I order a special memory foam pillow that had a special mold for the head. Slept on it one night and woke up twice gasping for air and my chest hurting where my heart is. I almost died twice and remembered it. I sent the pillow back.

Crap.
I bought pillows and mattress cover from memory foam few months ago.
Since then i noticed that my eyes were itchy and red every morning.
I took that mattress cover to another room few weeks ago - and all eye itchyness got away.
All that memory foam is going to trash now...

Thanks guys...

Yeah, I ordered a memory foam mattress topper from overstock.com. I aired it out for a week, then used it. My eyelids swelled up so much I could hardly see, and I had to go to a doctor. The mattress I sent back, at a cost of about $40 for return mail and restocking fee.

That's why I'll never go back to Overstock.com. Restocking fee? What a rip! If I'm shopping online, I need the option to return items I don't like without be charged to do so!

We purchased a pillow top mattress. There is a very strong odor coming from it. It says made of 70% urethane foam. The first night we slept on it my husband woke up in the middle of the night coughing his head off and I woke with a migrane head ache. We took it off and aired it for a week. Put it back on and the same thing happened again. It has been almost 4 weeks now and it still smells. I called the store where I purchased it and the man said, "I have never heard of such a thing, this is a first." He said, "I have been in the mattress business for years and never heard of that. He even said, " I don't know why it's not bothering you then sitting in the hallway." I told him well my face is not laying right down on the mattress for 8 hrs. He told me to call the company. I told him no he could do that. So who knows. I may just be out some money on this one.

I also purchased a mattress pad (4 inches deep) from Overstock.com. Love the comfort and the contour pillows BUT I have been wracking my brain trying to figure out why I have been feeling so odd. I recently quit smoking and had used Chantix for that so at first I thought that might be causing my symptoms. It's been two months since I stopped the Chantix and five months since I quit smoking. I feel disoriented, confused, tired, depressed, anxious, have waves of dizziness and headache. I have all kinds of strange aches and pains (my hip, my elbow, my neck and chest. I am wondering if it's the memory foam as nothing else has changed except for the smoking. I have had two really strange episodes where I was hallucinating and had panic attacks. I am usually very healthy and happy with no problems.

I hope you went to see your doctor. Part of this was caused by the Chantix.

Used the mini mountain foam mattress and didn't encounter much problems. Polyureathene glue is a whole other issue altoghether. This is either an allergy or sensitivity problem. Mites used to be worse. Not much to say except to go natural and be naturally uncornfortable like before.

Him I bought an Isotonic 3 inch mattress topper. The box had a little flyer in it insturctin me to let the mattress breath for a few hours before use. To get rid of the 'fresh' smell. Ha, to get rid of the fresh smell,they think i'm an iditot? The smell is a far cry from fresh, it smells like toxic or chemicals with sugar added. When I apply extra heat to the topper, e.g. a laptop I can smell more gases evaporate. I smell something the mattress is releasing a substance into the air and I'm breathing it in. I don't know what I'm breathing in, this is very strange. The seller, bed bath and beyond did not provide literature about the toxic effects, or at least the awful and ominous smell. I've had the topper for a week, I leave my windows open with the heat on the ventilate the smell. the smell persists 1 week and counting...

Received Serta memory foam 2" topper from Overstock.com. As soon as I put it on the bed the smell was noticeable -- strong chemical odor that made my eyes burn. I put it outside for 2 nights and tried to "air it out." Put it back on the bed with a thick mattress pad over it, and my eyes were still red, itchy, watery. Too bad it's so toxic because it was like sleeping on a cloud! But I'd rather be alive than comfortable.

Since memorial day I have sporadically woken up with red puffy eyes which then return back to normal over time and are replaced with itchy, flaky skin. The rash like symptoms started primarily on my eyes then has traveled down my face and on my neck. I'm not sure if there is a direct correlation but we did buy a mattress bed from costco several months ago. We noticed a small smell initially but now it's not noticeable at all. Anyone else have these rash like symptoms?

