We have been sleeping on a heated waterbed for over twenty years. Sprung a leak, not repairable, so time to move on. Louise has RA and needs a good nights sleep. Every store clams to sell the best, total BS! So I come to you for some advise, feedback, input.

Thanks,

Hey Jerry! Our mattress is an old pillow top Beauty Rest. We love it, but it is showing its age (about 10 years). We are considering the dial mattress, can't remember the name now (Sleep number?). I know someone who has one and she and her husband both swear by it. I'm interested to hear what everyone thinks as we will be in the market soon.

(Message edited by jeanineclark on October 19, 2008)

We invested in the Sleep Number bed by Select Comfort a couple of years ago - and we love it! John has his at 45, and I have mine at 25. We balked at first at the price, but figured we spend a third of our day there, so the investment was well worth it.

LOL Jerry, we had an old fashioned waterbed for 20 years too. It was really difficult to give up.

I slept on the Select Comfort once at a Radisson...didn't sleep at all, couldn't find the "comfort" spot for me! I guess I need to get used to it.

We have a Simmons Beautyrest Pillow Top (same as Westin's Heavenly Bed) and just sleep sooooo good!

I don't envy your situation but we've all been there one time or another.
I am totally sold on my king size Tempur-pedic. I think it's one of those love it or hate it things though To us, it's very comfortable and molds to your bod for awesome support. Rob loves it as he used to have lower back pain/issues; now no more.

I can highly recommend shopping even though it's tough. Each store that carries the same manufacturer has different names for the same dang mattress!!! The mattress industry is a racket but shop anyway.

I think you should really give the few that you narrow down to a good lay Lay on them for 20 mins. minimum; we did and are glad for that time.
Lay on several different kinds of beds; sleep #, pillow tops, no flip kind and even try the Tempur-pedic.

We have owned ours for almost 4 years and will not buy another brand again. We bought their top of the line mattress as well as the pillows; not the molded type but standard queen pillows. They really complete the package and are awesome!

http://www.tempurpedic.com/sleep_systems/the_primabed_by_tempur_pedic/overview/

We previously had a king size Kingsdown pillow top. There was nothing wrong with it. We were shopping for furniture and sat to rest on the Tempur-pedic and were sold. We retired the Kingsdown to our guest suite. Our guests LOVE visiting and sleeping on that mattress but my Mom and other pet/house sitters REALLY love our master bed aka the TP mattress LOL!

Kingsdown is the oldest mattress company in the world so they do know mattresses; check out what they offer too

You spend 1/3 of your life in bed so I hope you find something you both like. Good luck and let us know what you settle on.

Jerry - I have had Select Comfort Sleep Number beds since 1999 and swear by them (even my guest room has one - right Tribs??). I'd strongly recommend going to one of their stores and getting the spiel from the salesman regarding how they work and all that jazz. I also love their memory foam pillows.

My brother and sister-in-law got one a year or two ago and love it also.

I have/had been plagued with chronic lower back problems stemming from my large animal veterinary days, but with this bed, they are gone (ok, I don't do that kind of work anymore, either... but the bed helped when I was still doing it).

They do have the 30 (or is it 90) day in home trial as well as a 20 year warranty.

I have also heard great things about the Tempurpedic beds, but the one complaint I've heard about them is that they can be quite warm - that foam doesn't breathe... so if you are already a warm sleeper, that could be a negative.

Good luck!!

Four words...Sleep By Number Bed...I change my number depending on where I'm aching. I think it might be good for Louise's RA, as she can adjust the numbers based on where she's having the most problems or aching. Michael bought it without even talking to me about it, so I was POd at first, but now LOVE it and miss it when we are away.

We have a Tempurpedic, and we like it a lot. Actually, we have a knock off from a place called The Foam Store, which ships free, and I can't tell the difference between it and the name brand. I thought it was too hard at first, but after about half an hour, when it had molded to me, I was sold...

I don't know Jerry, I've had my water bed since the 70's and can not imagine anything else. I suppose the adjustables might be an equivalent option. I would still miss getting into a warm bed.

Cecil...cats are great for warming up the bed. I guess I have used a dial bed at Becky's. Ooops! I like the soft side and Jingles likes the hard side. LOL! Squirrel likes the pillow.

Tribs, I woke up today with three kitties piled on me. Then I lie there way too long rather than disturb them....I've gone too far....

Jerry, we have the sleep numbers bed, does Gregg wonders for his back, worth a test spin. It takes adjusting now to any other bed when not at home. He is actually talking about getting one at our place on Bonaire too!

Jerry,
Another vote for the sleep number bed. We've been sleeping on a sleep number bed since 1993. Absolutely love it.

Actually, a co-worker told me he bought the equilient of the sleep number bed on QVC........I was a little p*ssed he spent 1K more then me..... but maybe he doesn't have the same warranty - I was at the Southern Women's Show and asked the salesman - Our pump is no longer working (Probably due to our lightening strike) and he gave me a number to call, and said they'd send us an new pump, and all we had to do was send the older pump back to them. Cool warranty!

I have been told by friends in the bedding business that the American NAtional beds are actually better made than the Sleep number beds. I have a Zephyr, and it's a wonderful nights sleep. One of the best things about it is that a restive sleeper does not wake up the spousal agent when tossing and turning, as the movement does not travel across the bed.

You mean one k less, Gail? Sometimes, you get what you pay for. Our pump died on one output, and they sent me another ASAP. I got ours at inside outside store online.

(Message edited by seb on October 19, 2008)

Seb, you haven't tried sleeping with Eric....and don't you dare!

Jerry, I must be tired..I read Louise wants a new mistress so had to open the thread. Haaa...

no Ann that would probably be Jerry's wish,!!! LOL

Jerry, We had a heated waterbed forever and switched to the sleep number. I'm still not crazy about it, my hands fall asleep (side sleeper). Never happened with the waterbed. We too, enjoyed the heated feature for Ron's arthritis. Bought a heated mattress pad and that helps. It is nice for the adjustability factor though.

Seb, our sleep numbers bed has the feature that you can not disturb the other person if one tosses and turns too. It only works so well, hubby says he can still feel it when I turn over sometimes, I have to be pretty far over not to have him feel it.

Yes, Seb - I meant 1K less! You do get what you pay for.

Actually the first week, I had trouble adjusting - after 20 yrs with our soft side water bed - but I went back to the store and redid the 'find your number' heat zone. I was setting my number too high and didn't feel that a 25 was a good number. But it turned out that I just need a softer mattress than most. It's my own little cradle zone.

Judy, with our old regular mattress, I would wake up several times during the night with hip pain, or my arm would be asleep, I'd have to roll over (side sleeper too)...I was amazed, that for the first time in years, my hips didn't hurt and wake me up, and my arms didn't fall asleep...bummer yours now do.

I don't wake up when michael gets out of bed (unless I'm already awake...lol..not a good sleeper am I)...he used to complain about me waking him up to go to the bathroom 10 times a night like I do, he hasn't complained since.

Also, his back used to kill him in the mornings, since the sleep by number, not a complaint!

Mattress update.

Kingsdown won.
Waterbed is gone, we will miss you!