Mattress for Enormous Husband (long)

[Leta]

DH is a big man- 6ft+, around 250#. He has some physical problems- he has no ball joint in his hip, just a couple giant bolts, and a foot with two fused bones.

This, obviously, lends itself to back trouble.

After much research, we are going to build ourselves a platform bed. These are supposed to be good for people with back problems. Plus, we don't need box springs this way.

We are also going up to a king bed, not so much for the extra space (tho' that will be nice) but because we can do it with two twin extra longs and a Create A King. DH requires a super, super firm mattress (honestly, sometimes I think he'd be better off on the floor), but he wears mattresses out very quickly because he's huge, and because he tosses and turns. I, on the other hand, need a new mattress every ten to fifteen years. So this way, we can just replace half the bed as DH needs it. An ultra firm TXL mattress (purchased wholesale thru the university where DH works) costs about $200. So DH could get a new mattress every year if he wanted to.

Now, I've heard that latex mattresses last a really long time. But they are super expensive. We know that DH does very well on a new, conventional, extra firm bed. I'm afraid that he will get a latex mattress and it won't work for him and then we'll be out $1K.

On the other hand, I'm thinking really hard about a latex mattress for him because I'm green. I hate the idea of tossing a mattress every year or every other year if it can be avoided. However, I would need some level of assurance that a latex mattress would not only last five times as long but hold up very, very well and do DH's back right that entire time.

So... WWYD? Stick with what you know, or plunge into the exotic world of rubber beds?

[Krystal323]

First off, I am ROFL about the way you've worded this, because I too have an "enormous husband" (as per your description ), and we have also "plunged into the exotic world of rubber beds"

Now, we've been varying states of *horribly broke* for years now, but we also had to sleep on the floor for over a year--so when we got a windfall, I felt like we really needed a GOOD quality mattress. Our latex mattress is split down the middle, so that when we ordered it, I got softer latex on my side and thicker/firmer for my bigger DH. I have not been disappointed with it at all. Ours is also on a platform bed--which we bought from a generic big-box furniture store, and that, i think was a mistake. The slats MUST be a certain width apart to give proper back support (and to not ruin your latex!). Also, from what I've read, the best benefits (health-wise) to having a platform bed are not really realized unless the slats are able to "roll" or move along with the curves of your body when you lay down. These type of moveable-slats beds are uber-expensive, like, even moreso than the latex mattresses!

perhaps you'd do well to get a firmer (cheaper!) mattress and then get a memory foam or latex topper for it? Good luck!

[RiverSky]

Well, we bought a $3000 latex mattress set (king size) about 5 years ago (maybe 4? I forget...) and sure enough, DH's [about the size, perhaps a bit bigger, than your DH] side is more squished in than my side, and there is a slight "hill" in the middle. LOL. Hard to describe. You can definitely see, even with a huge comforter and sheets and a cotton blanket in the middle, that the mattress is not completely flat on top. Yet, it's still incredibly comfortable, but no, not "firm" at all. Then again, we didn't buy a firm mattress and not the softest one, either, somewhere in the middle.

I think the idea of buying the two twins is probably a very good one. If your DH likes the mattress after a year, he can continue on, and if either of you want a latex twin instead, you can always try switching to that. Or get him one of the mattresses for $200 through work, and buy yourself a latex twin, and then you two can take turns and switch, and check both out.

HTH

[Leta]

Originally Posted by Krystal323

perhaps you'd do well to get a firmer (cheaper!) mattress and then get a memory foam or latex topper for it? Good luck!

Okay, this is a great idea. Thank you. I'm going to look at latex toppers right now.

[Leta]

Originally Posted by RiverSky

Well, we bought a $3000 latex mattress set (king size) about 5 years ago (maybe 4? I forget...) and sure enough, DH's [about the size, perhaps a bit bigger, than your DH] side is more squished in than my side, and there is a slight "hill" in the middle. LOL. Hard to describe. You can definitely see, even with a huge comforter and sheets and a cotton blanket in the middle, that the mattress is not completely flat on top. Yet, it's still incredibly comfortable, but no, not "firm" at all. Then again, we didn't buy a firm mattress and not the softest one, either, somewhere in the middle.

That first bolded part- that is exactly how our current bed looks. It's a custom built extra firm queen, purchased in 2004.

Thank you very much for the second bolded part. I sleep on an extra firm mattress- I have since I was a kid. I like a hard bed. DH takes "hard bed" to a whole new level. I imagine Gandhi's bed was softer than DH's.

[elsie]

Something else to consider is if you have an Ikea nearby to check out their latex mattresses.

[buckeye_bebe]

Assuming you have the capital to invest, 1k, you would only have to have your latex bed five years to break even with $200 a year. So over time, assuming a latex mattress lasts your husband, it might be cheaper in the long run to invest in the latex. Which can be firm and not wear out as fast. Its a gamble though. Whatever the outcome, good luck.

[annekevdbroek]

Well, I would say find a way for him to try out the $1000 mattress first. I have a bad back and need a very firm mattress (I am half your husband's size though). We bought a memory foam mattress because theya re supposed to be good for your back. Well, it was horrible and it made my back much worse. I needed something firmer and I am not sure that a firmer mattress can be made with latex. Just somethign to consider.

ETA: We got rid of the mattress after two years because I slept on the floor for two nights at a friends house and my pain was significantly deminished. We now have a very frim mattress with a twin memory foam topper on my husband's side.

[angelcollector1]

I am a very large woman, I weigh about a 100 lbs more than your husband. I bought a new memory foam mattress and box spring set a year and a half ago. I hate it. It is very firm but not firm and has no support and I hate it.. my side is squished- I know I only have myself to blame but it doesn't give any support the way they say it's supposed to. It hasn't helped my back, knees, etc.. the way they say it will.
Either way, good luck with whatever you purchase.