posted
Freaking out here! When my daughter first got really sick (3 months after I bought her an expensive Tempurpedic mattress) I started researching. Couldn't find much about whether or not it could be her bed. Then I forgot about it.
Now, she's been treating Lyme, spends 20 hours a day and is getting worse instead of better after 2 years of treatment. I am at the LLMD the other day reading a notebook full of stories how toxic memory foam is and how sick it makes some people. Fatigue, Brain Fog, Muscle Pain, Bone Pain... Many Lyme symptoms.
So I am ready to get rid of the mattress, buy an organic one (organic latex or wool) and maybe she'll start to get well. Or, what do you think, am I just being crazy hyper vigilant?
I've spent so much money on Lyme trying this that and everything to get her well, and she's getting sicker and sicker. What if it's been the darn mattress all along? Or if I buy a new mattress will I just be throwing money away?
Anyone else got rid of their tempurpedic and gotten better?
Posts: 333 | From Lyme Here Too | Registered: Mar 2010
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posted
All I know is that everyone in my family except me has a tempurpedic and I'm the only one sick-- lol. (we live in different homes)
So i cant say it isnt a contributing factor, but I can say that it alone does not make most people sick.
Posts: 844 | From CA | Registered: Apr 2010
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
[The author: Dr. Cara Natterson, a graduate of Harvard University and the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and author of Your Toddler: Head To Toe, is a pediatrician and mother of 2. She is working on her forthcoming book, Dangerous or Safe?]
ARE YOU SLEEPING ON A TOXIC MATTRESS?
- by Dr. Cara Natterson - March 20, 2009
Excerpts:
. . . Most mattresses do contain toxins. The difference is, memory foam mattresses are made mostly from chemicals never tested on humans.
And while data on memory foam is scarce, many people have been complaining of
sore throat, fatigue, headache, bloody nose, diarrhea, nausea, sweating, swollen red and itchy eyes, even heart attack-like symptoms -- all within a few days of purchasing memory foam.
Even pets experience these physical side-effects. Manufacturers do warn customers that memory foam emits a chemical (but temporary) odor, which some find "unpleasant," but reports have shown people getting very sick from it. . . .
. . . But disturbing reports have emerged on the dangerous health hazards of memory foam -- especially for children.
Your basic mattress is made of latex, air, water and various natural and chemical fibers. But memory foam mattresses are made from polyurethane foam.
This material emits volatile compounds that can cause respiratory problems and skin irritation. What's more, formaldehyde (a chemical in the adhesives that hold the mattress together) has been linked to lung, nose and throat cancers.
Memory foam is also loaded with cotton pesticides and flame-retardant toxic chemicals, which can cause cancer and nervous system disorders. . . .
- Full article at the above link. --------------------------------------
This is just a small sampling of the considerations.
As you cross search, this term will help:
"brominated fire retardant" -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- I tried not to respond to the language used in this inquiry,
"just being crazy hyper vigilant?"
It pains me every time I hear someone ask if they are crazy, or "just too hyper" or even if "vigilant" is a bad thing.
We have been so conditioned as patients - and as a nation - to think that if we QUESTION this, then we are crazy and obsessive for waking up to the poisons that are drowning us with each purchase.
It sounds like we are the abused,apologizing for using our intellect and instinct.
WE are not crazy; those who cover us with toxins are criminal.
As your daughter has lyme, no, it's not just the mattress. However, the mattress could be causing a lot of the symptoms. Removing it could be helpful but she will also have to "detox" - and still lyme is never a walk in the park but she'll have a better chance with the mattress out of the house.
Now, I've lusted over these. I tried one out once and it was so comfortable. I know they cost a fortune and it was love that prompted you to purchase it. So, just keep thinking of that love but now the vehicle has to change with this new information.
I'd contact an attorney to see if you could recoup the cost of the mattress. There also may still be a warranty.
I saw the other day one shopping TV channel where one bed they were selling had a 10-year period to return if unhappy.
You have a right to ask for total refund from the company. They may challenge your "research" so do some checking about your rights and credible sources.
On the practical side, I know of no one who can afford to buy any kind of bed right now. Organic beds are not all that easy to find and cost so much more than typical beds.
By law, all mattresses have to be doused in flame retardant chemicals.
I'm not sure how organic mattresses can get around that law - but I think there are some who can, somehow. It's just going to take work to find one - and it may appear different than a typical mattress.
I'd start by finding the closest support group to you for "Chemical Injury" or the the "Chemically Sensitive" or "Environmental Illness"
Try the newsletter called "Toxic Times" from this group:
My mother acquired Raynaud's Disease and scleroderma about 3 years ago. She was trying to isolate the cause of the disease by changing her lifestyle.
It was only when my father had the idea of replacing their Tempur-pedic mattress (a chemically engineered memory foam) with a traditional mattress, that her illnesses began to stabilize. Tempur-pedic memory foam is advertised as 'Space Material used by NASA'.
