Zzzzzzzzzzzzz Futons/Latex Foam

Anyone have any good sources/experiences?

I'm looking for more of a traditional Japanese Futon which are I believe only 2-3" thick as opposed to the 6" or more lumpy American Futon that often doubles as a couch, OR....

Alternatively, I"m also considering a very thin (again 2-3") natural latex foam mattress, sometimes referred to as "toppers". A friend of mine from Brazil says they are used there a lot and I imagine in Europe as well. Apparently much firmer than the thicker 6" latex foam mattresses. High density means an ILD rating of 38 or more.

-- Jim

[jmjm530]

Just so there is no confusion, the futon would probably be all cotton, and the latex foam mattress, all latex of course. Two separate things I'm considering.

[Willy50]

Jim there was some type of high end foam mattress that created many immune problems for people.  Yeah; I don't think it was "natural".  I can't remember the keyword but there was page after page of serious issues.  Just read up first and be careful.

Willy

[Rockerforlife]

Everyone is different, so there is no guarantee that you or anyone else with MSC will or will not develop a sensitivity to natural latex. However, I can say that in all the many years of my experience with natural latex and those who are sensitive, the only people I know of who have reacted to our test samples of latex (prior to deciding if they could tolerate latex) were those who already had latex allergies and sensitivities. I have not heard of anyone who started out okay, then developed sensitivities later on. This does not mean it's not happened, but I have not personally heard reports of anyone becoming sensitized later myself.

http://www.dld123.com/q&a/index.php?cid=977

[Rockerforlife]

Don't let the words confuse you: latex mattress, natural rubber mattress, and natural mattress can all be used to describe products that are far from all-natural. Most so-called natural rubber mattresses are actually a blend of natural rubber and synthetic latex (styrene-butadiene rubber, or SBR), which can offgas unhealthful fumes and cause allergic reactions. In fact, the so-called organic latex for mattresses made by the leading latex manufacturer contains chemicals such as tolulene (causes everything from memory loss to muscular weakness and more, even in tiny amounts) and vanillin (made from petroleum). Truly organic, chemical-free latex (like we have in our mattresses at ZooAvenue) is naturally hypoallergenic, natural mold and moisture resistant, and naturally dust mite resistant.


http://reviews.ebay.ca/WHAT-IS-AN-ORGANIC-OR-NATURAL-LATEX-MATTRESS_W0QQugidZ10000000008782093

[Rockerforlife]

Autoimmune disorders have also been linked with exposure to petroleum-based chemicals and have been found to be the underlying etiology of many common health problems today (soft tissue damage, arthritis, etc).

[jmjm530]

Thanks Rocker. Yes, I've been looking into the two available latex processes -- Dunlop and Talalay, but leaning toward Talalay. Your article disses Talalay but there may be some bias because that site only sells Dunlop :) Soooo what I'm going to do is research this further, and btw if you think latex is controversial -- just start researching cotton futons and what they put in a lot of the 100 per cent all "natural" organic ones such as boric acid :) Truth is I probably should have just bought something without too much research because if you really research anything that touches your skin you would probably walk around naked!!! Like here I am looking deep into mattress composition when the other day I spilled some coffee on a carpet and it just stood there on top waiting to be wiped off. Probably enough chemicals in that carpet that if they extracted them it could kill the HCV virus. LOL.

-- Jim

[Rockerforlife]

Ya cant win...like Jim Morrison said...'we are thrown into this world,like a dog without a bone"...even sleeping on the floor or carpet ,gives off fumes...only way left is too crash on the forest floor...deep in the woodlands...the grass in parks are toxic too

[Rockerforlife]

Its dangerous now to sleep

[Rockerforlife]

I just hope my socks are not going to kill me

[jmjm530]

LOL. Actually Ive been sleeping on my toxic carpet the past two days with only a couple of cotton blankets under me. Lower back has never felt better! So here I am sleeping on toxic carpet worrying about whats in  the cotton futons and latex matts Im looking at. LOL.

[portann]

Spring is coming and some of us, perhaps of one gender, can powerfully be taken over by the need to spring clean.

I'm on tx, however, and announced to hubby just yesterday, in my interferon way, that I'd like a truck to come take every single thing out of our house to the Sally Am, except for our mattress.

So even though our mattress isn't in line with what you're thinking about, we both love it dearly and agree that life could never be the same without it.

It's not good for sex, though, since it's based on one of those pressure point technologies. What the heck.

[Rockerforlife]

Whats with the ads on the left about beds...coindence???

[Rockerforlife]

Maybe if i sleep with oxygen tanks on my back the fumes from my bed wont kill me

[dointime]

I have a Dunlopillo latex mattress which is heaven.  I recommend the make but dunno if you can get them over there.  I think they are all thicker than 2-3 inches but they are certainly not lumpy and you can get very firm ones.  Try extensively before you buy.

dointime

[GoofyDad]

When I'm shopping for latex in the 2"-3" range, I'm generally in the contraception section of my local Rite-Aid....

