Happy ending: the search for a perfect bed

Almost anyone who has shopped for a bed knows how confusing the process can be. I decided a  traditional mattress was the best choice.

The second part of the journey (see part one) began at Sears in Jacksonville, Florida. Going from Sealy to Serta to Stearns and Foster, the brand most comfortable was Stearns and Foster. The store had at least three models from which to choose.

Here's the caveat: each bed was different on the left side than the right. One side was labeled "plush" while the other was "firm." It was confusing.

At Ashley Furniture, the beds were also different on the left side than the right. But even more disconcerting was the music being played at 10:00, a rhythm appropriate for Zumba dancing. Upon my request the volume was lowered, but I couldn't focus on sleeping when my impulse was to jump up and move my hips.

At Haverty's we found Stearns and Foster mattresses that were the same on the left as on the right. A gentleman named Jonathan Chila led me from one model to the other, including a "silver" bed. It's pictured above.

The silver model (which may be called something different) cradled me, relieving pressure from my neck and jaw when I laid on it.  I bought it. The morning after my first night's sleep, my neck felt better than it had in the morning in years.

Although I have slept well, the rattan pillow I've been using to sleep is now too hard. I use it when I prop up in bed to read. It's taken several nights to get the right combination of pillows, but the beauty of the new bed is that my perfect pillow has turned out to be just a firm, everyday pillow. One.

I made a pricey choice, but I stop and think about the money I've spent on my medical care, and the mattress is worth is worth the cost. That's my experience. What's yours?

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Sleep: Who's got my number?

So many people who have trigeminal neuralgia and other types of facial pain experience discomfort when they lie down. We fight with our pillows, and sleep can be difficult to attain.

Finding my right pillow took years, and if you are interested in learning more about the rattan pillow that works for me, you can find it using the Google search bar that is embedded in my blog. But comfort requires more than a pillow. One's bed is also important.

My daughter and her husband love their Sleep Number Bed, so I decided to give it a try. I visited the store several times, trying to get just the right mattress, the perfect number. My first night, I awoke several times. My right arm kept going numb. I have a lot of different symptoms, but this was my first encounter with arm numbness.  The next morning, I ached from head to toe: head, neck, shoulder, hip, knee, and ankle.

According to the purchase agreement, I had to wait 30 days before sending the bed back. It was packaged up, and in all I spent approximately $380 for shipping. Then I waited more than 30 days for our refund- quite a few more days.

I've noticed that the air mattress beds, similar to Sleep Number, are being stocked in hotels across the country. Now before I book a room, I call the property to ensure that a traditional mattress is there.

I'd like to reiterate that my daughter and her husband are happy with their Sleep Number bed. But I had terrible discomfort three days after spending one night on this type of system. Perhaps there is a perfect number for me, but I am not willing to go through the pain of finding it.

My money was refunded and we have purchased another bed. I'll be blogging about that experience next.

I'd love to hear about your experience. What type of mattress works for you?

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