Monday

25 January 2010

My five year long love/hate relationship with the Temper-Pedic® bed is over. While it was good for all the tender points FMS hath wrought upon my body, it was horrible for my back. You know all the commercials that point out how it conforms to your body to provide excellent support? What they don't say is "Oh yeah, you'll sink into this mattress like a stone, and you'll feel all comfy...until to try to roll over. The memory foam--surprise!--will remember your form and take a long-assed time to spring back, which means you'll just fall back into the hole and be stuck in the same freaking position all freaking night long, and a few months later that form will be permanent, and your ass will sink a little lower even, leaving your back in so much pain that even Vicodin won't touch it. But hey! It's frakkin' MEMORY FOAM! So it RULES!"

Yeah. That about covers it.

I think giving it five years was long enough. Last week the Spouse Thingy went out with me--in pouring, pounding rain, I might add, which might mean he kinda likes me a little bit--to go bed shopping. The first place we went is a decent enough place to buy a bed, and the old guy there is helpful enough, but the "best" bed on the floor was a brand I'd never heard of, and while it felt like a bed I would love for a long time, I wasn't quite ready to slip a ring on its box-springy-finger and commit.

So, we went elsewhere and looked at a Sealy--which was decent enough--and then home to scope out the first bed online.

Surfing for reviews on the Chateau line of this company's beds didn't turn up much, but on the company itself...very mixed reviews. Too many people hated them, which seems normal with beds as they're either a love them or hate them kinda thing, but I got the impression trying to get help with warranty issues was a PITA.

If I'm going to commit to many years of my life with a mattress, and part of them bare assed nekkid, I want the assurance of a little support, you know?

Shut up. You get nekkid in bed once in a while, too. Sometimes you're not even alone. I hope.

So the next day we drove across town to scope out a friend-recommended bed brand; I didn't have high hopes for the place we were headed to first--any place with "discounters" in the name tends to make me think of cheap bug-infested crap--but the sales guy there took a lot of time with us and didn't try to steer us towards the pricey merchandise just because he could. He actually asked a ton of questions about sleeping issues, took note that I needed something firm for my back yet soft for all my tender points, and had us try out at least 6 different mattresses...and once I'd declared "I think this is the one" he had us go back and try them all again just to be sure.

You know, there are limits to how you can try out mattresses in public? Lesson learned.

The one I thought was the right one turned out to be the one recommended to me, but at least the guy gave us tons of options. Better yet, it was nearly a grand less than I'd seen online and he threw in the bed frame (not a cheap one either...though I know all the stores will throw it in "for free, because I'm the manager and I can do that") and delivery.

I was not at all sad to see the delivery guys haul away the Temper-Pedic...I'd had high hopes for that bed and it dashed them every night.

Four nights on the new bed...very nice. My back isn't miraculously cured, but it's also not screaming at me from the moment I wake up.

Better yet, the cats seem to approve.

And face it, without kitty approval, it means nothing; it would just be an expensive lump in the middle of the bedroom floor.

13 comments:

The Meezers or Billy said...

I absolutely love my Select Comfort Sleep Number bed. (and so do the cats). My back problems have virtually disappeared since I bought it, after realizing that just piling the 5th feather topper on top of the bad mattress was not a good idea. (why yes, I am the Princess from The Princess and the Pea).

and BTW - just what ways are you NOT allowed to try a mattress in public? (ok aside from the obvious).

Gemini and Ichiro said...

I also hate Dennis' temper-pedic bed. I cannot wait until I can feel good about getting rid of it. My issue is that he got one of the knock off brands (after making sure they had the same ratio of everything) and I sink into his side... I moved to the opposite side of the bed as my left side was tired of being higher than my right. Now my left side is higher... sigh.

Gemini and Ichiro said...

Oops.. I mean my right side is higher...

kenju said...

Up to this point, I thought I wanted a Tempur-pedic. Thanks for the advice.

Alberonn said...

Hate Hate Hate memory foam.

My ideal is a firm mattress with a soft topper.

Thumper said...

That's essentially what we got, Alby. Firm with stuff on top to keep my tender points from hurting. If it ever squishes down, we can add a latex foam topper. I don't think I'll get anything with memory foam again...

Oh, and the things you can't do in public? Well, they frown on jumping up and down on the beds. What did you THINK I meant...? ;)

Angela said...

I have a Stearns and Foster mattress as well and really like it. I had lower back issues with both foam toppers and the "pillow top" mattresses. About the only thing I don't like about mine is that I can't flip it over (I have a platform bed, so the bottom of the mattress is flat.)

Oh, and of course Bailey (the resident Calico Queen) also approves ;)

Just Ducky said...

I have memory foam pillows. I switch them off every week, so they get a chance to 'rest' and return to a normal shape. I too prefer a firm mattress, otherwise I feel I am drowning in it. Never cared for water beds either.

Angel, Kirby and Max said...

A mattress is very important. If you get up in the morning hurting worse than when you went to bed, it is time to change!

Karen Jo said...

I am really glad that you found a mattress that is good for your back.

las794 said...

I considered TempurPedic last time I was bed-shopping, but was a bit leery of it--not because it might not be comfortable, but because "latex" seemed at odds with keeping cool, which, at this particular time in my life, is a high priority. ;)

I wound up getting a BeautyRest, firm with cushy on top, and my back loves it. Minnie also approves.

Heather said...

I used to house sit for someone with a tempurpedic. I had horrible nights when I stayed there. My back would be very unhappy. I love my regular mattress...way better...and also cat approved.

The Whiskeratti said...

Sighs. I sooooo want a new mattress. Maybe for my birthday. Right now insulation comes first.
PS: You are totally right. Kitteh approval is paramount. For everything. Just ask 'em.