My husband was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in January and will have a stem cell transplant in July.
He has pain in his back sternum and shoulder. We are thinking of buying a new mattress.
What type is best – i.e,, firm, extra firm, or maybe one of those you can adjust?
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Re: Best bed mattress if you have multiple myeloma?
Welcome to the forum, Bobbiek. We hope your husband has responded well to his treatment so far.
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For anyone planning on responding to Bobbiek's question, please try to keep your responses generic as opposed to focused on a particular brand. We would like to avoid this thread being used for promotional purposes.
Please be particularly careful about making a posting in this thread – or elsewhere in the forum – if you are not a registered member of the forum who already has posted several times in the forum. The forum moderators are particularly hesitant to approve potentially promotional postings from guest or first-time posters.
Re: Best bed mattress if you have multiple myeloma?
I've had lower back and hip issues for some time regardless of multiple myeloma. We bought a new mattress following my diagnosis, but were in the market for one anyway. We got a gel memory foam and it is the most comfortable mattress I've ever been on.
Knowing I might spend a lot of time in bed during treatment and after my autologous stem cell transplant, we invested in an adjustable frame. It's expensive, but I'm really happy we did it.
I now have a great comfortable mattress with all kinds of flexibility to get comfortable.
Knowing I might spend a lot of time in bed during treatment and after my autologous stem cell transplant, we invested in an adjustable frame. It's expensive, but I'm really happy we did it.
I now have a great comfortable mattress with all kinds of flexibility to get comfortable.
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Mark Pouley - Name: Mark
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: April 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 53
Re: Best bed mattress if you have multiple myeloma?
When my husband was recovering from compression fractures, we got a foam mattress with a frame that can adjust up and down at the head and foot through a battery operated remote. It was fairly expensive, but one of the best purchases that we ever made. It is also extremely useful during cold and flu season since you can easily adjust it and sleep at an incline if needed.
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Jean Ruth Howard - Name: Jeannie
- Who do you know with myeloma?: husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: November 2012
- Age at diagnosis: 47
Re: Best bed mattress if you have multiple myeloma?
Hi Bobbiek,
I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma a month after your husband and have had multiple compressed vertebra and lesions on ribs and scapula ribs (and am on track for a transplant in August).
The bed that has worked best for us is a split adjustable king with a hybrid latex / spring mattress. It was expensive ($8,000), but has really made all the difference. I am told with a doctor's prescription it counts as a deductible in your taxes (but I will have to validate that next year when I complete my taxes).
Good luck to you and your husband,
Regards
Richard
I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma a month after your husband and have had multiple compressed vertebra and lesions on ribs and scapula ribs (and am on track for a transplant in August).
The bed that has worked best for us is a split adjustable king with a hybrid latex / spring mattress. It was expensive ($8,000), but has really made all the difference. I am told with a doctor's prescription it counts as a deductible in your taxes (but I will have to validate that next year when I complete my taxes).
Good luck to you and your husband,
Regards
Richard
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Richard McC
Re: Best bed mattress if you have multiple myeloma?
This is a really hard question to answer. I have found that an extra firm mattress works the best for me. Anything softer and I wake up in a fair amount of pain and really stiff. I've had right shoulder replacement, both hips replaced and my left knee replaced. I also have long standing back problems that predate myeloma. I slept on a super soft mattress at a hotel recently and experienced significant cramping in various parts of my body on a 2-hour cycle throughout the night. So, no soft beds for me.
I wish that I had been able to afford an adjustable bed when I replaced my mattress. There are times when I move to my recliner in the middle of the night because I need a total change in position. Another thing that I found is that the memory foam mattresses, and mattress toppers, with gel in them are too hot for me. I had a topper and I woke up sweating every day. I quickly had to stop using it.
Good luck in your search for what works best for you,
Nancy in Phila
I wish that I had been able to afford an adjustable bed when I replaced my mattress. There are times when I move to my recliner in the middle of the night because I need a total change in position. Another thing that I found is that the memory foam mattresses, and mattress toppers, with gel in them are too hot for me. I had a topper and I woke up sweating every day. I quickly had to stop using it.
Good luck in your search for what works best for you,
Nancy in Phila
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NStewart - Name: Nancy Stewart
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 3/08
- Age at diagnosis: 60
Re: Best bed mattress if you have multiple myeloma?