[pigeonca]

Just last month I purchased an interesting mattress unlike anything I've seen on the web from a store in Los Angeles called PJ's.  They said it was organic; I have no reason not to believe them as they're a very reputable outfit that my family has bought beds from for years.  My mattress is not made by any of the usual manufacturers; it's PJ's own brand (they say).

The mattress is 15 inches thick, with the top half (7 or 8 inches) made of various layers of different densities of latex and the bottom half made of springs. So I guess you could say that it's a combination mattress and box spring in one piece.  It's amazingly comfortable (for me) and so far I've had no allergic reactions to it.  It wasn't cheap, however ($1700 for a queen size plus $200 for the base).  

I wouldn't buy something like a mattress on the web without trying it out in a store first.  I spent a large part of an afternoon trying out all the latex mattresses PJ's had in their showroom, and the one I got felt the best, but everybody is different.  

Another thing: Buy a 100% cotton mattress pad, because the ones filled with synthetic materials defeat the purpose of an organic mattress.  

[pigeonca]

I beg your pardon: My mattress is 11 inches thick, and the latex part is about 6 inches.

[Trinity4]

The majority of us have polyurethane cushioning (foam rubber) in all of our sofas and chairs.  I've seen how they process and fabricate the cushioning first hand and the process if very toxic.  EPA regulated.

[Willy50]

Just go slow.....  

There is an interesting film with Julianne Moore called "Safe".  It is about a woman's fight with an undiagnosed illness and her growing awareness of environmental toxins.  

There is a concern that there is a "body burden" that we can only support so many toxins and then we start to react.  We all may have different levels that we can tolerate.

http://www.chem-tox.com/guest/guestbook.html

best,
Willy

[GoofyDad]

"Just go slow....."  

That's what they tell me too, when it rises to it's full three-inches of glory...

[jdwithhcv]

teehee!

[Marcia2202]

lol

[Marcia2202]

I don't know what price range you're looking at, but one of these beds is a perfect life investment. Natural fibers etc...

One of the best beds on the market. I have an adjustable one with massage. I think they also have mattresses only.

check out hastens.com

[jmjm530]

If they come with the bed, its a sale at any price.

http://www.hastens.com/en-us/

[Marcia2202]

I would not have been able to make it through tx without this bed, being confined to it almost 24 / 7. I used to get back problems, if I slept more then 10 hours. Since we've got this bed, I don't.

It's like heaven to be in this bed. People tend to fall asleep, just lying down in it.

[portann]

What an excellent representation of Marcia and me at Hastens!

BTW, that's me jumping up to catch the chandelier.

By either coincidence, marketing success, or some ingenious ability, our mattress is also Swedish, although not from that company.

I don't know if it's because I'm turning into an old fogey but my mattress feels like my most precious possession.

[Willy50]

I have bad problems if I stay in bed too long also.

I dunno when or where I saw those immune disorders linked to some types of foams but it spooked me.

I'll have to try one out sometime but I'll still want a clean/green one.  Yours sounds GREAT!!

Willy

[Marcia2202]

Lol... I missed your comment yesterday...

[lalapple]

lol omg you guys know how to have fun.  and portann's last comment was just priceless.

and jmjm, carpets aren't fun, get hardwood!  but my grandparents always loved to sleep on hard stuff bc it helped with the back.  but i'm a soft person.  go cotton and get a fiberbed mattress cover, it's amazing.  

like Marcia said, i'm going to echo that tx wouldn't have been the same without my bed and blanket.

[jmjm530]

Well folks, after too many "googles" and phone calls, I've come to the conclusion that the bed/futon/whatever that I'm looking for does not exist in the United States and therefore started to build my own.

While it's still a work in progress, currently I have a 1.5 inch sandwhich of four layers of synthetic felt carpet padding and two 100% thin cotton comforters. I then attempted to stuff the "sandwhich" into a recently bought 100% organic cotton Duvet cover with less than ideal results so some custom sewing may be needed. I will report back on the project as things develop....

[Trinity4]

Cotton is the environment of choice for dust mites. They love it.

[jmjm530]

Trinity: Cotton is the environment of choice for dust mites. They love it.
----------
I try to make everyone happy.

But seriously, so I'm doing this whole project primarily for my sore back which was getting better until I carried the humungus roll of padding to my car and now it's sore again. Can't win with this one. LOL.. Plus the xtra layers of padding that I thought would soften it up a bit have made the bed sandwhich harder. Like a stale bread sandwhich. I guess it's badk to the drawing board or maybe back to Sleepy's like everyone else. we'll see.

[portann]

Thanks for your warm welcome to even the dust mites.

Still, my young man, they can be problematic.

[jmjm530]

Actually, my stale "bed sandwhich" is mostly synthetic carpet pad, except after sleeping on it one night I think I may be allergic to it. Maybe because it's new. If not, its out the window and back to the drawing board. LOL.

