What difference does your mattress make?

[drgmeh]

I have a comfort select sleep number bed. I really like it. Took me awhile to figure out what number worked for me and sometimes I change it depending how I feel. I like being able to adjust it. They are not cheep.

[DoriC]

Uncle_Bob, how about wearing a pocket T-shirt backwards, then you could put a tennis ball in the pocket to keep you off your back. I imagine it wouldn't take you too long to get into the habit since you slept on your side before.

[5aces]

Not only will the mattress and pillows play a role but also the bed frame.

Without going into a fully adjustable bed/mattress,this bedframe with your choice of mattress will give some people that all important elevation to suit their needs:

http://www.bedsandmore.ca/flat.html

Recent clinical evidence revealed that fluid may travel from the lower limbs to the neck area while we lie down during sleep.
Keeping the head and neck slightly elevated counteracts this phenomenon.

Before I started CPAP I had edema around the ankles,which has noticeably diminished in the past 8 months.
I prefer a slight elevation at the top of the bed,from the frame itself.

[Uncle_Bob]

Thanks for the suggestions and advice. After last night there is absolutely no way i am changing anything right now. I got my first leak rate of 0.00L and also my lowest AI of 0.1 & AHI of 3.4 and on top of that i feel pretty good, I hope i last the day without feeling sleepy. This is very welcome after the last 2 days of AHIs of 24 and 28 and the last two months of trying different things.

Last night i used a new 8 foot long hose to replace my broken hose which was patched up with gorilla tape and i also used my pur-sleep papcap chin strap and aromatherapy. I took 3mg of melatonin and slept all the through the night for 7.4 hours. I did increase my pressure from 12 (my titrated pressure) to 12.4 to compensate for the longer hose, not sure if i needed to do that but oh well.

I consulted my doctor and he said not to worry regarding sleeping on my back at this point.

On the memory foam mattress subject i know plenty of people who are very happy with TempurPedic and Sleep number beds. Mattress buying is something i do not like. The Tempurpedic i could not afford. The sleep number bed i thought was way overpriced for what is essentially and air bed with foam surroundings and a pump. I decided on the Costco memory foam because it was low cost (especially when on sale) and they have a 10 year warranty and you can return it within a month if you don't like it. Memory foam mattresses are not all the same, they differ depending on layer thickness and density. Mine has a top layer designed to be cool so i do not feel too warm at all. Memory foam feels firmer when cool and softer when warm, so it might feel too firm when try try one in a store with the a/c running. Your body will warm up and softened the foam a little.
I also have a Highest Density Memory Foam Sleep Pillow and I think that helps keep my head and neck in a good position.

[kennethryan]

TempurPedic beds aren't cheap, but neither is any "name brand" bed these days. I guess the question is, "How important is it to you?"

Thanks. A good bed is extremely important to me, but it's precisely the high price that has me so terrified - if I hate it it'll be a long time before I can afford to replace it again!

What I need is a hotel with TempurPedic beds.

[BleepingBeauty]

TempurPedic beds aren't cheap, but neither is any "name brand" bed these days. I guess the question is, "How important is it to you?"

Thanks. A good bed is extremely important to me, but it's precisely the high price that has me so terrified - if I hate it it'll be a long time before I can afford to replace it again!

What I need is a hotel with TempurPedic beds.

I don't know about other brands, but TempurPedic gives you 90 days to try the mattress out; if you don't like it, they'll take it back. (Well, that used to be the policy; not sure if it still is. Worth looking into, though.)

I have a friend in NYC who slept on a TempurPedic one night (her neighbor bought one, and she was able to try it out). She didn't like it much. She found, as UncleBob (I think) posted earlier, that turning over in it took some getting used to, and she didn't want to deal with that. I haven't had that issue. In fact, the first night I slept in this bed, I swear I didn't move an inch all night (which is the whole point of the memory foam - that it cradles you and supports you well, unlike an innerspring mattress that can bother your pressure points and make you restless). I woke up in the same position I started out in, no ruffled covers, nothing. Felt wonderful then, and it still does. (The company should pay me for my endorsement!) Now, if I could just get my xPAP treatment under control, I'd be golden...

There are stores carrying TempurPedic now, so you can go in and lie down on one and see how it feels. I didn't have that luxury way back when, but I've been very pleased with my bed and can't see purchasing anything different. But, hey, that's me.

FYI, there are some hotels that offer TempurPedic beds. I don't travel much, but if/when I do, that's a must for me.