise it on Craigslist, maybe someone needs a guest bed. I don't want someone thinking its a good mattress and trying to use it, but I'd like to get rid of it for cheap. 2. What should the top layer be. I think I want a medium top layer (plus my memory foam). SleepEZ shows a soft top layer in all their illustrations...are those just illustrative or is a soft top better. 3. Does a latex mattress go on a box spring or do I need a slat bed? So if anyone can answer those, or tell me what they think of SleepEZ and FoamOrder, I'd be appreciative. Jeff This message was modified Jun 18, 2009 by Sleep_Deprived
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My hubby and I have researched like crazy - We are buying a California King bed. We are getting latex because of chemical issues We thought of going the route of DYI but decided against it; FBM glues the additional "length" on... this defeats the non-chemical/all natural reason for buying a latex bed. I looked at Sleepez, looked at all of the Natural, organic bed stores. Decided on Rocky Mountain Mattress. They offer a 6" core with a 2" layer in an organic cotton casing for an excellent price. Our Core is a Firm and our second layer is Medium. My hubby is rather tall and large and I am small and medium :) I bought the mattress only because once I researched foundations I found that most of the stores are selling the foundations with slats that are too far apart. Rocky Mountain Customer Service was excellent! I must have sent 6 emails the past few days and they responded very quickly to each of them. We purchased a Versiflex foundation via Amazon, the slats look closer together and there are more of them. Most of the foundations only have 7 slats per foundation! A latex mattress will sag with that setup I am sure. I will update this post once we get the bed and the foundation. I didn't see where anyone else had purchased a Versiflex, so I will give our opinion for anyone else out there looking for a foundation .... Going this route I have spent $200 more for a "no-glue" all natural sleep. I will have the same 30 day trial period as all the stores offer.... We will be inserting wooden "buns" on the bottom of our foundation to bring it up to a regular bed's height. We are forgoing the little PVC pegs because again, PVC has a strong VOC emission and this would again, defeat the purpose of a chemical free sleep. We will most likely be looking for a soft topper after this is all set up... but I figure that I have the proper foundation for a solid sleep.
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Re: Help me choose a mattress or topper
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Dear Deprived; If it were me(and it has been) I'd do mattress surgery. I'd open up the mattress above the springs and change out the foam on top. You have nothing to lose and you could save money and learn a lot about what you do and do not like in a mattress by doing this. It sounds to me like your foam in your pillowtop has died. Foam can lose its resiliency and still look just fine. Does not always look hollow but sure can sleep that way. If you put toppers on uneven foam you end up with deeper craters(that you can't even see...just feel). I'd take an exacto knife and start slicing around the perimeter of the bed, probably at the bottom seam of the pillowtop part. You can then substitute your newer foam for what is in there, rearrange, whatever...you'll at the very least learn a lot about your sleep needs. Very best is that you will save money. Buying a new mattress can be the biggest waste of money...seems a bad deal when you don't have any to waste. Good luck! Kait |
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I have some input regarding mattress toppers. In late May I purchased a queen, Original Mattress Factory orthopedic extra firm set, and have been desperately trying to adapt to it. I have had back surgery, so I thought I needed the "hardest" thing on the market. Wrong!!! Until this past monday, I have been in a great deal of pain throughout the night because my mattress is too firm. I turned and flipped it as told by the store, but it didn't help. I used to have a featherbed on my old bed (which was very soft and non supportive) and I loved the firm difference that the featherbed made. But, thanks to a tip from this site, noting that featherbeds are rather "hard", I ordered a "down alternative" fiberbed from HSN last week. I put it on the bed this monday, and had the first "heavenly" nights sleep I've had since having my new bed. It makes such a wonderful difference. So, as countless people recommend, get your "firm" mattress or one with springs, preferably "flippable, and get a fiberbed to place on top. That way, if it wears or flattens, you can always replace it easily. Mine was on sale for $50 for queen. It is though I am lying on a nice, soft comforter...and the bed still feels quite firm and supportive, but now my shoulders are no longer numb throughout the night, and I am no longer in pain. So, my suggestion is to try a fiber bed. I have already tried a convoluted foam topper, and it was way too uncomfortable. Good luck. |
Re: Help me choose a mattress or topper
| Marybeth, I'm glad you've found a topper that is working well for you. :-) I've had good experiences with fiber beds in the past and plan to use the one I've got in storage currently (Cuddle Bed) with an OMF ortho extra firm set. |