[GSDgirl]

Jim, you crack me up!!  Goofy is right "up" there too LOL.  I enjoyed this discussion because we are in need of a new mattress but just don't have the grand to buy one right now.  The other one is a serta pillow top and it stinks at 10 years old.  He is heavier than be so he has a divet (gulley) and I roll to the center of the bed, hate it, would rather sleep on the leather couch.  I just know it is full of dust mites (maybe) and that creeps me out, I recently threw out all the pillows for the same reason.  I think I have turned into a germ / bug-a-phobe

Denise

[jmjm530]

I may be selling do-it-youself plans for my bed-sandwhich soon. So far, I"m into it for 200 bucks having used some pre-existing cotton blankets but 100 of that is an organic cotton Duvet cover that will be returned today since I threw my back out even further trying to stuff the carpet pads into the duvet which apparently wasn't designed for firm carpet pads. There is absolutely no way you should have to pay $1000 for a good mattress when you can construct something dysfucntional for a lot less.

[Trinity4]

Too funny.  

[jmjm530]

The good news is that between now sleeping on the concrete-like surface and further lumbar insult from carrying the materials to the car and trying to stuff them into the duvet -- the good news is that maybe my medical insurance will pay for one of those motorized beds for the disabled that I may end up needing.

[GSDgirl]

bwahahaha, just about spit my coffee on the dysfunctional laptop

Denise

[jmjm530]

The other thing that I"ve noticed is  the bed sandwich is quite warm, almost hot, which may have to do with the toxic fumes trying to escape which gave an idea for a new HCV trial. Test the bed sandwich against SOC, using a conventional bed from "Sleepy's" as a control. Who knows but that the virus may not survive these fumes.

[jmjm530]

You know the expression, "don't reinvent the wheel". Staring to think it may apply to beds.

[mikesimon]

About 7 months ago I bought a Tempurpedic king mattress with high/low profile foundation. It was quite pricey - I am embarrassed to say how much - but we love it.
I decided to go with Tempurpedic because they offer a trial period of 3 months to sleep on it and if you decide to return it the price is refunded and you pay $175 shipping. I never know how a mattress feels or is going to make me feel until I sleep on it for a few days. I knew 90 days would be more than enough time to know everything I needed to know and it was. We love that mattress.
Mike

[GSDgirl]

now I have to go retrieve the free 30 trial run for the Tempurpedic mattress.  I am not being nebby but could you PM me and give me an idea of what to expect?  Mine is a queen but I know it is still a lot.  What does the high/low profile do?

Denise

[jmjm530]

Mike: I never know how a mattress feels or is going to make me feel until I sleep on it for a few days.
---------------
Mike, while I always respect your opinions, I have to disagree with you here. I knew after only one night that my bed-sandwich is going to kill my back. But seriously, I'm glad the Tempurpedic is working out. Actually plan to visit a foam fabricator within the next few days, but not sure if they have Tempurpedic.

[jmjm530]

A little off topic, but I found this news article amusing. Boys will be boys.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/newsbeat/newsid_7961000/7961224.stm

[jmjm530]

On reflection, one could argue that the depiction in the photo, above, did rise to the level of requiring it's own thread.

[GSDgirl]

OMG!!!!!!!  back from traveling???? rich *ucker

[Willy50]

A little off topic, but I found this news article amusing. Boys will be boys.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Jim, your mastery of the art of understatement continues.....

....and you found that article while *surfing* for what?

Anyway...... I hope that when you get the mattress you'll have a full field test report for us all.  

Parting shots, so to speak, I'll bet when the kids gets to scrubbing the roof he'll have ample proof that size *does* matter.

best,
Willy

[mikesimon]

I agree that you can immediately know if a mattress is terrible  but a fair mattress can be difficult to recognize. I have bought mattresses that I initially liked only to hate them within a month or two. Most mattresses you're stuck with once you buy them. Some stores are now offering a return policy I understand but it wasn't always that way. The ninety day trial cinched it for me. I also compared how much my cars cost and how much time I spend in them to the amount of time I spend sleeping and the cost of the Tempurpedic and the mattress looked cheap from that perspective.
I hope you find a comfortable thing to sleep on relatively soon.
Mike

[jmjm530]

My comment was in jest and I know what you mean. That 90-day trial is a good idea especially on such a big purchase. But even worse than only being able to try the mattress in the store, is buying futons on the internet where you only get to try them after the purchase is made.  But before I throw in the towel with my home made bed sandwich, I'll probably try some sort of mattress topper and see if that softens the blow.

Willy: ....and you found that article while *surfing* for what?
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Well, a thorough search of articles pertaining to  "viral replication" takes you to some strange web sites. I hope you weren't insinuating that I was surfing for more pictures of the ladies depicted on  the mattress web site that Marcia so thoughtfully supplied earlier in the thread.