My friend's son and wife recently bought a memory foam mattress in Essex, UK. He, a healthy 34yr old, felt tired one day last month. The next day he was so tired he could hardly get up. The 3rd day his wife had to help him out of bed. He tried to grip a cup but dropped it. She took him straight to hospital and within a week he was on a life support machine. The medical team have tested for numerous causes but none have been found. Four weeks have gone by and he's in a coma and Drs have little hope of his survival. Two days ago his wife woke with severe headache. She was taken to hospital and they have found a brain bleed. Maybe none of his is connected, all I can do is search the web for clues.

For every post here about problems there are thousands of memory foam users like me who have experienced no problems what so ever. Just because you read about it on the internet does not make it so. If you have breathing and other problems, see an allergist.

and the statement there are thousands who don't have problems with the memory foam, where did you get the information? Do you actually have a memory foam bed? or you trying to downplay the upcoming lawsuit?

Robert W, people with allergies can be allergic to organic elements or chemical elements. I happen to be allergic to both. Organic sensitivities, such as an allergy to pollen, can be treated so they do not bother you any more. It's because our bodies can deal with organic compounds and learn to desensitize to them. In that case, you are right. An allergist is the way to go. But allergies to chemicals are not curable. Our bodies cannot create resistance to chemical reactions. I will never be able to tollerate perfume, for example.

People who are chemically allergic know rather quickly when they are in the presence of chemicals that bother them. Their body reacts in ways that are particular to them. Robert W, to say that the problem does not exist because you do not experience it is wrong. It only means you are not having a reaction.

I too had terrible reactions to these foam mattresses. I tried several brands. So I finally settled for a thinner style air mattress. But after freezing one winter I had to alter it. I lightly stuffed the chambers with some polyester fiberfill and patched it with a bicycle patch kit. This creates warmth pockets where body heat can be trapped inside the inflated cells. Without it the mattress is very cold like an unheated waterbed, particularly in the winter.

If your children are on air mattresses and get sick in the winter, be aware it will stay the temperature of the air, or the bed frame or even the floor. Cold will come up through even piles of blankets beneath them. An air mattress is not like a regular bed that has lots of fabric to trap body heat. It is more like a cold waterbed. That is why I add a light stuffing of polyester fiberfill in the air chambers and patch it back up. Air mattresses are very comfortable to me. I get mine at Wal Mart. It is a Simmons brand. I also get the stuffing there too. Hope this helps someone.

This article is crap. Not because it disses foam mattresses, but because it is so unscientific. It's all anecdote from people specifically selected because they did not like their mattress for some reason.

"Now three months after removing the bed from our room we are still unable to even use our room." - Doesn't that suggest the mattress was NOT the problem?

"After two and a half years of owning this bed my husband and I both started having back, neck and shoulder pains." - If it took two and a half years to develop, why is she so sure the mattress is at fault?

"...back, neck and shoulder pains. Some mornings I would feel like my arms and shoulders were beaten up. It took hours for the pains to subside... ...I felt like I was tossing and turning all night and waking up exhausted... ...Those are allergy symptoms." - No those are NOT allergy symptoms!! (I can say this with some authority, as I happen to be a doctor). Maybe arthritis or PLMD or sleep apnea or something but DEFINITELY NOT allergies.

"Most autoimmune disorders (like arthritis, lupus, allergies asthma, and others) have been connected with or thought to be boosted by increased
exposure to petroleum. " - What a bunch of crap! Show me a peer-reviewed study that demonstrates this.

"We used to sleep on bed mattresses made of more or less natural untreated stuff." - I suppose the implication here is that "natural" materials are healthier. You ever slept on grass or straw? Don't let the bedbugs bite!

This article is a disservice to Softpedia readers. It makes dozens of false statements, draws rather absurd conclusions from heresay, and attempts to back up its conclusions with the opinions of unprofessional observers, selected specifically for the nature of that opinion. It is completely worthless!

