bed pressure pad seem uncomfortable

20 years ago

Hospice brought in a pad for moms bed that has pockets that fill every so often with air (the electric part hangs on the bottom of the bed). I felt it and it just feels soooo bumpy - I can't imagine that it is comfortable when you are used to a smooth bed. Also, the air coming on and off seemed to bother mom and make her restless. She lives in a home. I got a call the other night that she got up after going to bed (unusual) and fell. I asked them to take it off for now. Mom is not actually bed-ridden yet. It won't be long because she isn't eating much at all and sleeps a lot on the couch or chair...but when she is bedridden we can put it back on. After reading some other posts, it sounds like you have been pleased with this kind of mattress pad, so maybe it is just me imagining things?!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

lasershow
20 years ago
It really seemed to help my mother. She was confined to bed almost all the time during the last couple of months of her illness and she was always complaining of pain. Once hospice got her the air mattress (at my request), she didn't wince or moan again. They are specially designed for the bedbound people. It might take a bit of getting used to by the patient.
killinsnakes
20 years ago
We tried the mattress that filled with air for my husband. Too hard and bumpy and noisy. Ended up with my sister-in-law bringing us a memory foam pad that she bought at Bed Bath & Beyone (I think it was their brand, but not sure..tall large box). It ended up being the perfect mattress topper/pad. Used it for the entire 6 months and not one bed sore. I highly recommend a memory foam topper.
Related Discussions
Do you use knee pads to garden?
Q
Comments (14)
I love my kneepads. I wear them every single time I go to the garden. They are my most essential piece of garden gear. They cost $4 or $5 at Lowe's, IIRC, several years ago, and I've used them several times a week (for 2-5 hours at a time) since then. My favorite ones are curved pieces of closed-cell rigid foam, they attach with one strip of velcro, and the velcro still works (and it looks like it would be easy to replace when needed). They are almost weightless, so I hardly notice them while I'm working. They are also waterproof, so I can kneel in a puddle of water and not get cold and wet. I have another pair that I bought for $2 and don't wear as often -- softer, made of ripstop nylon (like the backpack material) with padding, not as protective, and not as waterproof. Both of these, by the way, were sold as knee pads for gardeners -- I would not recommend that knee pads made for other uses be used in the garden. Before I had kneepads, I ruined one or two pairs of pants (holes in the knees) and almost always had to go home to change clothes after working in my garden because I'd have muddy knees. I got the kneepads to save my clothing, but they have on many occasions saved my knees as well when I didn't notice sharp rocks or hard edges. The kneepads make it easier to work in the garden because it's one more thing I don't have to pay attention to -- I can kneel whenever I need to without checking to see if the spot is wet or muddy. I have one of those kneeling pads, but I've rarely used it. For one thing, I don't have enough space in my garden for a pad. I'd be more likely to start out using it, then leave it while I went to do one little thing, and forget about it until I was ready to leave. I do this with gloves, which I start out wearing, especially to work in the compost bins, and then I take one off to pick something or plant something, and then the other one eventually comes off, and then I realize I don't have my gloves on any more. Same with the hat, this time of year when my garden is in the shade in the midafternoon -- lightweight as it is, the hat comes off when I'm in the shade and then stays off. Anyone who tends to work like this would probably like knee pads, too. I've looked at fancier (that is, over-$5) knee pads whenever I've seen them in garden stores, but they always seem to be heavier and bulkier than what I have, which means I would not enjoy wearing them and they would not get used. The only thing I would consider besides what I have are Japanese farmer pants, where the knees have a pocket into which a removable pad is placed.
...See More
Kindle Fire HD or iPad?
Q
Comments (13)
I find the kindle fire much too heavy to read on and I have the smaller one. I also do not like the way pages turn. You cannot read one handed as you can w/ the regular kindle (at least I can't) and you have to touch the screen which I find distracting, not as reliable and I need to worry that my hands aren't wet or don't have popcorn butter on them, which is not an issue with my regular kindle. I also REALLY don't like the bright colored screen when reading on it. It is like reading on a computer and I prefer to feel more like I am reading a real book, not a computer screen (I look at computer screens all day for work). With my regular kindle, I can use it outside or to read in the tub and this would not be possible at all with a kindle fire. I can forget that I am on a device and feel like I am just reading a book. I don't get that w/ the Kindle Fire. A basic kindle (not touch- I hate the touch and got rid of my Kindle touch) can be had pre-owned for like $35-$40 from cowboom. I would definitely just pick one of those up to read on and not try to read on either the fire or ipad, whichever you decide to get. I've bought two kindles from here already because I want to have one in each of our houses and they've both been in good condition. I've also dropped my regular kindle MULTIPLE times (onto concrete, and falling off a hammock onto a flagstone patio when my dog jumped onto the hammock) and the kindle is none-the-worse for the wear. I do not think the same would have been true w/ an ipad or fire This post was edited by beaglesdoitbetter on Sat, Sep 21, 13 at 22:42
