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 #74 Dec 3, 2010 11:01 PM
Joined: Oct 30, 2010
Points: 45
I have to say that my lower back pain has greatly decreased today. Mid back still hurts, along with neck but this could be related to the pillow so I don't worry about it too much for now.
Re: Simmons BackGuard
Reply #75 Dec 4, 2010 7:01 AM
Joined: Oct 30, 2010
Points: 45
Once again, the first night was firmer than I expected (whenever I write this, I can go way back and remember my honeymoon... not what you're thinking: the bed in that little german hotel was almost as hard as the floor!). The initial softness went away in about 10 minutes. The good news is that I didn't sink in one spot, the bed is still very much flat, even after adding 4 inches of foam (for a total of 5), contrary to the 250 wich made me sink in the middle through its 4.5 inches. It even felt it a bit too hard on my legs, all the way down to my ankles! As you predicted, the egg crate simply vanished. It felt like I couldn't make it through the latex and into the pillowtop. Lower back is way more stiff this morning and my sacrum is quite sore but that could just be related to a difference in the spine alignment and adjust itself in a week or so as I've experienced it with the previous mattresses. 

Another interesting development is that with this configuration, I wasn't able to sleep with a single pillow, on my side anyway. I ended up using two and I took away 80% of the numbness in my arms.

This message was modified Dec 4, 2010 by ZZZZ
Re: Simmons BackGuard
Reply #76 Dec 4, 2010 4:31 PM
Joined: Oct 3, 2010
Points: 809
Laughing ....

Now we're getting some great feedback and information. One more night with this (reversing the topper if you'd like but no big deal) and we'll take a look at where we are.

Phoenix

This message was modified Dec 4, 2010 by Phoenix
Re: Simmons BackGuard
Reply #77 Dec 4, 2010 9:52 PM
Joined: Oct 30, 2010
Points: 45
SInce it appears that I regressed and had to tack pain killers all day, I decided to wait before pushing this experiment any further. I moved the latex back on the bottom, pillowtop in the middle and egg crate on top. I'm afraid to make the pain any worst and have to suffer another 10 days like I've just been through. I'll see how this works, I may even throw in the quilt for tonight.
Re: Simmons BackGuard
Reply #78 Dec 4, 2010 10:01 PM
Joined: Oct 3, 2010
Points: 809
OK ... It's almost time to decide what to do next as I doubt that any combination with the layers you have will come close but we've gained some really helpful information to help with the decision.

I'll post some thoughts tomorrow afer you've had a chance to (hopefully) get some rest tonight.

Phoenix

Re: Simmons BackGuard
Reply #79 Dec 5, 2010 9:42 AM
Joined: Oct 30, 2010
Points: 45
So I did end up adding the quilt over the egg crate (which was flat side up). Weight was more concentrated from the thigh to the ribs (sore on my side) but I was almost comfortable on my back and quite good on stomach. I ended up spending 8 hours in bed (I took a sleeping pill). This morning, I woke with my butt sinking quite a bit more and I was quite uncomfortable (wouldn't have been able to spend another 10 minutes in there). I undid the bed and saw that the egg crate had sagged badly and partly folded in some areas around the middle. I decided not to use it anymore since it has absolutely no resilience. Tonight, I'll do the same setup but without the egg crate.
Re: Simmons BackGuard
Reply #80 Dec 5, 2010 9:50 PM
Joined: Oct 3, 2010
Points: 809
Just so you know I'm here and thinking about your situation, post is coming to replace this one in an hour or so. I'm reviewing what we've done so I can make better suggestions.

Phoenix

This message was modified Dec 5, 2010 by Phoenix
Re: Simmons BackGuard
Reply #81 Dec 5, 2010 11:55 PM
Joined: Oct 3, 2010
Points: 809
Ok,  I've reviewed the entire thread from the beginning and assuming that nothing changes based on how you sleep tonight, here are my thoughts.

This thread has been particularly challenging because we have been working with only thin layers and not enough material or known quantities to make it likely we could even find a solution with what you have. Thin layers also act differently from thicker layers and predicting the effect of thicker layers (which I believe you need) by extrapolating what happens with thinner unknown quantities is very difficult. Even this is compounded with the polyfoam on top of the bed which is certainly thinner but still a little too much for my liking. It could still cause enough hammocking to cause a problem in your case given your sensitivity and weight. It's also difficult to tell which part of the pain and/or improvement you have been feeling has been from the mattress layering and which part from residual effects or just from rapid change itself. However I believe we have enough information now to make some good choices.

