A New Way to Sleep – But Is It Comfortable?
Written: Mar 13 '05
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Product Rating:
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Pros: soft, contoured – I really like it ... but it doesn’t like me.
Cons: chemical odor, expensive – pillow caused me pain.
The Bottom Line: The Bottom Line enjoyed a relaxing night’s sleep, but now is in physical therapy.
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| dlstewart's Full Review: Memory Foam Standard Pillow |
I bought a new memory foam mattress topper from AbsoluteComfortOnSale.com. As a bonus, they sent me a free Memory Foam Standard Pillow. I had never used a memory foam pillow and had doubts as to whether I would like it.
Description & Memory Foam
The pillow is an off-white color and measures 12" wide x 23" long x 4" deep. This memory foam pillow is flat on the back, and that is the side that rests against the bed sheets. The top side of the pillow is curved, with one long side slightly higher than the other.
The commercials about memory foam are true. Press your hand in the center of the foam pillow, remove your hand, and the material gradually returns to its original shape. The memory foam has a weird feel to it, too. I don’t like touching it.
When I received the memory foam pillow, it was not as deep as I expected it to be. The pillows that are featured for sale at Absolute Comfort on Sale are 4 1/2" deep, though the pillow I received is two inches longer. I phoned customer service at Absolute Comfort on Sale, and the representative I spoke with said that the pillow is made from a 3-pound density foam.
I did some research and learned that a good grade of memory foam is between 3 to 5 pounds in density ... 5 pounds being the best quality. The pillows sold at Absolute Comfort on Sale are constructed of 4-pound density foam. According to the customer service representative, the free pillows are a promotional item and not of the same quality as the ones sold online.
Setup & The Smell
The pillow arrived slightly bent since it was packed in a carton that was a bit smaller than the pillow. When released from the box, the pillow almost immediately straightened into its true shape. The pillow came packaged in a clear plastic bag, which was easy to open. The instructions said to let the pillow air for 48-72 hours. I aired it for 72 hours before using it.
When I first released the memory foam pillow from its plastic packaging, the chemical smell was noticeable. It did not make me sick, but I didn’t want to touch the pillow until it had fully aired. I was wondering if 72 hours would be long enough to dissipate the odor.
Since the pillow did not come with a fabric cover, I purchased an Aller-Ease Cotton Pillow Protector. After the 72 hours of airing, I placed the pillow in the zippered Aller-Ease Pillow Protector and then slipped a pillow case over the protected pillow. Secretly, I was hoping that the pillow protector might also cage some of the chemical smell. Yes, even after 72 hours of airing, I still smelled the odor, though it was less noticeable.
The First Week of Use
For the first time in ages, my head felt properly supported. Despite the lingering chemical odor, I fell fast asleep and slept until morning. Upon awakening, I noticed that I felt more refreshed. When I lifted my head from the pillow, I checked it to see if the shape returned to normal. The indentation gradually smoothed free until the pillow looked like new.
It took about a week and a half for the chemical smell to dissipate enough so that I did not notice it as much.
Two Weeks of Use – Problems
I developed pain in my right arm. The entire arm ached, particularly around the elbow ... and my wrist hurt. At first I thought it might be carpal tunnel, but I didn’t have all of the symptoms. So I started eliminating possible culprits. Had I banged my arm? No bruises. Was I sitting correctly? I paid special attention to any leaning or pressure I might be placing on my arm. Each day, the pain intensified so that it became difficult to write or use the mouse with my right hand.
I tried to think when it had all started. What had I varied in my routine? By now you have probably guessed that I narrowed the cause to the memory foam pillow. I was in a lot of pain the night I decided to swap out the memory foam pillow for my old everyday normal pillow. I slept the entire night and awoke with virtually no pain.
That seemed too much of a coincidence. So I slept with a normal pillow until I was satisfied that my arm felt 100% okay.
In case you are wondering, even at two weeks of use, when I shifted my head just right, I occasionally smelled the chemical scent, though the odor did not last long.
Take Two – Will the pain return?
I had to make sure the memory foam pillow was the culprit causing my arm pain. I really like the pillow and wanted to use it. So I tried the memory pillow again a few nights ago. I immediately fell asleep. When I awoke, my forearm arm hurt. As the day progressed, the pain increased. I stopped using the memory foam pillow.
It’s been three days since I tried the experiment, and my arm feels great. I’m assuming that the pillow was pressing against a nerve. There is no proof, other than the fact that when I use the memory foam pillow, I wake up in pain. The more I use the pillow, the more pain I experience. I stop using the pillow, and the pain goes away ... almost immediately.
Purchasing
As you will see when you shop around, these memory foam pillows vary greatly in price. Pay attention to the foam density when making a purchase. You may find an inexpensive memory foam pillow, but the foam density may be sub-par. In case you want a price guideline, here is the pricing at Absolute Comfort on Sale for their memory foam pillows.
Standard size (4.5" x 15" x 21") – $55 each or $108 for two pillows
Queen size (4.5" x 16" x 28") – $118 for two pillows
King size (4.5" x 16" x 32") – $128 for two pillows
The Queen- and King-size pillows are only sold in pairs. Each pillow comes with a washable velour cover. Note that my promotional pillow from this company did not come with a cover.
Recommendation
There are people who use memory foam pillows and love them. I really want to like this pillow, but it’s obviously not the right choice for me. I’ve done some searching on the internet and have learned that not all memory foam pillows are identically shaped. They are also crafted from different densities of memory foam. Considering that memory foam is supposed to relieve neck and joint pain, I find it ironic that this memory foam pillow causes me pain.
Summary
I am going to recommend Memory Foam Pillows in general since I know many people who have had wonderful experiences with them. For me, this free pillow is not a bargain. I will not use it again for sleeping. I find that with my new memory foam mattress, the regular pillow works great. I’m enjoying sweet dreams.
I hope you have found this review useful.
Enjoy your day,
Dawn
http://dlstewart.com
Additional Information
Absolute Comfort On Sale
393-A Little Laurel Road Ext
Boone, NC 28607
Toll-free Phone: 877-856-7378
Please read my other reviews:
WestClox Commander Digital Alarm Clock with Jumbo-size Numbers and Snooze Bar
Ott True Color Bedside/Desk Lamp
Ott True Color Floor Lamp
Ott True Color Flex-Arm Plus Lamp
Craftsman 3-D Flashlight
Concord Eye-Q Digital Camera
Canon PowerShot A400 Digital Camera
LG Electronics VX6000 Cell Phone & How to Download Photos onto a Computer
Curtis Portable Radio/CD Boombox
JVC XV-N44SL DVD Player
LiteOn LVW-5005 DVD Player/Recorder
Copyright 2005 Dawn L. Stewart
Recommended:
Yes
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