Simmons BackGuard
Oct 30, 2010 12:47 PM
Joined: Oct 30, 2010
Points: 45
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
Re: Simmons BackGuard
Reply #40 Nov 28, 2010 2:36 AM
Joined: Oct 3, 2010
Points: 809
I posted some sources for 3" Talalay toppers here http://www.whatsthebest-mattress.com/forum/latex-toppers/16314-0-1.html

I'd probably be looking for around 24 ILD give or take (it's impossible for me to know for sure without some specific feedback from you knowing what latex you have laid on and how it felt)

I really like the rejuvenite but you'd have to call and see what it would cost to ship. If the 28 worked it would be great and the 19 may be OK too but probably a little soft for you.

The STL one is a great deal but I'm pretty sure it's 14 ILD which I think would be too soft. Don't know if they ship  to Canada or how much.

In general I would probably go with either places like Costco and Sams club for the return policy or mattresses.net and sleepez since they seem to have the best price/selection combination and you won't go far wrong with either of them. Make sure about shipping to Canada and returns first though. Also make sure they are either covered or that you order a cover with them as latex breaks down without one. I wouldn't take the chance on just covering them with sheets or a mattress pad.

Dunlop in a little softer ILD's is another option that may work and when I have the chance I'll post some sources for that as well that weren't in the Talalay list.

 

A few more that I haven't had a chance to check out in in any real detail yet are ...

http://foamandhomedecor.com/foam.php#latexfoam Canadian but don't know their prices

http://www.supremecomfort.com/shipping.htm They may have a warehouse in Canada that ships toppers

http://www.tmasc.ca/latextoppers.html Canadian. They sell Natura toppers that are very nice but they're a little on the high side (being diplomatic here :))

http://www.idealmattress.com/index.html Canadian and it doesn't say so on their site but they may have toppers

http://www.foamite.com/mat_other.php Canadian and sells Dunlopillo but rather expensive.

http://www.dreameasy.com/products/100-natural-latex Canadian and might sell toppers

http://www.snugsleep.com/latex-toppers.html Canadian and sell toppers but they're Dunlop and probably cheaper to buy from US. Don't know for sure

http://www.discountfoam.ca/usesoffoam/usesoffoam.htm Canadian but I don't know if they sell latex

http://www.foamshop.com/ourProducts.shtml Canadian but I don't know if they sell latex

http://www.bfffoamcorp.com/products.php?id=35 Canadian but I don't know if they sell to little guys like us. Would sure be worth a call

http://www.thefoamking.com/mattress-toppers.html Canadian but I don't know if they sell latex

http://www.sureline.ca/mattressproducts.html Canadian and sell Resilitex which is "fake" latex with similar properties. Don't know if they have actual latex

http://www.thefoamstore.ca/pro_mattresses.php Canadian and doesn't look like they carry latex but may be worth a call

http://www.foamorder.com/clearance.html#foam-toppers These guys are American but often have some pretty good deals in their clearance section. They sell Talalay and Dunlop but mostly Dunlop.

There's more (including checking out local foam shops) but I still plan to fill in the blanks regarding Canadian sources for toppers (and other things). For now the best prices may be ordering from the US and shipping across the border. It may also be worth calling some of the Toronto and Quebec manufacturers I listed earlier to see if they will sell you a topper as well.

Phoenix

This message was modified Nov 28, 2010 by Phoenix
Re: Simmons BackGuard
Reply #41 Nov 28, 2010 10:37 AM
Joined: Oct 30, 2010
Points: 45
As planned, I slept on the egg crate foam (3/4 of an inch + the latex folded in two, for a total of 2.75 inches last night. Slept 5 hours in a row on my side (instead of 4 the previous night) and noticed some improvement on pressure points but the bed is still too hard to sleep a full night. I got up and added the ¾ soft poly foam and noticed right away a little more comfort. Fell asleep. 20 minutes later, I woke up with the opposite arm I was sleeping on completely numb, just like it did with the NXG 250. What do you make of this?

I contacted Foam and Home Decor, waiting for a reply.

This message was modified Nov 28, 2010 by ZZZZ
Re: Simmons BackGuard
Reply #42 Nov 28, 2010 12:17 PM
Joined: Aug 31, 2007
Points: 404
There is a chance you rolled over because of discomfort just prior to waking up because it would be most likely that the arm you were sleeping on would be the numb one, not the other way around?
Re: Simmons BackGuard
Reply #43 Nov 28, 2010 2:23 PM
Joined: Oct 30, 2010
Points: 45
You would think that but I just went and tried again and was able to reproduce it while I was awake. It used to happen all the time with the NXG as well. My opposite arm would fall asleep before me! Nobody has been able to give me an explanation about this, not even the doctor. It seems to happen when my middle sinks too much, maybe it pinches a nerve.