OPTION 1. I would suggest a 3" latex topper. I would go to Literie Laurier and try out their 19 ILD and see how it feels on a very firm surface. Lay quietly on it and bounce a bit with your hips and shoulder to see if you can feel an obvious firmer layer underneath. I would think you would, at least with your hips, as I believe your critical zone is deeper than 3". Feeling the layer underneath is expected and wanted and we are not trying to avoid this. It is a matter of how much you feel it not if you feel it (we want a little less rather than more). If you can and if they have it I would also try something a little firmer such as 24. Same thing here about feeling the layer below. It is clear to me that you will need at least 3" over what you have and that your "critical zone" is probably in the range of 4" depending on what you have. I would normally try to include the soft poly in that 4" but it may be too soft and may cause hammocking so if anyhing I may want to use an inch or two of something a little firmer under the 3" topper besides the poly in your mattress. I would save the pieces you have now for adjustments before returning them. We may even need to firm up the poly in the mattress by placing something thin and firmer between it and the mattress (center zoning but below your critical zone) such as I suggested in an earlier part of this thread.

What you felt under the 3" layer of either ILD would be very helpful and it would be my clear preference that you did this whether you actually bought from them or not.

OPTION 2. Same as above but ordering the topper with known specs without trying it at all (NOT FBM) from an outlet with a return policy. We need to make absolutely sure of the ILD (my preference would be 24 unless you try the 19 at literie laurier and believe it is clearly better on a firm surface). This is important for success.

With either of these options I believe that we will have the layers we will need for a solution (as long as you keep the 2" poly and 1" latex you have for now).

OPTION 3. Ordering 2 pieces of 3" HR poly with KNOWN and exact specs (to be decided if you choose this option) so we can try a manual zoning scheme like I was suggesting earlier in the thead. After these 2 pieces were cut you would have a consistent 3" layer over your mattress (no humps) but the ILD of the upper part would be lower than the lower part. I believe that this too along with what you have would also give us what you need for a final solution. It would involve a little more work to cut the foam layers in the right places.

Again I can't stress enough that these are my best suggestions but that they may not be right on the money because of the challenges in testing we have been facing. I do believe though that any of the 3 options would give you the materials that you would need to get to a final layering scheme that would give you a much more restful sleep. I also believe that some of your pain will re-occur regardless of a mattress at this point and that it will take time to heal but that a better mattress will go a long way to helping that to happen.

So if you can give a report tomorrow after you sleep tonight, we can confirm these suggestions and you can decide which option (if any) is your preference.

Almost there :)

Phoenix

This message was modified Dec 6, 2010 by Phoenix
Re: Simmons BackGuard
Reply #82 Dec 6, 2010 10:07 AM
Joined: Oct 30, 2010
Points: 45
Thank you Pheonix.

Without the egg crate, the bed didn't feel that much different. Pressure was felt from upper thigh to shoulder, with an emphasis on shoulder and upper part of rib cage. I still managed to get a decent night of sleep, just had to toss and turn a little more to deal with shoulder numbness. I have tried different pillows and will continue to do so. Bed isn't quite as comfortable on my back as it was with the egg crate but still passable. Very comfortable on my stomach (with only one pillow) but something strange is happening when I take this position: whenever I lift a leg sideway (a bit like a frog) and up, I hear and feel some cracking in my spine, just like when you crack your fingers. Can't say it's very painful but it's weird and not reassuring. The good news is that my lower back has improved since the pillowtop went back up.

I'm guessing it's the Ikea topper but I can feel a little difference between where we both sleep and the middle (which is very slightly higher and firmer). I guess it could also be partly due to the quilt, I'm not very concerned about it.  Money is too tight right now for another major investment but I will still go to Literie Laurier to take a look during Xmas vacations. It will also give me a couple of weeks to see if my back keeps getting better.

My wife and I like the feel of the quilt between us and the foam (not as hot for one and easier to change position). We've been sleeping on it for years but we'd like to replace it with something that would last and remain comfortable. We were just in a fabric store yesterday and noticed the huge difference between the price of a small bag of poly filler and cotton (5$ vs 50$), which I guess explain why current mattress makers have given up on natural fibres. Is there anyone who knows of a good quality cotton topper? Or a good quality mattress pad with a thick layer of cotton on top?

Last question: I'm currently bringing my weight down and aiming to be below 200 by next fall and hopefully back to 175 by the winter. Do you think that my current bed could become comfortable by that point and that I could be able to take away one or both toppers before then?

This message was modified Dec 6, 2010 by ZZZZ
Re: Simmons BackGuard
Reply #83 Dec 6, 2010 5:02 PM
Joined: Oct 3, 2010
Points: 809
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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