Who uses an adjustable/hostpial/Craftmatic style bed?

[SJshooter]

Recently went the to the ENT and my esophagus is highly inflamed. I guess the acid reflux I thought I had under control isn't. Since seeing him, I've been sleeping at 45-75 degree angles and been AMAZED at the difference in reflux and the complete elimination of morning nausea -- something I've put up with for YEARS.

Long story short, the couch and a lounge chair I've been using are fine temporarily... but I guess I'm going to have to break down and buy some sort of motorized adjustable bed. I remember when I was a kid in the 1980s, those Craftmatic adjustable bed infomercials looked like the coolest things in the world. Now that I'm 43, they are just making me feel really old.

I know some folks here must have one. My wife and I have a king now, so we'll probably have to so a two-sided deal.

What should I look for? What should I avoid? Does anyone have any recommendations for features that are needed or useless? Any mattress tips? Or bed frame materials tips?

Googling Barrett's esophagus (which I am hoping I don't have - tests to come) has me super scared, and the difference before/after sleeping this much upright has been dramatic. Therefore, I could care less about cost. All I want is comfort and total quality.

 

[GKC]

We have a Sleep Number/Select Comfort adjustable king, which is basically two twin size beds together. Each side is individually adjustable, for head and foot elevation, as well as the firmness of the bed. We initially bought a flat bed that had individual chambers for each side, to adjust the firmness, but soon moved it to the guest bedroom and bought the adjustable set. I have sleep apnea, and after my wife's injury (broken neck, back issues) we found that being able to adjust our sleeping positions like a hospital bed was far more comfortable for us (except these beds are much more comfortable than a hospital bed.) Our bed also has heat and vibration, although I don't think either one is very strong...it won't shake and bake you.

My advice is to buy the best you can afford...a good bed will last you for years, so it's worth the investment. I definitely would get a bed with individual sides/controls so that you and your wife can adjust your sides of the bed to your own preference. (We each have a separate remote.) We initially got a very full pillow top, but found we didn't care for that, and changed to a more standard surface for the top mattress.

We have a king size bed frame with wooden headboard, side boards, and foot board, and we had to have slightly longer legs put on the box springs, so that they wouldn't rest on the side boards (the higher legs were available from the company.) These mattresses/box springs are much heavier than normal mattresses, so they are designed to stand on their own legs, rather than rest on a standard mattress frame. It makes the bed a bit higher than usual, and my wife is short (5'1") so she has to crawl up on it, rather than sit down on it.

Depending on the mattress set you buy, you may have to buy specialty sheets, which can be expensive. Also, you may find (as we did) that once you get used to sleeping in a bed with adjustable head and foot positions, as well as adjustable firmness, you won't like sleeping in any other bed.

 

[SJshooter]

Are you forced to sleep on your back, or are you and to get any kind of elevated side-sleep in?

 

[Salty RI]

We have the sleep # also, with all the bells and whistle's, it is a little pricey but worth it, my mother in law had acid reflux and I put blocks under the legs at the head of the bed to raise it up, it worked good, I think you can buy some plastic blocks to raise the bed.

 

[LouisianaJoe]

Here is another option. A bed wedge.

Amazon.com: bed wedge@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31-dYAFYkkL.@@AMEPARAM@@31-dYAFYkkL

 

[SJshooter]

I've tried raising the head of the bed, but it's not enough. Same with the wedges. The tallest wedge they sell on Amazon in 12-inches in the back, but I need to sleep closer to a 45-degrees (minimum).

 

[Salty RI]

I've tried raising the head of the bed, but it's not enough. Same with the wedges. The tallest wedge they sell on Amazon in 12-inches in the back, but I need to sleep closer to a 45-degrees (minimum).

Before you buy anything, I would rent a hospital bed, to see how you like.

 

[GKC]

Are you forced to sleep on your back, or are you and to get any kind of elevated side-sleep in?

Well, it's strange, but for most of my life, I slept on my side. After I was diagnosed with sleep apnea and started using a CPAP machine, I started sleeping on my back, and now I never sleep on my side anymore. The bed really works well for me, since I am most comfortable sleeping with my head elevated and my feet up. In fact, when we travel, I can't sleep in a flat bed so I sleep in a recliner (we get a motel room with a recliner included, or I sleep in one at our family or friends' house.)

If you plan to elevate the head and foot of the bed to any significant degree, I'd say it would be hard to sleep on your side, since your back would be torqued in opposite directions.

 

[GKC]

Before you buy anything, I would rent a hospital bed, to see how you like.

We bought our beds several years ago, but it seems like now they have a period of time where you can try them and then return them if you aren't happy with them. The hospital bed rental is good, but they most likely won't have the firmness adjustment.

 

[ibewbull]

Works but then......

Here is another option. A bed wedge.

Amazon.com: bed wedge

I will be raising the head of the soon too.

Stop eating 3 hours before sleep.

I have no check valves now and waking up with a throat full of nasty is not good.

 

[RonJ]

FWIW hospital beds are terrible for me. When I elevate the head I slide down and my feet overhang and the metal foot of the bed is very uncomfortable. There is some sort of support bar in the middle of the bed that makes me feel like I'm sleeping over a metal bar. Probably raises the middle of the mattress.
Before buying an adjustable bed I'd make sure I would have a liberal return policy.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

What about one of those beds that have that little box you feed the quarters into.

 

[gdnagle]

I assume you have had the Nexum treatment or other brand for acid reflux. I see it sold over the counter now, I've been paying $100 a month after insurance, the generates didn't work for me, and they sell it now for about $10 for two weeks, shows how much profit is in meds if it's the same.

We have a regular sleep number a CA king and my wife just buys the over size sheets and comforters and they fit just fine so you don't have to buy their brand for more money. Find a sleep number store in your area and go try one out. It's not the same as sleeping on it every night but will give you an idea of if it will rise high enough.

 

[msinc]

I have a Legget and Platt brand adjustable bed frame. Wifey uses the Sleep Number mattress and mine is one called a Dormia. It works fantastic. The only issues are the need for separate mattresses causes a rift in the middle that you really cant do anything with. This frame has all the bells and whistles...the only thing we use is the tilt. Almost never raise the feet part and never use the vibrate/massage feature.

 

[Salty RI]

What about one of those beds that have that little box you feed the quarters into.

The sleep number has that, no quarters just push a button and your good for 30 minutes.

 

[Salty RI]

I have a Legget and Platt brand adjustable bed frame. Wifey uses the Sleep Number mattress and mine is one called a Dormia. It works fantastic. The only issues are the need for separate mattresses causes a rift in the middle that you really cant do anything with. This frame has all the bells and whistles...the only thing we use is the tilt. Almost never raise the feet part and never use the vibrate/massage feature.

Your missing out on all the fun.

 

[SJshooter]

I assume you have had the Nexum treatment or other brand for acid reflux.

Oh, yes, been on it for more than a decade. I've been doubling it up for a week, plus adding Zantac and sleeping upright, killing off the Diet Coke habit, and not eating anything even remotely resembling a trigger food after 2pm... and I for the first time in years am seeing 24-hour relief.

I can keep up this regimen, but we'll have to wait and see what years of not getting it fully done have done in terms of long term damage (if any). Fingers crossed.