Need help with Mattress saga

[Wishful]

I think this calls for some "thinking outside the box". What can support the human body and provide the right combination of softness and support, and not release unwanted volatiles? Would a bag of beans, buckwheat husks, or wood shavings work? I tried a hammock, but it made my back sore, but maybe it works for other people.

Some mattresses that provide the right physical properties but release problematic volatiles might work if you encased the mattress in an impermeable bag (made of something that doesn't itself release volatiles). Some plastic sheeting probably releases some volatiles (from the manufacturing process) immediately, but then become safe. You'd need a soft mattress cover over that.

Since you are sleeping on a foam mattress, is the foam not releasing volatiles, or is the cover blocking those? My foam mattress had a strong chemical odor at first, but that faded. Maybe a properly aged foam mattress would be safe for you.

One would think that in this modern age, someone would have solved the problem of selecting the proper mattress for an individual.

 

[linusbert]

At the minute I have to try and sleep on a massage table, which is preferable to any mattress. It's only a couple of inches of foam

if foam works for you, cant you get a few meters of foam and switch them every few month? you could put the unused foam place somewhere to de-fume, after 6 month they should be fine. so you get a fresh mattress every few month.

 

[alivenotkicking]

What can support the human body and provide the right combination of softness and support, and not release unwanted volatiles?

A couple layers of plush bed covers on top of an older high density foam mattress might do the trick.

 

[jdubz123]

if foam works for you, cant you get a few meters of foam and switch them every few month? you could put the unused foam place somewhere to de-fume, after 6 month they should be fine. so you get a fresh mattress every few month.

It's a fair idea, I did get a big block of foam from efoam a few years ago, as well as a foam pressure mattress overlay. They still bother me chemical-wise and they were quite firm.

There's a pocket spring memory foam mattress upstairs which is manageable comfort-wise if I stack it on top of another mattress, but it still makes me sick. I can't lie on my sofa to sleep without getting the chemical sensitivity symptoms (runny nose/eyes, headaches, sore throat etc), but I can sit on the armchairs of the set without a problem. It's bizarre and unpredictable.

Whatever the softest REM-Fit mattress is (that's a UK bed-in-a-box company) was comfortable, but when one of my family members saw me the next day they were convinced that someone had punched me, such was the swelling around my eyes.

 

[jdubz123]

I think this calls for some "thinking outside the box". What can support the human body and provide the right combination of softness and support, and not release unwanted volatiles? Would a bag of beans, buckwheat husks, or wood shavings work? I tried a hammock, but it made my back sore, but maybe it works for other people.

Some mattresses that provide the right physical properties but release problematic volatiles might work if you encased the mattress in an impermeable bag (made of something that doesn't itself release volatiles). Some plastic sheeting probably releases some volatiles (from the manufacturing process) immediately, but then become safe. You'd need a soft mattress cover over that.

Since you are sleeping on a foam mattress, is the foam not releasing volatiles, or is the cover blocking those? My foam mattress had a strong chemical odor at first, but that faded. Maybe a properly aged foam mattress would be safe for you.

One would think that in this modern age, someone would have solved the problem of selecting the proper mattress for an individual.

It's not a foam mattress, it's a massage table with 6.5cm of foam. It's the Porta-Lite Delta, having checked. I got it second hand in 2018. It's possible that the cover is blocking VOCs, or perhaps the foam just wasn't made with whatever is annoying me. Some foam products are OK, some aren't, just trial and error.

I do find that when I encase mattresses it tends to make them firmer. I'm probably going to buy a new version of that massage table and with a bit of luck I'll get at least six months out of it. Maybe one with deeper foam would be better.

 

[linusbert]

i got a similiar problem, in my new flat i didnt even get a couch, instead i got a minimalistic metal frame and just a matress and am using it as couch. it took like 2 month until the new matresses didnt fume off anymore... or not that much.

i tried to use a new polyrattan chair for my balkony but its to intense, i returned it. now i also get metall frame for this. if the pillows are bad i can just just a standard matress for this. i hope this works out.

in terms of plastic i think good polypropylen is fine, it doesnt gas off or smell. but it depends how they finished it, if their is some extra stuff like UV light protection or softeners etc. on it it might not be anymore.
so china PP might be not working.

there is also the possibility to get thin charcoal filter matresses / foils and place them on top of your bed or around it. it should absorb all the smellings.

i am now getting my furniture all in metal and glas. no wood, no plastic.