[FlGuy]

When we get new bed sets the first thing I do is to remove the 'Do Not Remove This Tag' tag.  My wife thinks it makes me naughty....

[GoofyDad]

Jim -

"don't reinvent the wheel". Staring to think it may apply to beds.

It does. You were supposed to unroll the stuff. ....
---------------------------------------------------------------------

Mike -

I also compared how much my cars cost and how much time I spend in them

Hopefully while in the car you're a bit more cognizant of your surroundings than when you're in the bed - regardless of what you're doing in said bed..... :)

[jmjm530]

When we get new bed sets the first thing I do is to remove the 'Do Not Remove This Tag' tag.  
------------
I just pressed the "Report this" button next to your post.

[FlGuy]

Just living life on the edge. I've also been accused of bending, folding, spindling  and mutilating - that is when I really want to crank up the naughtiness.

[Willy50]

Well, a thorough search of articles pertaining to  "viral replication" takes you to some strange web sites.
-------------------------------------------------------
One must crawl into the belly of the beast; it's at the heart of "getting it right" when writing about HCV.   ; )

best,
Willy

[jdwithhcv]

You naughty man, you.  Just thinking about it is getting me all sweaty!

[Isobella]

This is great--you guys are so funny/naughty, lol!

Gotta jump on the TempurPedic bandwagon.  We have (i'm embarrased to say) a king dual adjustable with massage.  Amazingly comfortable.

And yes, Jim...those carpet remnants are gonna fume you out....especially the new ones.  I'm very allergic to new carpet.  Makes me feel like riba...itchy and krappy.

Marcia, Portann...um, wow!!.....y'all look great!  Especially this far into tx, lol.  Port...where do you get all that energy, lol!

[GSDgirl]

now I am jealous.......

Is the massage like a shiatzu type massager  (the kind that goes on a chair) or better?

Denise

[jmjm530]

Iso: We have (i'm embarrased to say) a king dual adjustable with massage.  
------------------------------------------
I must say I am very impressed with the level of bedsmanship demonstrated by this group. Given the fact I also spend more time in bed than the car, maybe I should build a car and buy a bed as opposed to vice versa.

-- Jim

[Isobella]

No, DS...it's a person that comes and rubs our backs, lol!!!!  Actually, I don't use it that much because it's just kind of  like a vibrating bed.  Like those Magic Fingers things from the old days that hotels had.

I just went and tried it again....defo does not go well with my post-shot day headache.

And yes, Jim...bedmanship says it well.  As a group, I'd say we spend alot more time in bed as opposed to cars, lol!!

[GSDgirl]

Now, that I could go for!!!  I have a certificate for a sports massage that I need to use.  The vibrating bed I could do without.  

Jim, start building and let us know which you build LOL.

FLGuy, you are one bad boy, tearing those tags off, you'll probably go to jail for that

[jmjm530]

I have a certificate for a sports massage that I need to use
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have a bad back that I need to use.

[Isobella]

Yeah, there is a reason Magic Fingers went out with the 8-track.

I declare Monday as National Hepper Massage Day......free massages for all forum members, lol!

[GoofyDad]

"Yeah, there is a reason Magic Fingers went out with the 8-track. "

Huh. I had heard he was dating the bowling ball.

[Isobella]

OMGosh....you are too funny....ROFL

[jmjm530]

I built the sandwich bed to help with my sore back but back is even more sore now. So here's the question -- is my back sore because of the sandwich bed (SB) , or is my back sore because I had to carry the materials to make the SB to the car? Does anyone think the SB would sell on ebay? Is Dial 800 Mattress still in business?

[GSDgirl]

I think you should try craigslist instead of ebay.  

Why not just buy a temperpedic, or similar bed topper and throw it on top of your sandwich?

[Rockerforlife]

The temp toppers are really good i hear...so good you dont even need a bed...just straight on the floor

[GSDgirl]

I heard the same thing.  A frind bought one off of QVC, She loves it

[jmjm530]

Rocker: The temp toppers are really good i hear...so good you dont even need a bed...just straight on the floor
--------------------------------------------
As a reality check, last night I did a double-blind test on the floor versus my bed sandwich. It turns out that somehow my bead sandwich is harder than the floor. How can this be? But it is. Anyway, maybe I start from the beginning. Going "topper" shopping today. Just how firm are those temperpedic toppers? Should just have gone to Sleepy's.