You may have just created a whole new mattress that others would be very interested in purchasing.

I am not a DR to know what my body tells me. Regardless of the comments made by one in Comment #13 by: trentreviso, Petrolleum products or bi-products aka Chemicals cause me Sinus problems. One such Petrolleum bi-product is SMOG. It closes my nasal passages to extremes of Like-cold symptoms. I compare my exposure to how bad it smells outside, So Cal Area, to other areas, Mountains, Country areas. I also note the duration of my time that day. When I spend my days inside a filtered AC area, I breath better. When I car comes by that is putting out more Smog than usually cause it is old and doesn't need a smog check, the oder within minutes causes my sinuses to react just as fast a person's reaction to an insect Sting.

The chemicals residules (perfume and smoke) left on peoples clothes causes the same problem, even days later.

When I drive from OC through LA, an hour or so, I get this nasty headache. Yes, anyone who has done extreme exercising outside, swimming or what not, will notice the HURT in the lungs after doing excessive breathing Of Smog in a short period. All of this, is a result of processed petrolleum products.

The fact that these people experience problems is showing that their body doesn't like being invaded by foreign substances.. These people posting their many problems all sound just like the women who had silicon implants that leaked into their bodies, and no DR's could diagnose the problems to what was exactly causing it.

Yet, when they removed the implants and replaced it with saline Implants, their Serious illnesses of many symptoms (like posted here on this page) all went away.

Acutally, this isn't a crock, I personally sleep on a foam topper, that I wasn't sleeping on before, and I get back and joint aches from time to time, Headaches, and my allergies have heightened to myself taking sinus meds everyday, all year long. I typically only suffer from allergies during the March and Sept, not every day..
Yeah, believe what you want MR Doctor Trentreviso, but tell me, are you saying that long exposure to breathing FUMES from any Petrolleum Products is something I shouldn't worry about? So basically, you are saying that if I put an open can of Toulene in my room next to my bed, it's perfectly harmless?

What more can I say, Don't see the DR on this page for your troubles, he may diagnose your virus condition as allergy, Or your broken arm as an Allergic reaction to a hard surface..

HELP... I need a mattress that doesn't possess a chemical smell!

I purchased two Simmons Beautryrest Balthazars mattresses, first one a pillow top, which I returned in 1 1/2 weeks due to the strong odor, and the other a plush, which I just received. Both have a sickening chemical odor eminating from them, so strong in fact it makes me feel nauseated, my eyes burn, and I can actually smell the fumes coming from my lungs after being in close contact for only a few hours. The plush mattress contains 85% urethene foam, was made only about a week or two ago, so perhaps the newness also adds to the chemical smell. Since I bought if from Sleepys, I am unable to return it, but can exchange it with substancial penalty of $249. their 'comfort exchange', for something else. One exchange per customer is their policy, but they have extended me another if I so desire due to the possiblilty of the problematic smell in Simmons Beautyrests.
My question: What brand of mattress DOES NOT USE URETHENE? What brand uses something to give a soft bed feel that won't give off this terrible chemical ( and possbily toxic) odor? I've taken to sleeping on the couch most nights so anyone with any ideas please feel free to let me know.
Also, if URETHENE goes under another name such as visco foam, smart latex etc., that would be knowledge we should all have.

I'm still mattress hunting, but am a whole lot poorer!! Seems I'm not alone.

Poly Urethane foam is in your sofa as well. some companies do better at processing the foam than others - giving it time to air out. Most of this article isn't entirely accurate. Try sleeping in your bedroom after you just paint it. Let it air out. Use a mattress protector.