I have a feeling that my back is in a state of shock right now, so to speak. Even lying on the couch or sitting in my old chair starts to hurt within minutes while they use to be comfortable enough for me to watch a whole movie. I'm therefore unable to make any valid statement about what feels comfortable or not, just what hurts more or less...

This message was modified Nov 28, 2010 by ZZZZ
Re: Simmons BackGuard
Reply #44 Nov 28, 2010 2:44 PM
Joined: Aug 31, 2007
Points: 404
Yes, that does sound like a pinched nerve - maybe the brachial plexus which would suggest some spinal involvement.  Very strange indeed.
Re: Simmons BackGuard
Reply #45 Nov 28, 2010 4:21 PM
Joined: Oct 3, 2010
Points: 809
Seems very strange to me as well and I would also suspect some kind of nerve involvement.

Now that we have a "more suitable base" I want to just review some of your options and also confirm what you have to "play" with.

My understanding is that you have a 1" piece of latex of unknown ILD bought from foambymail (unknown because you never know exactly what you get from them and it feels firmer than the 20 you had ordered), 3/4' of soft eggcrate, and you were mentioning earlier that you also had a 2.5" piece of quality foam as well. Would you say this piece is softer or firmer than the doubled or tripled latex? ... and how big is it (does it cover the whole mattress?)

It would also help to know what kind of pillow you are usually using.

Phoenix

This message was modified Nov 28, 2010 by Phoenix
Re: Simmons BackGuard
Reply #46 Nov 28, 2010 5:35 PM
Joined: Oct 30, 2010
Points: 45
The 2.5 piece is only 16 x 24, or so. I had gotten it to liften my butt in middle soft zone of the BackGuard. Definitely softer than both the latex and the eggcrate.
Re: Simmons BackGuard
Reply #47 Nov 28, 2010 6:04 PM
Joined: Oct 3, 2010
Points: 809
OK ... I don't expect this to fully solve anything but it's worth trying to see the effect and get a sense of direction before you spend a bunch on toppers.

If you have a thin firm blanket (say wool but any thin firm piece of material that is big enough... even a thick flat sheet, carpet underlay etc) ... fold it in 3 ... and then lay it sideways over the middle third of your bed and tuck it under. It should be under your hip/lumbar area but not under your ribcage. If the material is thicker (carpet underlay etc) then just double it but make sure it is laying up to but not under your ribcage.

Double up your latex and put it on your side of the bed over the material. Double up your eggcrate and put it on top of the latex. You should now have 1.5" of eggcrate over 2" of latex over the middle third support material over your mattress.

Take a look at the drawing here http://www.whatsthebest-mattress.com/forum/my-design-custom-sleep-design/16344-0-1.html and you will see what I've been trying to "simulate" before you buy anything.

Lets see what happens.

And the pillow?

Phoenix

This message was modified Nov 28, 2010 by Phoenix
Re: Simmons BackGuard
Reply #48 Nov 28, 2010 6:29 PM
Joined: Oct 30, 2010
Points: 45
I tried a whole bunch of pillows (latex, memory foam, feather, thin and thick polyester). I had to change, depending on which beds I was sleeping on and also, when playing with toppers. The softer the bed, the thinner the pillow. With my old Beautyrest, I used to sleep with two thin pillows and that was fine and great. Haven't been able to do that with any of my recent beds. 

If I understand well, you want me to slightly thicken the bottom part of the bed, under the toppers, starting from my lumbar area? I see what you have in mind, that would help my shoulders sink in a bit more while providing some relief on my rib cage. You'd like me to test it for a short while or spend a whole night that way?

This message was modified Nov 28, 2010 by ZZZZ
Re: Simmons BackGuard
Reply #49 Nov 28, 2010 6:37 PM
Joined: Oct 3, 2010
Points: 809
Not so much thicken it (that's just a side effect of the testing for now) but more like an even thickness with softer and firmer parts (at the end) ... like the drawing. I would try it for a whole night if you can. As far as the pillow, I would tend to thicker since you seem to prefer side sleeping. The goal of all of this including the pillow is to keep your whole spine in alignment including your neck.

Phoenix

This message was modified Nov 28, 2010 by Phoenix

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