I am in the process of purchasing a waterbed for my son than had adhd/ocd & has trouble sleeping w/o meds & then never sleeps great. He has been tested for sleep apnea & not the issue. Hoping a waterbed will relax him into a deep slumber :-) I currently have a temperpedic any comments on those?
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- I would LOVE a Tempur-Pedic bed for comfort. But I'm very sensitive to the aroma. I have a pillow of theirs and had a friend air it out in her guest room for a few months. Then it was fine for me. Yours is apparently fine for you and you've had it a while. For your son, if you get one for him, I don't know about the off-gassing of those, but it's easy enough to find out by first asking the company . . . and then going to the MCS groups to see what they think.
A waterbed must be heated, even in summer (in most climates, not all) - or the cold from the water can pull heat from the body and cause muscle pain.
However, the electric heater used can be hard on most lyme patients who are sensitive to electronic stuff. A heater should not be on at the same time a person is in the bed - so that is nearly impossible for the water beds that require overnight heating.
There was a design of a waterbed about 20 years ago where long baffles (like 5 huge hot dogs, independent of each other and placed together) were filled and then a top layer of bedding zipped over top.
That style did not require a heater. I had one and I loved it. But, even with that, my "fibromyalgia" doctor told me to toss it. Turns out, I really had lyme and maybe that bed would have continued to be okay as the top layer was very thick.
CHEMICALS added:
However, with ALL beds, you have to take into account the chemicals sprayed at various points during manufacture and sales (anti-mold agents; flame retardants; teflon; formaldehyde, etc.). Even foam off-gasses.
As you live in a warm region, it would help if you could air the bed out in a spare room - with windows often open during dry weather. I would do this for several months before allowing your son to even be in the same room as the bed. Even then, the chemicals live on for a very long time.
It's a huge research job to buy a bed that is safe and comfortable - and will last. The chemicals off-gassing can be very hard on anyone's liver - but also their brain and entire nervous system, too.
You might contact your local MCS group for some suggestions.
I had a waterbed for many years. It must be heated year-round, 24/7 and I agree that this is not a good thing for a person with lyme disease.
The heater will use electricity, so that is a negative over a regular bed which does not affect your utility bill.
I really don't think you get better sleep on a waterbed. I loved my bed when I had it, but I would not want to bother with one again. They do get leaks which is a pain. You usually discover the leak when you lay down at night to sleep. Sorry, you can't sleep. You have to work on your leak instead.
Also, if the bed is right on the floor, the heater can discolor or ruin the floor. That happened to me.
Posted by GiGi (Member # 259) on :
Consider chemicals used in manufacturing of the bed, chemicals in the water, and EMF. This is not a good idea with neurological problems of any kind.
Take care.
Posted by LightAtTheEnd (Member # 24065) on :
I recall having trouble, staying at someone else's house and sleeping in the waterbed, waking up freezing cold because the heater was set a couple degrees too low for me.
I liked the feeling of floating, but felt like I woke up every time I moved slightly and the bed sloshed. I think they have better ones now, with more padding on top to reduce that.
I have some latex pillows that are wonderful. I wish I could afford a latex foam mattress.
If a person could tolerate latex (which is a huge IF if we're talking about chemical sensitivity), that could possibly have the benefit of the kind of comfort you're looking for, plus be warm and not require a heater or have leaks.
But they are expensive, and some people have latex allergies. They are durable, so they might last a long time, and would be good on painful joints and muscles.
Come to think of it, maybe a latex mattress on top of a waterbed would be awesome. For when I win the lottery, LOL.
Posted by Got Lyme? (Member # 11109) on :
I have had a water bed since 1980 (with a heater) and severe lyme disease since 2001. I have never noticed any more severity with my pain whether I sleep in my bed or any other bed or even my couch. I would hurt no matter what I did or what I slept on. As of today, my health is much better and I still sleep in my water bed every night.
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
For when I win the lottery, LOL.