For those of you who would like a scientific article that discusses the respiratory problems caused by mattresses, check out this abstract and review the literature further:

ABSTRACT. Groups of male Swiss-Webster mice breathed emissions of several brands of crib mattresses for two 1-hr periods. The authors used a computerized version of ASTM-E-981 test method to monitor respiratory frequency, pattern, and airflow velocity and to diagnose abnormalities when statistically significant changes appeared. The emissions of four mattresses caused various combinations of upper-airways irritation (i.e., sensory irritation), lower-airways irritation (pulmonary irritation), and decreases in mid-expiratory airflow velocity. At the peak effect, a traditional mattress (wire springs with fiber padding) caused sensory irritation in 57% of breaths, pulmonary irritation in 23% of breaths, and airflow decrease in 11% of breaths. All mattresses caused pulmonary irritation, as shown by 17-23% of breaths at peak. The largest airflow decrease (i.e., affecting 26% of the breaths) occurred with a polyurethane foam pad covered with vinyl. Sham exposures produced less than 6% sensory irritation, pulmonary irritation, or airflow limitation. Organic cotton padding caused very different effects, evidenced by increases in both respiratory rate and tidal volume. The authors used gas chromatography/mass spectrometry to identify respiratory irritants (e.g., styrene, isopropylbenzene, limonene) in the emissions of one of the polyurethane foam mattresses. Some mattresses emitted mixtures of volatile chemicals that had the potential to cause respiratory-tract irritation and decrease airflow velocity in mice.

From Archives of Environmental Health, 2000, Vol. 55, pp 38-43.

I am a nurse, studying for my master's in environmental health nursing. I'm concerned because I just bought a memory foam mattress and the fumes are foul. I've contacted the manufacturer and will continue to research this.

Take care.

please let me know the outcomes of your research .. i am 25 and my fiance is 33 .. i have a 6 month daughter and about 8 months ago we purchased a pillow top mattress with memory foam pillows. I was having a really hard time sleeping tossing and turning and having aches and pains all over my body ( i figured it was the pregnancy and that the bed was maybe too soft so we go a firmer bed) for months now I've had resless nights of tossing and turning and so has my fiance, I've been conjested beyond belief and have never suffered from any allergies in my life, getting headaches, back pain before I even get out of bed, pain in my legs and feet, fatigue and the list could go on, my fiance has had pains in his back, shoulders, tossing and turning at night, cough, breathing and conjestion problems too. He has more then once said to me "I don't know why I feel like this, I'm not getting that old this isn' t right, I must be crazy" We noticed a faint smell in the first few days of owning the mattress but now it doens't seem to smell at all. We we're in the process of getting our money back for our bed because it was "defective" as the company would say. WE had to rotate the mattress 3 times in the 8 months of owning it, our bodies and literally imprinted in the bed their are twon big grooves in the bed where our bodies lay. So before I found this info I figured that was why we we're having problems, until I tried to research it to find out more and found this, alot of the symptoms that people are talking about are exsactly like what we're experiencing. Please help and let me knw what you think, being in the medical field too I figured you might know a little bit more, I will keep my research going but am hoping to hear from you! Thanks

**********"My (...) still stinks after 2 years; I wake up groggy after sleeping on it, seem to need 9 hours of sleep and still don't feel rested, and have developed an auto immune disorder--Hashimoto's disease-- since purchasing."*********

This person is claiming their mattress gave them a thyroid disease???? I've had Hashimoto's disease. I've had my thyroid removed because of it. It's not caused by allergies or mattresses. sorry.

