Hi Phoenix,
I’ve looked at your site off and on over several months. I am female, 67, about 5’7", 297lb, most of it in my hips and thighs.(exactly like my mom and grandmother). I have a fairly severe lower back scoliosis, with disc deterioration, sciatic-type nerve pain, low-back stiffness. What I’ve found most comfortable over the past few years is a very cheap, firm 5-inch innerspring mattress, covered by 4 " of polyurethane foam, medium.
But it’s not working anymore. Probably hasn’t been for a long time. So I’ve been looking, and looking. Had decided latex was the way to go, researching yours and other sites. Went to A Better Bed in Fresno, CA, the name of which I got off your website. We had agreed to a 6" Dunlop core, with 3 in. Talalay on top, 24 ILD, both natural. Ended up with only 2 in Talalay, not really sure what ILD; bed was way too firm. Considered just putting polyurethane layer on top, but seller said I should try 20 ILD Talalay. I asked for 4 in. I got it; two on bottom, two on top Why, I couldn’t say. I don’t think Bill is functioning well. Bed felt no different. I honestly don’t know what ILD the Talalay was. It went back, with a lot of negotiation.
Went to Sears, tried about everything. Only thing that felt good was Stearns and Foster, with about 8 layers, a lot of it some form of memory gel, 2 or 3 in. latex, unclear what kind, and a silk and cashmere “infused” topper. Don’t know what infused means, but the bed felt wonderful. They wanted $2200 for it. So I know S & F has a lousy reputation in terms of beds holding up, and think it would probably be a mistake. Thinking maybe it felt great mostly because of the topper. And all those layers.
Now I’m thinking maybe I’d be best off to build my own bed. It seems most people find the latex by far the best for bad backs. But I wonder if even the 20 ILD will be too firm for me. If it just had 3 in of Talalay and a wool topper, would that be enough. Maybe I should put polyurethane on top of the Talalay and the wood topper on top of that. Would that defeat the benefit of the Talalay?
HELP!