British Snoring & Sleep Apnoea Association

Hello Everyone
This is not strictly Apnoea related, but I have been toying with the idea of buying one of these things. I live alone, use a standard double bed, and possibly have a dust-mite allergy.......definitely have Rhinitis, which has been helped a lot with Jala Neti (thanks Rob!).
I just wondered if anyone had any feedback (Positive or Negative) about these matresses before I shell out a few bob? Ken

Best mattress I have EVER bought - and I've bought a few in my 55 years. I've been using mine for about 2 years now and it is so comfortable.

With our problems, we deserve the best sleep possible, and this is bed heaven. I have a double all to myself too so loads of space to sprawl.

You have have to turn them regularly, at least once a month, because otherwise the memory foam top layer stops reforming and you land up with a dip where your shoulders lay. And you do TURN them, not flip, as the memory foam layer is only on one surface.

So I would definitely say buy.

Well done nuneatonman37 - I've got the pillows too. I have one fairly quishy one and one very firm one, depending on which side I am laying because of the mask. The hose comes out of the right side, so I have the squishy pillow for the right side and the firm one for the left side of the bed for no hose. Confused? It does work!

I really couldn't imagine going back to a sprung mattress now, and I dread staying overnight somewhere and leaving my bed behind.

I bet you didn't want to get up this morning

they keep you very warm, and you do have to get used to sinking into them a little.

we've had a pocket sprung mem foam topped mattress for about 3 years now - absolutely brilliant

That's a good point Ewan - you can't use an electric blanket with one, but then again you don't need one.

You only need a very light duvet in the summer, and in fact I just use a sheet and cotton bedspread, so it cuts down on electricity and bedclothes too!

Thanks Janice, Nuneatonman and Ewan for your positive feedback, and tips... I have now ordered one on line. I studied the Which? report (January 2006) at my local library and was suprised at one or two things..the dearest one did not come out top!!
One comment about dust mites was interesting, but I think I shall start a separate thread on that one, when I can get round to it...Thanks again Ken

You're welcome Ken - and I am intigued about the dust mites. Please start you thread a.s.a.p.

Oh I say! I've just become a Warrant Officer! Do I get a pay rise?

As you were - stand by your beds - with memory foam mattress of course

Don't let it go to your head - It might effect the upper respiratory tract! Ken

I don't think this is a commonly known fact.

On production of a doctors note saying that you need such a bed/mattress for alleviating your sleep condition it is possible to get the VAT back on your purchase of the memory foam mattress element of the purchase, which is not an inconsiderable amount on a king size £1500 Tempur mattress (it is actually a £262.50 rebate).

I knew nothing of this untill a very capable sales person at the local Furniture Villlage alerted me to this fact. So buy the bed and get the note from your friendly GP. Take it back to the store and they send it with the necessary paperwork to the local VAT office, and hey presto 3 weeks later you will get your VAT rebate !

And no I don't work there, or have anything to do with them other than being a customer, so 10/10 to Furniture World ! But the fact is the purchase of such a mattress from any retailer will qualify, it is simply that Furniture World are equipped to handle the claim and the administration for you.

I wish I had known that. I bought mine from Dreams (my, my - what a surprise, they had a sale on!) about two years or so ago. It's probably way too late now.

Thanks for the tip though, although I have mine on an extended full replacement insurance thingy for another 8 years (that cost an extra £25).

Hi,

I won't pretend to know about VAT, but when I got around to claiming the tax back on my union subscription (as you probably know, you are allowed one professional association subscription tax free as a teacher) the Inland Revenue went back six years.

Cheers,

Martin

Thanks for that Sleepybiker. I'll give it a try anyway. I will also try to get some tax back from my enforced Institute for Learning (FE) subscription. (Isn't life difficult teaching with sleep apneoa? It's almost impossible to inject enthusiasm into a lesson when the matchsticks are propping up the eyelids!)

Just a bit of feedback, folks....................
The mattress arrived the day before Good Friday, and I had to unpack it and leave it be for 24 hours. I love the feel of it, and to some extent I just want to stay in bed in the morning! My "hot joints" and aches and pains that I experience in the last hour or two of bedrest don't seem to have improved though (Arthritis runs both sides of the family though) To be fair, last night wasn't at all bad. It's a Miratex from T J Hughes and I think it is great comfort-wise and a fraction of the price of the market leader!
It sounds a bit pedantic, but I would not have thought, that there was any data suggesting that one of these mattresses would relieve the condition of Sleep Apnoea. As (officially) I no longer have the condition....I got discharged from the Sleep Clinic, last April, then I would not be eligible to get a return of VAT anyway. However, I am certainly not against anyone else getting a refund...good luck to you!
Ken

Which is the best style of mattress? Sprung, Foam or another type?

Water bed isn't an option Wink

I've had a Tempur mattress and wasn't impressed, I have back issues to take into consideration.