I bought my memory foam matress from Jysk,it never had a smell but we also followed the reccomendations and bought a water proof allergen cover,a high quality one that zipped on and covered the matress completely.We had previously gone to a foam shop and they specifically said to not use a memory foam mattress without the cover as these beds are breeding grounds for dust mites and if you spill something it wont dry because the foam is so dense.However I wont be buying another one.While this mattress did relieve my leg and hip pain,it helped tremendously.The bed is extremely HOT. If you live in a nothern climate this is the bed for you.It holds heat like nothing else . My husband is having back problems because it doesnt provide enough support for him.I personally love my bed,when there isnt another person in it.When you stay in one spot you sink then its hard to get up.This bed should never be used for seniors.A 3 inch mattress topper,maybe...but this bed could kill a senior or anyone in a weakened condition,most just dont have the strength to turn over or get out of the dip that your body creates. This bed needs more support around it so it hold its form better so if someone could find an old water bed frame that might help it so theres less sinkage. My next bed will be a high quality conventional bed but it will have a memory foam topper with the allergy cover.I would never buy anything that was advertised from the TV .The bed does have its good points and its bad.Ours will be going in our camper.

I bought a memory foam topper, slept on it a few nights (one night for 11 hours as I couldn't seem to get enough!) then two weeks later developed nausea which would not cease. I immediately suspected the mattress topper as that was the only thing that had changed in my environment. I had used the cover that came with it, also, my daughter and son both have them and have experienced no problem, but it certainly isn't the same for me. So I removed it and will now see if that was the problem. Thanks to all the postings which led me to this conclusion.

I am suffering from the same thing. I only had the memory foam for 7 weeks and the last 6 weeks I have been so ill, from doctor to doctor. I am on my third week of antibiotics. My doctor had no answers. I think it is my mattress so I am going to my allergist this tuesday.

I bought memory foam mattress (and it wasn't cheap!) and shortly thereafter began having problems with breathing during sleep. I attributed it to sleep apnea. However, recently, all the sudden my challenges breathing became even WORSE! I woke up with severe headaches and a feeling upon awaking like I was suffocating; this is happening a good YEAR after having added the memory foam to my mattress top! I removed the memory foam and voila I am resting so much better now! Wow! In retrospect, I always suspected the memory foam, but was too lazy to remove it for lack of a place to store it; plus, it cost a pretty penny, and I figured if I just gave it some time, I'd adjust. Not so! The symptoms were definitely related to the memory foam and not to apnea; when I had apnea many years ago, I would feel exhausted at work. Not so with memory foam; I just had a severe headache and felt like I was being suffocated; a shower would make the symptoms go away. I am so thankful I removed the memory foam; I plan to throw it away this week, when time permits!

We bought a memory foam mattress pad from Costco and have been sleeping on it for four nights. I've had not only the most vivid dreams but also they've been generally disturbing in nature.

I was a bit wary of the mattress pad because several years ago I had bought a memory foam pillow. During the time I used it I developed some breathing issues. I don't remember the specific symptoms except that I felt like I had been swimming in an over chlorinated pool and would experience pain when taking deep breaths. The breathing problems went away after I discontinued use of the pillow.

I'm taking the foam mattress back. It's a shame because It is really comfortable and I can move around on it without disturbing my wife's sleep. By the way, she has also been experiencing sleeplessness and awoke early a few nights ago and could not get back to sleep.

..wow, this is really interesting and very alarming. 6 months ago, I purchased a memory foam mattress from an internet company. Yes, It smelled terrible when I took the plasic cover off, but i associated it with the same effect as new carpeting..
It felt great and I slept good but when I woke up I noticed flu like symtoms and my ears felt like I was getting an ear infection..
... fast forward 6 months. Now Im taking heart medication, and anxiety medication..
all of what I have read above, i have also experienced... Im not a chemist, but a basic understanding of chemical compounds would tell us that this product does in fact break down and is absorbed by the body. I will throw my mattress away and buy something more traditional...
I guess it all comes down to one thing.. MONEY.
"what can we sell to you today.". oh, side effects? Dont worry about that.. the doctor can sell you something for that as well....

I recently purchased a 2" Serta memory foam topper thru Overstock. After airing it out for two days I began sleeping on it. The first thing I noticed was an extremely odd taste in my mouth that lasted all day as well as an upset stomach and gas. I also noticed my eyes were red in the morning. The mattress was very hot during the night and I sleep with no heat on in my room. I called Serta and was told the oder would go away in time, but I feel certain I am breathing in some toxic gas that my body is trying to eliminate. I am going to try and return it to Overstock, even though they list these as "non retunable" items. This is not something I am willing to risk exposing myself to as it is obvious there are toxic consequences not to mention a sickening oder that just won't go away!

