I FINALLY did it. I bought a new mattress. OHMYGAWD I had no idea that SOO

[radwriter0555]

much pain and discomfort could be brought on by a BAD mattress.

I feel like a real idiot.

I moved last July. I couldn't (sob) bring my wonderful, double thick, pillow top $3000 king sized mattress with us, much to my chagrin. I loved that bed. That mattress was as high as my hip. The dogs needed a ladder to get in it.

I mean it. I LOVED THAT BED. That bed was GOD. It was a gift. Aside from my Miata, it was the thing I lamented most about not being able to bring with. It was larger than my Miata.

So we got our place in September, and being budget minded, I bought the Sultan mattress from Ikea. I made no connection to the problems that started immediately with my already traumatized back. The mattress pretty much started failing immediately. It quickly developed the middle o'the mattress divot, a slope as it were. But I was too cheap and passive to do much about it.

It took 6 months for me to figure out that it had caused so much instability and stress on my back, I was even on steroids and massive pain killers for periods of time.

I knew I needed a new mattress. I knew I was uncomfortable. I didn't realize it would cause harm, pain and actual damage... I had NO idea. With the trouble I've always had with my back, why didn't I make the connection?

So in shopping for a new mattress, a guy made me a good offer/deal on one. I didn't know the brand, and came home to look it up on the net, and learned sooooo much! Like that latex mattresses ROCK. Coil/spring mattresses suck. FOAM mattresses are the WORST. Don't ever buy one.

In reading about mattresses I was shocked to learn I had caused my own problems, essentially, by buying a poor quality mattress. Lesson LEARNED.

My friends took me to their mattress guy nearby. In just hopping around the store laying on different mattresses I could immediately feel the difference. I bought the one that I laid on, where, when I laid full out on it, my pain in my hips and lower back, my constant companion for so long suddenly was just *gone*.

Like magic. *POOF*.

I feel like a flipping idiot for having let this drama and trauma go on for so long. I can sleep now. The pain in my hips is GONE. I need to do some more stretching and ease up the muscles more, but wow. What a fantastic difference.

I paid $500 for this baby and he delivered it for free within 2 hours. I love my new mattress. LATEX ROCKS!

[Gormy Cuss]

1. I think the happiness quotient in America would skyrocket

if everyone who is now sleeping on a bad mattress could replace it with a good one.

[Shine]

2. When you think about how much time we spend in bed, it makes sense

to pay the money for a decent mattress. Good on ya, for finding a good one.

Sweet and happy dreams! :hi:

[Wcross]

3. I need a new bed myself.

I have been sleeping on a bed I bought 15 years ago at a "discount" bedding dealer. It was a 200 dollar "no name" set but I was poor at the time and it was better than the floor. It now has springs popping through the top and has been thouroghly trashed thanks to an influx of puppies that HAD TO see what was under the fabric. I have been getting by with it by placing foam over the top.
I guess it is time- the puppies are now two years old and better behaved. I often wake with aches and pains, I really need to buy one.
Whats the brand name of your new bed? I want to check one out.

[radwriter0555]

4. Well I went after the dunlopillo brand, but I'm not in the US... I suggest

a good amount of time spent on google and epinions. http://www.epinions.com/Furniture/submitted_form_~ultrafinder/ultrafinder_submitted_~%20Go%20/skp_~1/search_string_~latex%20mattress/linkin_id_~/sp_~/search_vertical_~all

Start out at a local mattress dealer and see what they have. I really was impressed with my findings on the latex side. The one I have has a nice little core, but isn't anything techical or fancy.

Try out some brands and then start shopping for your best price on the one you like the most.

I really suggest avoiding the old spring and coil stuff and going with the latex... it's sooooo wonderful!

GOOD LUCK!

[Digit]

5. I tried out those sleep number mattresses at the mall

You can even get an option to make it adjustable.

Unfortunately, it was out of my price range....

[radwriter0555]

8. The sleep number things seem cool but pricey. I paid $500 for the

new bit of heaven I now enjoy. Just the top, I didn't need the box spring.

Worth every penny.

[radwriter0555]

6. AND the added bonus is that the dogs now don't feel the need to

LAYTHISCLOSETOMEALLNIGHTLONG.

For some reason they feel they can sleep in various other locales on the bed now.

Hmmm....

[Deja Q]

7. Great post, thanks!

I'll be buying something decent, that's for sure - no cutting corners.