Hi kdreams,
The first thing I would suggest is to give any new mattress that is significantly different from what you are used to (which was much firmer) at least 30 days. When you are used to a certain sleeping surface … even if it is not as good for your comfort and especially your alignment … there can be some discomfort as you are adjusting from a learned alignment to a new alignment … even if it is better or more “theoretically” correct. This is not unusual at all and there are many people who are very glad they gave their new mattress some time and once they are used to it they wouldn’t change it for the world. You can read a little more about learned alignment vs natural alignment in post #7 here.
Of course it’s also possible that your mattress isn’t providing the alignment that you need because each person is unique but this would seem to be in the range of what would be “average” for your body type and sleeping positions. It’s also more difficult when you sleep in multiple positions like you do … especially if it includes stomach sleeping to any degree … because stomach sleeping needs a thinner comfort layer to prevent sleeping in a swayback position while side sleeping needs a thicker softer comfort layers to relieve pressure which of course are opposites. In most cases, “just enough” pressure relief for side sleeping and no more is the best possible compromise that can provide good alignment on your stomach. Latex is generally one of the best materials for people that sleep in multiple positions because even softer latex has a much higher support factor and gets firmer faster as you sink in deeper but no matter what the material is it’s more difficult to accommodate all sleeping positions and this can take some fine tuning.
It’s also possible that you need a firmer support layer (which is available with an exchange) because this may be better for your stomach sleeping and with your lighter weight you may not need as thick a comfort layer with a firmer support core … but I would give it more time before you go in this direction. It does seem clear that if you sleep on the other side of your mattress that the surface is on the too firm side of the scale and the symptoms you are experiencing are typical of pressure relief issues that come from a mattress surface that is too firm. This indicates that you do need some softness on the surface but you may need a little more firmness underneath if you don’t find yourself adjusting over time to your current configuration.
I would also make the pillow changes you are suggesting because if the mattress is softer than you are used to it will normally require a different pillow (or pillows) because the gap between your head and the mattress would be different (less). Two pillows are also not a great idea for back and especially stomach sleepers because this would tend to put your head and neck out of alignment which an cause issues in the upper back and neck. Stomach sleepers typically need a much thinner pillow or in some cases no pillow at all. Some of the links in the pillow thread here (post #3) may be helpful as well. With multiple sleeping positions … a pillow that can be “scrunched” for thickness and also used as a flatter pillow to accommodate the different sleeping positions can also be a good idea.
Just to eliminate it as a possibility as well … I should also confirm that your mattress is on a firm non flexing foundation?
Most importantly of all though … I would talk with Arizona Premium because like all good online dealers they are very good at making suggestions that can help in cases like yours. They may also have some insights that may help you that comes from their many years of experience with their mattresses. When you talk with them I would also mention about the loose threads in your cover because if there are many of these and there is a risk of them pulling out with normal use that doesn’t seem like the norm either.
So you have options that are likely to produce success but first comes some time, probably thinner pillows, and a conversation with Arizona premium.
Phoenix