 

[brenda]

I have MCS and delicate body so lots of problems but solved now. A futon was too hard so tried a few toppers. No good when it became too much for my joints to get on the floor.

It is solved now but will not probably help many as it was $$$. I got backdated PIP that did the trick! The single mattress is hand made in the UK, organic wool plus horsehair. Top end. 3K. It has to be flipped weekly for first 6 months but is lovely. Should last the rest of my life and more (74).

 

[Wishful]

I do find that when I encase mattresses it tends to make them firmer.

Maybe that's due to too small of an encasement. If it was loose-fit, it shouldn't make it firmer. If it's friction between the mattress and cover, an extra layer or two of slippery sheets might solve that.

Stores selling lumber often offer free tarps (used to cover lumber in transit and storage). These are, AFAIK, woven polypropylene, and I haven't noticed any chemical odor from them. They are unsuitable for long-term use (break down), but they might be a free test of the theory of encasing a smelly foam.

 

[lenora]

Here it is ?? years later and I'm still not satisfied. Unfortunately, or fortunately, I have a king sized bed with twin mattresses. It's mechanical, for better or worse.

My husband has the other side. Unfortunately, even with all of my aches and pains during the hunt for a new mattress, I fell and broke my pelvis in a number of places, oh, more vertebrae also. So no matter what I do I'm either slouched over or in more pain than ever.

Sure I can take pain relievers, and my internist is helpful, but in my case this is also known as "old age." I'm hardly going to risk surgery at this point as I can still walk around the house, however my arms are getting very weak. This harkens back to one of my separate neurological illnesses. One I've had surgery for, then another for another one and on and on it can go. There's always someone willing to operate.

So I'll hold onto what I have, try not to burden anyone too much and be thankful for most of the meds and vitamins I take. Mattresses....sadly, it seems have changed; most forever! If it's your body, you'll never be the baby bear who is "just right." Good luck on your hunt. I know the feeling! How about a lounge chair...have you tried one yet? That may be just the answer you're looking for. Yours, Lenora

 

[Mouse girl]

I've had a terrible time with new versions of mattresses, myself. they are all way too soft for me, with the only exception of the very hardest of spring mattresses and then adding a topper but still, the new versions of "firm" is not really firm. an older one I had in the past was so great, it had a very firm base and then lovely cusion pillow top, so I got some comfort but not too much softness in the "core". this was an old beautirest when they used to make firm with pillow tops (now, they only make medium or soft with pillow top). the beautirest only needed some airing out in another room for awhile for me. other brands were so bad chemical wise, had to return. I've had back issues ever since not having my old mattress.

I did find a lovely natural bed that was made with only cotton and spring, but had to add a topper as the springs did hurt as I got in and out of bed. other natural ones had latex which was awesome foam wise as it was firm but had nice support but turns out, if you have hayfever, you can end up with allergies which can get bad with latex. I had allergic reaction after a a week or few days, so that went back. the latex smelled so good though, so fresh as did the natural bed, but I just had the hayfever, so was allergic to the real natural latex.

I can't remember if we are allowed to share websites or not. I think I got the natural one from usmattress.com but I don't see any that are just cotton and springs, they seem to only have wool, cotton and latex ones. I don't remember if it is the same company or not, these are more expensive but everything is so expensive now. it is so hard.

I wish I had any good ideas but I tried so many things and I do have chemical issues, but with only some chemicals and not as bad so some people have them, but they are bad compared to normal people. I was thinking of trying to get a new mattress again this month.

we had an old spring one from Ikea that was surprisingly good with a topper but this was years ago and when bed bath and beyond was around and they had a few nice toppers that weren't chemically.

I hope you can find something that works.