But after some in-depth research, the Tempur-pedic material was banned from the space program because of its out-gassing properties.
In other words, over time, the chemicals in the material begin to break down and leak out of the mattress into the air as harmful chemical gases.
We presented our case to a lawyers office and their response that though the case seems strong, it would take years and thousands of dollars to confront a corporate giant about the safety of their product.
My aunt just acquired Raynaud's and she too sleeps on a Tempur-pedic mattress.
Does anyone else out there have a Tempur-pedic and Raynaud's disease?
All the best,
Chad (03/03/2009) -------------
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
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While bed mattresses of 40-50 years ago were made mostly from untreated natural materials, the majority of mattresses and beds today are made using a variety of petroleum based chemicals, foams, plastics and controversial flame retardants.
Unfortunately, these are not stable compounds and continue to evaporate into the air and are then inhaled hour upon hour by the person sleeping on the bed.
Research and personal accounts suggest people can become ill after repeated and continuous exposure to these chemicals while sleeping.
The situation is dramatically compounded by the fact that sleeping on a bed (or chemically manufactured pillow) places the individual in close proximity to the chemical source (inches compared to feet for most other chemical exposures).
This close proximity means that concentrations of chemicals are many, many times higher for the individual. Research is now available showing that chemicals used in bed manufacturing are in fact evaporating and entering into the air.
Some of these are documented carcinogenic and mutagenic compounds. Common petroleum based chemicals have been clearly shown to have the ability to weaken or damage the immune and nervous system.
Autoimmune disorders have also been linked with exposure to petroleum-based chemicals and have been found to be the underlying cause of many common health problems today (soft tissue damage, organ and brain damage, arthritis, etc).
If you have had any new health problems immediately after purchasing a new bed it is essential to remove the bed from the living area (ie. to the garage) and seeing if health problems stop.
The permanent solution to the problem is to purchase a natural or organic bed from one of the increasing number of stores selling these types of products.
235 reports of individuals and children becoming sick after purchasing a new mattress or pillow. Research suggests the high level of chemicals evaporating from the product could be causing the problem. . . .
---------------------- See the 235 reports detailed at the link above.
These are about VARIOUS beds (including memory foam), however, just browsing I see several for the one you question - just look for the headings:
Tempur-Pedic Pillow Health Reaction & Tempurpedic made me sick & Anxiety linked to Tempurpedic mattress & Nausea - Dizziness - TempurPedic - Is there a safe mattress? & Headaches - Sore Throat - TEMPURPEDIC DISASTER & Dizziness - Nausea - Tempur-Pedic Pillows & Wheezing - runny nose - Tempurpedic Is a Killer & Tempur-Pedic- Smell and allergy symptoms & TempurPedic causing hives?
----------------------
Home page for the company authoring the report above:
Wayne Sinclair, MD, Allergy, Asthma & Immunology -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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nonna05
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posted
I bought the 2 or 3 inch cushion top from Costco a few years ago.. Is this the same type of thing??? Mt back was hurting so bad and I was in bed so much ,we looked for more comfort for me,. Also Six goofy kids had mold in hers and I think had to get rid of it,If I take off this topper we bought will that be enough or would it have penetrated the actual mattress?/
Thanks again , Nonna
Posts: 2563 | From Denver,CO | Registered: Aug 2011
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posted
There are millions of people sleeping on tempurpedic or some form of foam mattress in this country.
I don't think it has anything to do with a chronic debilitating illness of this caliber like lyme.
Posts: 458 | From Miss | Registered: Mar 2009
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Keebler
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Same video but scroll down for additional information and detail on �Shopping for a Safe Mattress�
================================================
Just suggestions:
First, as you read about this in literature at your LLMD's office, you might call the office manager and ask if they can share more information about this.
You might find some good answers by calling everyone listed below, even if just asking their office managers if they've known of any complaints about the kind of mattress in question,
and, maybe their suggestions for a mattress that does not contain chemicals or off-gas.
I would be very careful about latex. Some people can have severe allergies to latex.
Now, it may be fine, but as many with lyme develop all kinds of chemical sensitivities and even full blown allergies along the way, this is good question to ask first.
Even if a "natural rubber" and even if there is no history of a latex allergy, that does not mean it could never happen.
It could be that the way that is cured could make it better, just in case.
Your daughter's LLMD would be the first person I'd ask about latex.
For those with wool issues, cotton quilting between them and the wool can solve that.
NEITHER doctor (above or below) is a LLMD. As an adjunct, someone with lyme would likely benefit if they have environmental concerns (as some LLMDs think ALL patients with lyme need to be very careful regarding chemical exposure).
However, the focus of both of their practices is all about environment illness (in those with lyme, or without), and how to then coordinate all parts of an overall treatment plan, along with one's LLMD.
. . . Anyone exposed to a large amount chemicals or mold toxins, may become intolerant of other chemicals or scents.
