Hi rcy1.
Welcome back after four years… not long enough it seems :lol:
I am glad that the mattress holds well to the test of time, but it seems that you are in dire need of some fine-tuning.
[quote] So I’m beginning the search for a topper I can put between me and the bed that does two things:
- Allows me to sleep on my side again, and not wake up with sore hips
- Sleeps cool
I think the mattress is a good base, and I’d like to be able to use what I’ve got before starting over with a new mattress. If Purple made a topper, I’d be all over it. But I’m thinking a soft Talalay or wool topper. [/quote]
You clearly did your research and you are on the right track… your choice of materials and plan is a good way to address the temperature and comfort issues.
Regarding your hip soreness that you developed over time … it seems that you’ve encountered what I call an “unknown variable”… the change in needs and preferences overtime for a mattress that was suitable at the time of purchase that may no longer be so after a certain period. This could be closely connected with where you were inside the range of comfort and support that was suitable for you when you purchased your mattress and how far away from the edge of the comfort range you were at the time. If you were very close to it then a few years of “aging” may have put you right over that edge and “crossed the line” into becoming unsuitable for you. You may wish to read this post by Sonic (one of our consumer members) about aging here.
You are correct that as we age our need for pressure relief (thicker or softer comfort layers) can often become greater and also side sleepers in general desire a bit more surface comfort to allow the shoulders and hips to “sink in” a bit more, but not to the point of causing poor alignment. If you also sleep on your back, you’ll also need to allow your hips and shoulders “sink in” a bit, but this usually wouldn’t be quite as much when side sleeping, so you’ll want to find something that is suitable for both of these popular sleeping positions.
Talalay is temperature neutral and Wool has temperature regulating qualities, and both are great choices for adding more plushness. Wool in the upper comfort material actually compresses a bit over time and firms up, but it is a popular choice with those who are very pressure point sensitive (such as those with fibromyalgia). There are some topper guidelines in post #8 here that may be useful as a guide. As far as instructions for selecting a topper, there is more information about choosing a topper in post #2 here and the topper guidelines it links to, which along with a conversation with a reliable and knowledgeable supplier (that can provide you with good information about how their toppers compare to each other or to other toppers they are familiar with that are available on the market), can help you use your sleeping experience as a reference point and guideline to help you choose the type, thickness, and firmness for a topper that has the least possible risk and the best chance for success.
Because of the uncertainty involved with purchasing a topper where you can’t test the combination in person … a good exchange/return policy can also reduce the risk of an online topper purchase so I would also make sure you are comfortable with the options you have available after a purchase to exchange or return the topper and any costs involved just in case a topper you choose also doesn’t turn out as well as you hoped for. There are links to topper suppliers and some with return policies in the link I provided in the previous paragraph.
As far as sleeping temperature, the materials, layers, and components of a sleeping system that are closer to your skin will have a bigger effect on airflow, moisture transport, and temperature regulation than materials, layers, and components that are further away from your skin. and you can read more about phase change materials in post #9 here. There is more about the many variables that can affect the sleeping temperature of a mattress or sleeping system in post #2 here that can help you choose the types of materials and components that are most likely to keep you in a comfortable temperature range. Latex itself is a quite breathable material.
This is mainly to confirm and reinforce your findings.
Good luck with the topper hunt. Let us know what you chose.
Phoenix