[Isobella]

~~~last night I did a double-blind test on the floor versus my bed sandwich~~~

ROFL!!!

This is defo going down with the classics.

[jdwithhcv]

Is this gonna be one of those "princess and the pea" type stories?

[Trish77]

Just to add a little more confusion to the mix ... here's a link to a "memory foam" bed developed by a guy in Canada .. whether you make your own or buy one, you can add this to your research.  

http://www.essentiadirect.com

[Rockerforlife]

the good toppers are expensive,like tempurer...but worth it...im ok with my bed....but if i did need a new bed...i would get  topper and use it on my box spring...ofrthe floor...not sure about the sandwich bed setup tho

[jmjm530]

here's a link to a "memory foam" bed developed by a guy in Canada ..
--------------------------
Thanks. I was under the impression that in Canada the government assigned you a bed.

[jmjm530]

Not to mention the waiting list :)

[Trish77]

You're thinking of the healthcare system and beds are not covered under that here .. yet. :)

Which, while I have my issues with when it comes to Hep C, in general can be lovely, our healthcare system.  When I had my perforated appendix, I went into emerg in the evening, they ran various tests, then did a C- scan (forget what they're called), then diagnosed it about midnight, took me into surgery at 3:30am and spent the next few days in hospital getting taken care of....went home...and never saw a bill or had to think about one and which had nothing to do with my work benefits.  It's not perfect but I'll take it.

I don't want to hijack your thread into a healthcare discussion .... so let me know what you think of that memory foam mattress, will you?

[jmjm530]

What’s the expression, when the going gets tough, the tough start spending money? And that’s exactly what I did today when I plopped down 2 big ones on a 2” memory foam topper.

For those who haven’t hadt enough idle time to read the complete thread, my original objective was to purchase a relatively inexpensive Futon-like sleep system that would support my back, yet be light-weight and flexible enough so I could fold it out of the way when not in use. Was thinking of something no thicker than three inches and weighing no more than 40 pounds. But after researching and searching, I came to the conclusion that I had to either fly to Japan or build it myself.. In retrospect I choose what turned out to be the harder and more expensive route, i.e. buiding it myself.

Starting with four-layers of toxic carpet fiber pad, I began to create what I can only liken to a bed sandwich (BS) enveloping  the fiber pads in multiple cotton blankets both to soften the surface and to keep distance from the fumes. To top off the blankets was a flannel topper, mattress pad and finally sheets. Everything designed to get the bed to feel “just right”.

Unfortunately, the bed never did feel just right and what I ended up with  was a  SB actually harder than the the wooden floor underneath. While this seems to defy the laws of bedding, such is the case, and therefore the trip today to the store where I purchased the memory foam.

I settled on the memory foam after sampling several varieties of fiber beds, feather beds and of course memory foam toppers in various thicknesses. And while my original objective was to create a very firm sleep area, today  all I wanted was something nice and soft so I could finally get a good night's sleep, cost $200.

So totaling things up and adding the cost of the memory foam to to the $100 fiber pad brought the sub total to $300 not counting the very unskilled labor used to construct the SB, namely me.

So, in summary, I started out wanting to purchase a 3” thin, flexible sleep system around 40 pounds at a reasonable cost that I could fold away when not in use.  What I ended up with is a ten inch thick (and growing) SB which probably weighs well over a hundred fifty pounds.

The good news is that $300 really isn’t that much for a Futon like sleep system these days. The bad news is that the $300 is just a drop in the bucket as to what it will cost to complete the project which is the folder-assist mechanism pictured here.
http://tinyurl.com/d6dzdf

[GSDgirl]

ROTFLMFAO

[FlGuy]

If all you wanted was a good night's sleep a prescription for Ambien-CR would have been cheaper and a lot more convenient.  You could just throw the pill bottle in your underwear drawer like everyone else. Now, you have this lamentable lamination of lumbar lunacy which you apparently have been losing sleep over.  Next time, when the problem is slumber the answer is chemical.

p.s. Real men never even claim to know what a duvet is.

[Rockerforlife]

http://www.articlesbase.com/news-and-society-articles/why-buy-tempurpedic-mattress-topper-175966.html

[jmjm530]

If all you wanted was a good night's sleep a prescription for Ambien-CR would have been cheaper and a lot more convenient.  You could just throw the pill bottle in your underwear
-------------------------------
Sounds like the wrong part of the body may fall asleep using your method.

[Rockerforlife]

http://mattresstopperguide.com/mattress-topper-gives-you-a-relaxing-sleep/

[GoofyDad]

" all I wanted was something nice and soft so I could finally get a good night's sleep"

Spoken like a menopausal woman whose hubby got an online viagra prescripton...

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"What I ended up with is a ten inch thick (and growing) ........"

Make that a double prescription ....

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
" what I did today when I plopped down 2 big ones "

Looks like the fellow is finally out of gas....

[lalapple]

LOL second what GSDgirl said.

LOL to "p.s. Real men never even claim to know what a duvet is."  i'm a girl and i don't know what a duvet really is.  is it just a bed cover?  or a blanket cover.  *is confused*

