The hottest deals voted on by our community. Selected and verified by our team of deal editors.The ProblemIn recent months I’ve suffered from pain in my right hip and mid to lower back. I attribute this to age, having a sedentary job (writing), having put on some pounds and lack of exercise to lubricate my joints. I sit on a high density cell foam donut as I write this. The donut relieves pressure from the coccyx, something I learned when I was pregnant many moons ago. I’ve learned to contort my body to the left when I rise from a sitting position in order for the pain in my hip to not bring me to my knees. Having this condition checked out by a doctor is out of the question. When I retired from the corporate world I also relinquished my rights to company paid health insurance. So I make do. However, sitting is not my only uncomfortable position. Although I bought a new mattress recently, I awaken with a sore back and my right hip screams with every movement. Do I need to tell you I’ve not been sleeping well?
Oh, I guess I just did. The fact is I sleep in 3-hour shifts because my body wakes me up. Oh, what I would give for just one night of uninterrupted sleep! Something had to be done. I can’t afford medical diagnosis or treatment. Going through Advil like candy is not good for my innards and doesn’t fix the problem anyway. Buying one of those high end mattresses that “have your number” is also out of the question. So, what does a not-so-young-but-not-so-old struggling writer do to alleviate the pain? Ingenuity is the answer, my friends; that and watching the paper for sales on mattress toppers. The SolutionSometimes commercialism comes in handy. It seems everything under the sun goes on sale just before holidays. Memorial day is one of those holidays. My local Big Lots had a flyer in Sunday’s paper. They advertised a ‘famous maker’ 3” gel memory foam mattress topper for queen beds at a doable $99.99. The next day I went to Big Lots in hopes I wasn’t too late. Sure enough, they had plenty in stock and the ‘famous maker’ turned out to be Serta.
Well, shoot, if the sheep on TV fear Serta because the public no longer has need to count them (the sheep) in order to go to sleep, that’s enough reason for this little girl to give the brand a shot. Not only did I make the purchase, but I treated myself to a new set of sheets (in my favorite color, although it doesn’t match my bedding!). I came home excited that, perhaps, I can now get a good night’s sleep. I rolled out the Serta Rest 3” gel memory foam topper and encapsulated it in the accompanying fitted cover (thank you Serta!). I spent the rest of the day washing bedding, including my comforter. I was really looking forward to bedtime! Although, by the looks of my freshly-made bed, I’d need a step stool to get my 5’2” body up on the bed and under the covers! FeaturesUpon reading the instructions (yes, I read the instructions. My name is Shauna, not Shaun!) I was a little disconcerted to discover it may take up to 72 hours for the mattress topper to conform to my bed.
I was absolutely delighted when it rolled out flat and fit my bed perfectly! The comfort gods were definitely on my side. In addition to that, I was elated when I read that the gel in the foam is formulated to be cool and regulates itself to your body temperature. As a post-menopausal woman, I still suffer from night sweats. Well, not really night sweats so much anymore as night heat. That’s another reason I don’t sleep comfortably. I need to have my bedding cold in order to sleep well. It’s a good damn thing I sleep alone; my queen size bed allows me to switch sides when I become too hot – which is another reason I don’t sleep well. By the way, when does that shit end?? Oh, I almost forgot to mention that this product is made in the USA. Way to go, Serta! My rating of this product Do you suffer from back pain? What do you do to alleviate back pain? I take drugs, man! I suffer with it. I exercise and never sit for too long. Nothing yet, but I'm going to try a gel memory foam mattress topper.
I prefer to bitch about it. The ResultI’ve only spent two nights on my new set up, but I am tickled to death with the results. I have awakened just once each night - which is a blessing - and I’ve been able to go right back to sleep. Unfortunately, my body puts out some heat when I’m trying to sleep. Nevertheless, the gel memory foam topper is living up to its promise. The verbiage on the box reads “adds support and comfort – eliminates pressure points”. I can attest to that. In a mere two nights, my pain is at a much lower level. I no longer have to contort my body when I get up from the couch in order to avoid pain in my right hip. Now, if the night heat I still experience would just go bother someone else, I’d be a completely satisfied customer. But that’s not Serta’s problem, is it? If any of you reading this experience discomfort while you sleep for any of the reasons I have mentioned, I highly recommend Serta Rest 3” Gel Memory Foam Mattress Topper.
Dry cleaning is recommended. • The comforter earned a perfect score for warmth. • The fabric had minimal pilling and performed well on the strength test, so the comforter will last for years, but should be protected with a duvet cover. • Our consumer testers liked the soft fabric and fullness of the stuffing. • Tests verified compliance with the industry standards for the product's claims. • The comforter also complies with U.S. labeling laws on the identification of down. • The comforter shrank a bit after five dry cleanings. • This was the heaviest down comforter we tested — something to note if you don't like the feeling of being weighed down by the covers. Pacific Coast Embrace Down Comforter, Twin, Full/Queen, King ($240 to $300)Pacific Coast Embrace Down Comforter, Twin, Full/Queen, King ($240 to $300)The Pacific Coast Embrace Down Comforter is specifically designed to accommodate two people. An extra line of baffle boxes (a construction technique to keep fill in place) in the center prevents disturbance if one person tosses and turns, and regulates each sleeper's individual warmth.
• This comforter provides very good warmth. • The comforter keeps its appearance after being washed. • The fabric didn't show any pilling — a sign of good quality. • The uniquely sewn edges are designed to prevent the down from shifting to the ends of the comforter. • This product fully complied with industry standards for fill. • The Embrace comforter shrank the most of any down comforter tested. The stitching shrank significantly, causing the comforter to bunch up or pucker. • This comforter did not fare well on the strength test — keep it covered with a duvet to protect the fabric from snagging and reduce the frequency with which you'll need to wash it. • Our consumers were confused by the design until the comforter was fully laid out. Best Reusable Water Bottles Everything You Need to Know About Buying a Comforter Sears Cannon 300 TC Stripe Down Alternative Comforter Review Target Woolrich 240-Thread Count Alternative Down Comforter Review