Best matress/pillows for Sternum pain

PaulJM

Hi all,

I've been scouring the internet, then thought I'd ask here as well, as you're a helpful lot!

In March, I had open heart surgery to correct a congenital issue they found. It's been a bit hair -raising, but I'm fixed now...yay.
I've found, in the last few months, my sternum being horribly painful at night, when I've been lying on my side for a few hours and stretch to move back.
As anyone will tell you that has had heart issue, this kind of pain hurts like crazy, but it's 'nice' pain - ie pain you know is coming from your muscles and skeleton, not your heart! It makes sure I'm more awake than I should be though.
It's not a heart issue, so don't worry about that with your recommendations

I've seen the doctor today about it, and she advised me to get my matress and pillows changed, instead of constantly taking Ibruprofen.

That's fair enough, but she didn't have any suggestions of what to change them too.
I'm also aware that this could cost me a fortune - it's worth it if it helps me sleep, but how do I know that my new matress might help? I could spend £400 and find the same problems.

So what do you all think? Anyone got any recommendations here?

My current matress is ok - about 7 yrs old, and my pillows are really good ones too.

As a note, I stayed in a hotel on Friday, and found it to be loads better.

Also, I've slept on a memory foam one before the troubles, and found it way too hot - there was no air circulation and I found it horrible! Maybe some are worse though.

Humphrey10

It's all personal preference really - what one person finds comfortable, another will find really uncomfortable, so it's hard to suggest something that will definitely be OK.

I've heard lots of people say they find memory foam mattresses hot. Personally I dislike them - I feel like I'm drowning in them when I lie on them! but loads of people swear by them, one size does not fit all.

If the hotel you stayed in recently was a lot better, then ring them up and ask them details of the mattress eg firmness, construction, materials and if their supplier will sell mattresses directly to the public!

Pillow buying guide: http://www.johnlewis.com/Magazine/Feature.aspx?Id=16
Mattress buying guide: http://www.johnlewis.com/Magazine/Feature.aspx?Id=9

PaulJM

Thankyou.

I've emailed Premier Inn to see if I can find out about their matresses - great idea.

I may go into JL to speak with them, they're always helpful.

I'm sure they'll shy away from actually recommending stuff - my GP gets scared about recommending stuff for me now, for gods sake

Humphrey10

John Lewis (and any place selling mattresses I suppose) will have them all out on beds for display so you can go and test them out, of course lying on them for a few mins isn't the same as sleeping for a whole night but might help to give you some idea.

Pinkypants

Water bed, moulds completey around the body and you can adjust the temp to suit.

Kaz2904

Apparently premier inn uses Hypnos mattresses so have a look there maybe? https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3286906 http://www.hypnosbeds.com/index.aspx
I love how when I google something this website invariably comes up in the top 10 for the answers

PaulJM

Bit late in response - been away!

Premier Inn has replied with the details of the matresses that they use - I'll post the answer up for prosperity (IM me if I forget and you're looking at this thread)
Fogarty provide the pillows for them, and kindly said they would pass my details to their factory shop. But they want £20 per pillow, plus a huge P&P. It's really kind of them to do this...but that is a considered cost!

As for the water bed suggestion - it's a good one, I'm going to see who sells them. Looked online though, and they look like they want £1500 plus

Armchair23

I think a 7 year old mattress will definitely have seen better days. I spent ages bouncing around department stores and eventually bought a bed online as I couldn't afford what I wanted in store.
Bliss sheer bliss, and nagging lower back pain disappeared within a week. I'm quite a ahem 'big boned' woman and the old mattress just didn't have enough oomph to support me.
I opted for a pocket sprung divan with memory foam and am really pleased with it.

bunnykins

Just wanted to add my two penneth;)

And say that I had similar problems in that I was waking up in pain every night but it was my lower back bothering me.

I decided to buy a new mattress as the bed base was fine and went around all the usual bed shops and tried every bed by lying on it for a good 5 minutes each - the shop staff were fine with this:)

I finally opted for a pocket sprung latex mattress but as I couldn't afford the shop prices I got the details of the mattress I liked best and ordered it off the Internet. I've never looked back!!!

Best advice I can give - get into the bed shops and try the mattresses! :):)