as for Ambien, i wouldn't go down that route with sleep medication just yet.  i'm always scared of having a hard time quitting sleep medication.  why not try some turkey sandwich, banana, or warm milk before med?  those all have tryptophan in them which causes sleepiness naturally :)

[jmjm530]

Memory foam topper just arrived. Stinks like _(*&_(&. Eyes smarting a room away. Does anyone know the phone number for 1-800-MATTRESS?

-- Jim

[lalapple]

1800-824-7777

[GSDgirl]

say it ain't so............don't tell me the topper stinks.  Now I will be smelling mattresses when we can afford to buy a new one.  

The true question is, Was it comfortable?

Denise

[jmjm530]

I"ve been airing it out with windows open and air cleaner all day. Just sniffed and the odor seems 80% gone. Yes, it was heaven last night but keep in mind I'm comparing it to the rock slab my sandwich bed turned into. The acid test is how my back will feel after a week.

-- Jim

[GreatBird]

What is a "sandwich bed"?

[portann]

It could be one of those super-sized ice creams that you can simultaneously sleep on and eat.

For a different and perhaps more conventional explanation, see Jim's very detailed description (above) of his home-grown contraption.

Jim labored hard, long and diligently but decided to not apply for patent protection.

I understand he's fortunately able to absorb his R & D costs.

[Rockerforlife]

Did you get the tempuric brand or the generic type?

[Rockerforlife]

There are few minuses that go with memory mattress topper. First, it will stay in the same shape for some time. This is a good thing by default. But in case you want to move, you will have to exit that cradle it made for you. This can be tricky sometimes and it bothers some people to a certain level. Then you have to wait for some time before it memorizes your new position.

For people who have a need to change their position in bed, this can be a very nasty thing. Especially if they are already asleep. Some of us have the need to change sleeping position from time to time while we sleep. If mattress doesn’t allow it, then that can be a problem. You could wake up just to realize you can’t move out the cradle it made for you. If you are one of these people, I suggest you stay away from a memory foam mattress topper. It will cause you pain and ache. And only because you are used to move a bit during sleep.

[Rockerforlife]

I thought you were gonna get the organic natural foam :


Facts:
Most adhesives used in mattress manufacturing emit toxic fumes for the first 2-3 years.
Fumes from some adhesives cause cancer according to the IRTA. (Institute for Research and Technical Assistance)
We inhale these fumes for 8 hours per night 365 days per year.

http://www.essentiadirect.com/difference

[Rockerforlife]

http://www.essentiadirect.com/research/tempur-comparison



you may be able to return it if its that bad...if you return it the quick

[Rockerforlife]

Returning The Visco Memory Mattress
Returning the visco elastic foam mattress should get you a full refund. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. Some stores ask you to pay for return shipping while others also ask you to cover the original shipping cost.

One of most common questions is -- how much will it cost to return the mattress at the end of the trial. Viscoelastic mattresses are very dense and heavy which makes freight much more expensive than for regular beds.

Return shipping can sometime cost more than the original shipping price. Companies cut their costs by using consolidated shipping to deliver more than one order to an area. Sending a single mattress back can therefore be more costly.

Some companies offer to remove your old bed when the new visco memory mattress is delivered. It would be a good idea to hold onto your old bed in case you decide to return the memory mattress at the end of the trial.

To make sure that you have no problems returning it at the end of the trial, check for any defects upon delivery and make sure there is no damage to it (stains, spills, tears, etc) at the end of the trial. Some people take extra precaution and use mattress encasings and covers to keep it like-new.


http://www.myfoammattress.net/guide/free-trial.html

[portann]

I agree with Rocker and that's one of my two reservations about the memory foam.

My husband splurged on the then top-of-the-line memory foam mattress in 2002 because I'd hurt my back badly, in a sports injury.

He then slept on it alone for an entire year while I continued to sleep on the carpet. My back couldn't handle the sleeping-in-quicksand feeling any time I moved even an inch. When I had to emerge from the quicksand to go p-ee, I'd scream.

Since my back recovered, I love the bed so much, I kind of can't believe it. I find it so restful and comforting. Tossers and turners, especially of the male kind, toss and turn dramatically less.

[portann]

N.B. I meant I agreed with Rocker's second of his most recent five posts, which by now may have evolved into dozens more. :)

[Rockerforlife]

Some memory foam has worse odor than others. Why this is true, in terms of the exact chemical makeup of the foam, I'm not sure. But even products with a strong initial odor don't retain that smell permenantly. Of the memory foam I've tested, from 15-20 different suppliers, the odor will dissipate to a very minimal, unnoticeable level somewhere between 3-8 weeks. I hope that helps.

[Rockerforlife]