...See More
matress pads
Q
Comments (4)
You have to look for an indication on the package that it is made for today's thicker mattresses. I think fire safety codes changed how thick mattresses are quite a few years ago, and since then sheet and mattress pad manufacturers have been slow to catch up. And then there is the difference between a western king size and an eastern king size. That 6 inches too short sounds like you are trying to put an eastern mattress pad on a California or western king, which is narrower and longer than the eastern size.
...See More
Recommendation for Mattress Pad or Topper
Q
Comments (10)
We've found two -- both 2" gel infused, ventialted memory foam. We bought a 2" Linenspa Essentials from Overstock for our guest room after discovering the mattress we got didn't sleep anything like the one we'd laid on in the store too late to return it. When I actually tried to sleep on it one night, I woke up in pain several times and was embarrassed that my son's GF had tried to sleep on it. We first tried a 3" from Costco and it was too deep or too soft -- we didn't like that sinking feeling and effort to turn. Found the 2" and it is a game changer. They also have another Linenspa 2" that says it is a fast response foam -- I take that to mean it has a firmer feel. We got a 2" Surbtex from Amazon because we could return it if it didn't work (DH still hasn't done a test sleep in the guest room). Unlike the new but too hard guest mattress, our pillowtop is a bit compressed at all the pressure points and the 2" of firmer foam helps soften the pressure points and even out the mattress a bit so we can wait until we no longer have a senior dog sleeping on the bed (our lab is nearly 15-1/2). I like them both, but probably the Surbtex one a bit more. It is just slightly firmer. DH tends to sleep hot and he hasn't had an issue with it.
...See More
mar_cia
Original Author
20 years ago
Thanks so much for the feedback. I was thinking about the memory foam too....at least I know there is an option besides the air mattress.
heydeborah
20 years ago
Hi Mar cia, Al had one of these pads in the hospital when he had his leg amputated, and because of a ton of raw skin, it was recommended that we buy one of these for at home, he said that it didn't make him feel any better at all and you are right about the noise. I ended up buying from wal-mart a foam pad about 2 inches thick and it seemed to be cut in about 2 inch squares,i bought the king size - for 2.00 moreand folded it in half, then -- this will sound really stupid but you save a TON of money here, a dog's bed pad 24 x 36, it has sheep skin on one side, plus it was at one of those super grocery stores in the clearance for 4.88!! regular 44.88!!! i think Al has had one bed sore (about 2 months ago. because of the heat and the depends can't breath). i thinks it's like people liking certain books, or shopping at certain stores, what one likes, the other may not. let us know if you pick the memory foam,-- really expensive here even at Wal-mart, it might be a good idea for a Christmas gift for Al (sounds like i'm cheap, but when you are all grown up youseem to buy anything when you want, or can dream!!) debbie
derryw
20 years ago
HI...We used 3" Geomat for both of my parents. It is a foam matress over-lay which I got from the hospital supply dealer. $85 and worth every penny. My mom was on it for 2 years, turned regularly, and careful skin care...no bedsores, even tho she was emaciated. There are lots of good options if the alternating pressure mattress does not suit. But changing position, keeping dry and clean, avoidance of abrasion by dragging on the sheets, etc are all as important as the mattress. Good luck in finding an alternative. I would say try them, you can always go back to the air mattress. Derry
abreeze
20 years ago
Marcia, I was able to adjust the pressure pad to a comfortable level for Mother. It was just fine midway between 1 & 2. She liked me to lay with her occasionally, and I found it very comfortable at that setting. Any higher than that, and the "bumps" were really hard.

bed pressure pad seem uncomfortable

Comments (6)

lasershow

killinsnakes

Related Discussions

mar_cia
Original Author

heydeborah

derryw

abreeze

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

bed pressure pad seem uncomfortable

Comments (6)

lasershow

killinsnakes

Related Discussions

mar_ciaOriginal Author

heydeborah

derryw

abreeze

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

mar_cia
Original Author