This is the phenomenon of Chemical Sensitivity also referred to as Chemical Intolerance, Environmental Intolerance, Environmental Sensitivity, Environmental Illness, MCS, TILT or Toxic Induced Loss of Tolerance. . . .
The Academy is interested in expanding the knowledge of interactions between human individuals and their environment, as these may be demonstrated to be reflected in their total health.
You can learn more about this area of medicine and find a doctor trained to help.
posted
WOW! I have never ever heard of such a thing!! Never heard of mattresses making people sick before. This is so disturbing.. I don't have a temperpedic, but I do sleep on my couch about 2 days a week or so and always feel so much better in the AM when I do!! strange!
-------------------- 7/09- WB IGG Neg all bands -WB IGM Pos bands 23 & 41. Treated w/ 21 days of Doxy. 10/09- WB IGG Pos bands 41 & 58 -WB IGM Pos bands 23 & 41. 04/11- WB IGG Pos band 66 -WB IGM Pos bands 23 & 41 Pos EBV. Posts: 121 | From Western PA | Registered: Oct 2009
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Keebler
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posted
This is very much in the MCS circles. The onlymattress that is a natural rubber (organic) made is Lifekind mattresses....It is made by a factory in San Francisco by a dad whose young son was MCS critically injured. He found organically grown rubber plants in Talalay and bought them and it is transferred to the USA. In his factory there is a no chemical, no fragrant policy in all their workers...I have had one and I had no reactions with it from day one. You can choose your softness or hardness as it has 3 foam pads in a zippered covering.. You can switch them around also. Expensive but around the same price as the temperpedic.
Posts: 871 | From orange county, ca. | Registered: Jan 2006
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beths
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 18864
posted
Why don't you try having her sleep in another bed for a while, before you throw her bed out.
I have a dust mite cover around my mattress, then an organic cotton mattress pad. Dust mite allergy was making me sick (before lyme)
Posts: 1276 | From maryland | Registered: Jan 2009
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posted
My lab work showed a moderate level of mold exposure. Couldn't for the life of me figure out how this happened. Then I remembered we used to have a sleep number bed. The one with the adjustable air chambers.
You could take this mattress apart to clean and check the air chambers , etc. Upon inspection found mold growing on the air chambers. Called the company and they replaced the air chambers. Said it was a known problem on the older models. Sold the bed and replaced with a conventional mattress.
Posts: 22 | From California | Registered: Oct 2011
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sixgoofykids
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11141
posted
quote:Originally posted by CSS: Then I remembered we used to have a sleep number bed. The one with the adjustable air chambers.
You could take this mattress apart to clean and check the air chambers , etc. Upon inspection found mold growing on the air chambers. Called the company and they replaced the air chambers. Said it was a known problem on the older models. Sold the bed and replaced with a conventional mattress.
Me, too. But Select Comfort came out and picked up the bed and gave me my money back. Likely because I was talking to the lawyers of the class action lawsuit and had documentation of how over two years I felt better whenever I went out of town.
What kind of company KNOWS about a problem with their product that makes people extremely sick and doesn't recall the product to fix it voluntarily? Yikes.
I don't see Lyme as *only* borrelia. Something makes us susceptible to becoming ill with Lyme. We are also prone to mold illness, parasites, heavy metals, etc. It's not just one thing making us sick. We may have had one straw that broke the camel's back, but not just one thing that made us sick.
That is why I work constantly on maintaining my health now. I know I'm prone to illness, so I constantly work on detox, eating right, exercise, etc., now that I'm healthy to avoid something bringing me down again in the future.
So, is the Tempurpedic part of the puzzle? Probably. Will getting rid of it magically cure you? Probably not. Will keeping it keep you sick? Maybe .... get rid of enough pieces of the puzzle and you'll start feeling better .... you'll take the burden off your body so it can start healing.
-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
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posted
Thank you everyone for the input and web site links. Talked to the ND yesterday who told me absolutely to get rid of the bed. Especially since she got so sick 3 months after getting it. We are going to order from Surround Ewe. Everything is grown in the US and is all organic and chemical free. http://www.surroundewe.com/
I am thinking of selling the 2 tempurpedic beds on craigs list but feel bad about anyone else having to suffer.
All of our beds are tempurpedic. So she can't sleep on another bed and is in too much pain for an air mattress or the floor.
Someone stated that they don't think that this type of mattress can be a factor in this type of illness. All I know is that my daughter has struggled with illness for years. She has been compromised for a very long time. So maybe the bed was the final straw. Maybe she'll actually begin to heal. All I know is that if I don't do anything after reading what I've read, and she continues to get sicker, that I'll never forgive myself.
After all given all the money we've spent treating, what is a couple more months of credit card payments? If she doesn't begin to improve them I'll know that it wasn't the bed.
Keebler! Thank you for everything and all of your time and research. Hoping to find some time to go to the websites you posted and reasearch. Thank you for everything!
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