Theoretically, a fully reacted polyurethane polymer should be chemically inert. But any chemist will tell you that even fully reacted polyurethane can produce dust inducing mechanical irritation to the eyes and lungs. And, as there are no industrial processes 100 % complete, you should expect the polyurethane to expel its chemical load. Only the resin blends can expel isocyanates, which were proven to be skin and respiratory sensitizers, causing asthma. This is just a short list of toxins found in an analyzed type of memory foam: TDI (Toluene Di-Isocyanate), Polyol (Poly Ether Gycol), Silicone Surfactant, Tertiary Amine, Stannous Octoate, Flame Retardant, Pigments/Dyes. TDI is an aromatic hydrocarbon (it is really smelly) causing asthma. Tertiary amines have strong odors and are allergenic. No need to comment on the dyes... You can read here how the "technology chemicals" can impact your health.


http://news.softpedia.com/news/Can-Your-Mattress-Kill-You-76887.shtml



sorry for posting so much...but i thought you should know

[lalapple]

i hear they put anti-flammable materials in the foam as gov safety regulations.  maybe that's why it smells bad.  good thing it's 80% gone, would be even better if it's 100% gone.

[GreatBird]

Wow that sounds cold. I bet it wouldn't go well with an electric blanket either. Melted bed by morning.

[jmjm530]

I'll try and answer some of the questions but currently have outgassing foam fog so please repeat if I miss anyway, now where was I?

Yes, latex foam was on my list but I stumbled on the memory foam first and was desperate for a good night's sleep so grabbed it. It is returnable so may try a few other things while I give it a chance. Yes, on the shipping, cause it expands once it's outta it's cage and I'm sure it would take an elephant to compress it back. But actually I hve something that weighs about as much as an elephant -- my sandwich bed -- so maybe all I have to do is plop my sandwich bed on it for a few hours. Anyway, it's more or less local so I would return it by car. Not sure what the "cold" thing is all about, hopefully not about PA and her husband's different sleeping arrangments, y' know I had hoped we could keep this thread clean but then FLGuy and GoofyDad saw the thread and as usual downhill from there.

-- Jim

[jmjm530]

Just noticed Rocker's "can this mattress kill you "post  but was terrified to read it since Im gonna sleep on the mattress tonight no matter what. Maybe I will borrow a hunter neighbor of mine's shotgun to be on the safe side in case the bed tries to turn on me.

[Rockerforlife]

Im sorry brother,but im am actually ROFLMAO...I love the elephant quote...i actually trieds a memory foam pillow and had to return it the very next day...i could not move my neck  i found out later my air cond turned it into solid rubber brick...my advice is to bring it back...some stores will give you some extra time to try it...but make sure it looks in not used shape before you bring it back...and they are hot in the summer...be careful...i want you alive for more elephant comments

[scratchinghead]

Maybe you are looking at the wrong causes. Don't sleep on your stomach, don't sit on your couch, get an executive chair for your computer, stick a square  12"x12" pillow between your lumbar and your car seat, and see a PT about what streches to do. . . .

[Rockerforlife]

Another thing is the odor will be impossible to remove from the room its in...ive read all the posts in the "matress can kill ou site"...i dont want to scare but i dont want to see you floating onthe clound in the sky either....i say again..return it

[jmjm530]

Rock: Another thing is the odor will be impossible to remove from the room its in...
---------
Hey, keep it up, because I thought things were bad already but every time you post I find out things aren't bad at all cause they are gonna get much, much worse :)

Scratch, Thanks, I'm doing all that but the sleep surface is a part. Couch is the worst next to a car seat. Just cant get up.

[Rockerforlife]

Maybe if you need a bed to crash on till you really find what really suits you, is to just go to the local hardware store and get the regular foam one...its cheap and it got no fumes as far as i think...you have got to read that 'killer post" tho...i thouhgt you read all the info on the beds...i was gonna post all this before but you said you did some research...and sometimes im afraid to post bad news on ,especially on foods and chemicials....if you can return it your ok...at least you learned something

[rita3a]

Take it from me a furniture and bedding specialist for 20 years.  Futons are never really comfortable.  They are not made for sleeping every night.  The best are latex and memory foam for you back because there are no pressure points.

I love the memory foam but they can get a bit hot as the mold around your body and air flow is limited.  Married couples, or when two people sleep together sometimes say they are too hot.  The latex also have no pressure points.  They are more resilient causing your body to lay more on top of the mattress without the molding around the body.  They are not hot.  I have both.  The latex is more expensive (especially if its from the rubber tree type latex, but they also can make latex which is less expensive).  

These foam and latex mattresses are the best.  I love my memory foam a bit more than the latex.  One you get used to it, you will never turn in your sleep and for sure, you will never go back to a mattress with springs in it.  They feel good for the first year but then start to wear out.  Both the latex and the memory foam last a really long time and are hypoallergenic.  Good luck to whatever you decide.

[rita3a]

Take it from me a furniture and bedding specialist for 20 years.  Futons are never really comfortable.  They are not made for sleeping every night.  The best are latex and memory foam for you back because there are no pressure points.

I love the memory foam but they can get a bit hot as the mold around your body and air flow is limited.  Married couples, or when two people sleep together sometimes say they are too hot.  The latex also have no pressure points.  They are more resilient causing your body to lay more on top of the mattress without the molding around the body.  They are not hot.  I have both.  The latex is more expensive (especially if its from the rubber tree type latex, but they also can make latex which is less expensive).  

