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. It’s an inexpensive solution to what could turn into an expensive and debilitating problem. Try it and rest easy. I did and I now rest when I sleep. DisclaimerI am neither an employee of, nor have I been compensated by Serta to post this review.
I'm not going to debate the safety and health issues with memory foam toppers and mattresses here, as it seems to be a contentious topic for those who notice no VOC off-gassing or other adverse effects from their synthetic foam mattress. We've covered the topic before, and there are plenty of resources on the web for finding out about the potentially toxic ingredients in conventional mattresses, so it really comes down to personal preference (and the individual's level of chemical sensitivity) as to the choice between 'natural' mattresses and synthetic ones.We've always chosen to sleep on a futon rather than a standard mattress, for a variety of reasons (lower price, less potentially toxic materials, firmer support), and it's been a few decades since I've had a conventional mattress, so I'm a bit biased when it comes to bedding. However, one weak point of futons is their tendency to get compacted over time, and what starts out as a soft surface can end up being rather firm after a few years, so when Sleep On Latex asked if I'd be willing to try out one of its Pure Green 100% natural latex mattress toppers, I jumped at the chance.
A few weeks ago, the UPS truck rolled up to my house with a rather small box, which I had a hard time believing contained a queen-sized mattress topper. After opening the box and unwrapping the tightly rolled topper, which quickly expanded to full size, I stripped the sheets off the bed, put the topper on, and re-made it. A quick laying-in session confirmed that indeed, this topper showed promise, but it wasn't until sleeping on it for a few nights that I came to appreciate the comfort and support of this mattress addition.What was previously a very firm futon that we were considering replacing instantly became a wonderfully soft and supportive mattress again, and one with absolutely no sketchy ingredients. And considering that we co-sleep with our kids when they are young, and that we currently have a little one in bed with us, that was a really important distinction for us.The Sleep On Latex toppers are made with 100% natural latex, sourced from rubber tree plantations in Sri Lanka, which is then processed into latex foam using the Dunlop process.
The latex foam in the company's toppers, mattresses, pillows, and other products is certified by both Eco Institut as well as the Oeko-Tex Association, which indicates that the products are free from known harmful ingredients and that consumers can be assured of their safety. According to the company, its 100% natural latex products contain no synthetic latex, fire retardants, fillers, or other additives, which can be an issue with some other companies' "100% latex" products.That said, for those who have a latex allergy, these certifications and standards don't matter, as contact with latex can cause a range of symptoms in those allergic to it. None of my family are allergic to latex, so that isn't a concern for us.After a few weeks of sleeping on a 2"-thick 100% natural latex mattress topper from Sleep On Latex, I'm sold on it as an option for those looking to refresh their bedding. It's like having a brand new bed, and at a price that won't break the bank. The 2"-thick queen-sized topper is currently priced at $199 (sale price, plus free shipping), which is a bargain when considering how hard it is to put a price on a good night's sleep.