As a multiple myeloma patient with a lot of bone involvement (11 compression fractures of the vertebrae, severe osteoporosis), I find that stacking pillows against my headboard works for me. Prior to being diagnosed, I was a side sleeper. Before kyphoplasty, I could only sleep on my back.
I now can sleep on my side but need to return to my back throughout the night, so being able to adjust the pillows helps. I also use a collar pillow that airline travelers use to slightly raise my head. This helps me sleep on my side and seems to help with acid reflux. I did look into adjusting beds, but find this an inexpensive option.
Hope this helped. Best wishes to your husband.
Kully
I now can sleep on my side but need to return to my back throughout the night, so being able to adjust the pillows helps. I also use a collar pillow that airline travelers use to slightly raise my head. This helps me sleep on my side and seems to help with acid reflux. I did look into adjusting beds, but find this an inexpensive option.
Hope this helped. Best wishes to your husband.
Kully
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kullybunnny1 - Name: Kully
- Who do you know with myeloma?: me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: August 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 48
Re: Best bed mattress if you have multiple myeloma?
Kully,
Instead of stacking pillows, I would suggest trying a foam wedge for your bed. It will raise your head above your stomach to help with the acid reflux and you might not need the neck pillow to keep your neck in alignment. When I needed to elevate my upper body because of reflux, the wedge really helped. With it you use a regular pillow for your head. I was able to sleep on my side and on my back with it.
You can order one online. Sometimes Bed Bath and Beyond carries them. That's where I got mine.
The dimensions were something like 30 in x 30 in x 6-8 inch rise. So, a fairy large wedge that supports your from your waist up.
Nancy in Phila
Instead of stacking pillows, I would suggest trying a foam wedge for your bed. It will raise your head above your stomach to help with the acid reflux and you might not need the neck pillow to keep your neck in alignment. When I needed to elevate my upper body because of reflux, the wedge really helped. With it you use a regular pillow for your head. I was able to sleep on my side and on my back with it.
You can order one online. Sometimes Bed Bath and Beyond carries them. That's where I got mine.
The dimensions were something like 30 in x 30 in x 6-8 inch rise. So, a fairy large wedge that supports your from your waist up.
Nancy in Phila
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NStewart - Name: Nancy Stewart
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 3/08
- Age at diagnosis: 60
Re: Best bed mattress if you have multiple myeloma?
Hi Kully,
Have you tried putting a small pillow under your top knee when sleeping on your side? Also, when I had the pain from vertebral fractures, my husband put a heated car seat cover over a chair for me! This was like having heating pads on the seat and the back of the chair, and was helpful too. Resting in a reclining chair can also be comfortable.
Hope that helps.
Have you tried putting a small pillow under your top knee when sleeping on your side? Also, when I had the pain from vertebral fractures, my husband put a heated car seat cover over a chair for me! This was like having heating pads on the seat and the back of the chair, and was helpful too. Resting in a reclining chair can also be comfortable.
Hope that helps.
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Nancy Shamanna - Name: Nancy Shamanna
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self and others too
- When were you/they diagnosed?: July 2009
Re: Best bed mattress if you have multiple myeloma?
Nancy in Phila, I did look into a foam wedge for both back comfort and aid with acid reflux but have found my pillows an inexpensive option. I sometimes think pride keeps me from exploring other options, thinking maybe it'll get better.
Nancy Shamanna, I've tried a pillow between the knees but kept being awoken when it falls out. Along with bone damage, I suffer from leg numbness, weakness from peripheral neuropathy as a result of my initial induction therapy.
I think this speaks to the initial subject of the thread that no two multiple myeloma patients are alike and the thoughts on mattress choices are subject to individual preferences.
Thanks for the thoughts.
Kully
Nancy Shamanna, I've tried a pillow between the knees but kept being awoken when it falls out. Along with bone damage, I suffer from leg numbness, weakness from peripheral neuropathy as a result of my initial induction therapy.
I think this speaks to the initial subject of the thread that no two multiple myeloma patients are alike and the thoughts on mattress choices are subject to individual preferences.
Thanks for the thoughts.
Kully
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kullybunnny1 - Name: Kully
- Who do you know with myeloma?: me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: August 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 48
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