These foam and latex mattresses are the best.  I love my memory foam a bit more than the latex.  One you get used to it, you will never turn in your sleep and for sure, you will never go back to a mattress with springs in it.  They feel good for the first year but then start to wear out.  Both the latex and the memory foam last a really long time and are hypoallergenic.  Good luck to whatever you decide.

[rita3a]

That smell they mention goes away in a week.  Another thing, Temperpedic is more expensive than the Sealy and Serta by 1500.00 and up and the sealy and serta are fine, just find the density that is most comfortable to you and go a bit firmer since the heat of your body or the heat in the house softens them.

[Isobella]

Now that you mention it, I remember when they first delivered our bed that smell hit me and I freaked because I am allergic to new carpet fumes.  It did go away quickly though and I have had no problems with it at all.

That is, of course, assuming these itchy eyebrows are from the riba.

[jmjm530]

Rocker, I always appreciate your input, but  you all know the expression, "well you made your bed so sleep in it"? Well, that's what I"m gonna do. The sandwich bed is made after some tug of war with the zippered mattress topper cover.  And now I'm gonna sleep in it. If it wants to outgass who am I to throw the first stone. I've done some outgassing in my day as well.

[Rockerforlife]

II hope you dont have wild nitemares and monsters are chasing you tonite as you sleep,this is waht ive read happening to some witth the cheaper foams...maybe get a canary bird asa tester...if it goes belly up...you know its time to float the mat down stream

[GSDgirl]

Was it comfortable Jim?  

[jmjm530]

Once I escaped from the fast moving monsters I did get a comfortable night's sleep but unfortunately stepped on the poor canary in the process. I also think the memory foam is good for a shoulder/deltoid/rotator-cuff problem I've been having because I'm a side sleeper and the foam relieves the pressure in that area. Thanks for asking.

[GSDgirl]

You might be a great kidder but that is very useful info.  I am a side sleeper and and have shoulder problems too, I never connected the two.

You mentioned fast moving monsters.....................Our wonderful govt introduced "stink bugs" to the area to get rid of another bug (don't know which).  They are an armored shield looking bug that come in any little crack to escape the cold.  They STINK when they are squashed.  We have had them all winter.  They do not breed in the house thank goodness BUT as soon as the woodburner heats the house they come out.  I live in a log house so who knows where in the heII they are coming in, attic maybe.  Try falling asleep thinking you hear or see one of those LOL

[jmjm530]

I recently did read somewhere that sleeping on the affected shoulder can hinder recovery so made some efforts to only sleep on the other side, but of course always ended up shifting sides a few times in the middle of the night. The memory foam is giving me a deeper sleep and I probably don't move around as much but in addition the surface is more forgiving even when I do sleep on my bad shoulder side. The "monsters" I was referring to were the ones "rocker" warned me up a few posts up in this thread.

-- Jim

[Rockerforlife]

For those of you who would like a scientific article that discusses the respiratory problems caused by mattresses, check out this abstract and review the literature further:

ABSTRACT. Groups of male Swiss-Webster mice breathed emissions of several brands of crib mattresses for two 1-hr periods. The authors used a computerized version of ASTM-E-981 test method to monitor respiratory frequency, pattern, and airflow velocity and to diagnose abnormalities when statistically significant changes appeared. The emissions of four mattresses caused various combinations of upper-airways irritation (i.e., sensory irritation), lower-airways irritation (pulmonary irritation), and decreases in mid-expiratory airflow velocity. At the peak effect, a traditional mattress (wire springs with fiber padding) caused sensory irritation in 57% of breaths, pulmonary irritation in 23% of breaths, and airflow decrease in 11% of breaths. All mattresses caused pulmonary irritation, as shown by 17-23% of breaths at peak. The largest airflow decrease (i.e., affecting 26% of the breaths) occurred with a polyurethane foam pad covered with vinyl. Sham exposures produced less than 6% sensory irritation, pulmonary irritation, or airflow limitation. Organic cotton padding caused very different effects, evidenced by increases in both respiratory rate and tidal volume. The authors used gas chromatography/mass spectrometry to identify respiratory irritants (e.g., styrene, isopropylbenzene, limonene) in the emissions of one of the polyurethane foam mattresses. Some mattresses emitted mixtures of volatile chemicals that had the potential to cause respiratory-tract irritation and decrease airflow velocity in mice.

From Archives of Environmental Health, 2000, Vol. 55, pp 38-43.

[Rockerforlife]

IM trying to find thr review where this person claimed when he slept on the foam bed he had vivid nightmares of monsters...i cant loctae ie but its in that "killer site"...so Jim...one thing is is is a very comfy and is know to help the body recuperate and heal...but the trade off may be the fumes it gives off...if you are having no problems maybe it ok for you...maybe all the posters who didn like it were just allergic to the product...but if iwas goin to get a foam  id stick with the organic natural latex