Hazardous Chemicals found in toxic Flame Redardants in your mattress:
•Boric Acid (reproductive and developmental toxin, used as a pesticide)
•Antimony (causes heart and lung damage, possible carcinogen)
•Decabromodiphenyl Oxide (causes hair and memory loss, possible carcinogen)
•Heart, lung and kidney damage

These highly toxic chemicals leech though pillow and mattress covers and are absorbed through the skin.





Exposure to these FRs has been linked to:
•Skin irritation
•Learning and memory deficit
•Cancers
•Heart, lung and kidney damage
•SIDS
•Birth defects


Chronic exposure to these chemicals causes them to accumulate in the body and present themselves in:
•the blood stream
•breast milk
•umbilical cord blood
Yes, your mattress can kill you

This article does not address the following facts:
1. That all memory foam mattress' and toppers have very unique recipes made from different manufactures and in different countries and different levels of chemicals for fire resistance, so there will be brands that are far more toxic than others.
2. As far mattress related pain, you simply can't expect to purchase a foam mattress or topper from Costco Wal-Mart or Jysk and expect it that it won't give you neck, back shoulder etc. As mattress from these places are cheap, don't contain the proper density of memory foam and break down after several months. Very few brands are of the actual quality needed to provide all the "hyped" benefits of memory.
3. The vast majority of of spring/coil mattress contain polyurethane foam, and while it is not made from all the same chemicals as visco-elastic polyurethane memory foam, it contains all the ones of major concern. This means any spring/coil mattress' with poly foam could be lethal as well, especially older ones where the foam is breaking down and coming apart.
4. Most moderately high end - to high end spring/coil mattress' and popular air mattress' like the sleep number contain poly memory foams and/or latex as well as poly foams. I have read just as many personal accounts about issues arising from latex as from issues arising from poly memory foam.
5. People often mistakenly refer to a memory foam mattress they purchased as being a "Tempurpedic" or the one that is "on tv" when in fact, it is a different brand or "knock off". Reports about these cheap alternatives make it seem as if all memory foam mattress' cause pain or become uncomfortable after a few months of ownership. Cheap alternatives also contain more toxic chemicals. Not to say that a real Tempurpedic doesn't also cause medical issues in people, but it is certainly is less likely to.
6. If polyeurethane foam and polyeurethane memory foam are really that toxic, the majority of people should be throwing out their mattress' and sleeping on the floor.

Is there any advice, given by the manufacturers of these mattresses, regarding the use of electric blankets?
JP

We bought a memory foam mattress and pillows about 18 months ago and found them very comfortable. As has been said in previous comments, there was some odour evident when removing the packaging but this did not last.

The most notiecable feature, apart from the comfort, is how hot it is. Certainly saves on heating.

I have sympathy for the analysis of Dr. Trentreviso because there is a lot of pseudo-science written here. However, since using the mattress and pillows, I have notice two things that are reflected in some comments on this site.

1) higher incidence of vivid dreams, that could be chemically induced
2) I wake in the morning with very dry and slightly swollen nasal passages with a tendency to mild nosebleeds that I have not experienced since I was a child (I am now 60). The dryness and swelling reduces after I get up and disappears after a couple of hours.

Although not life-threatening, I have been wondering if memory foam could be the cause of these changes. I notice that when I spend a couple of days in a hotel, my breathing is a bit better.

This led me to do a little research on the internet to see if these problems are common. It is difficult to find good coverage of the risks of memory foam as there is so much positive comment on its benefits.

I will continue to research this issue and monitor my own condition in differing circumstances before actually disposing of the mattress. I would, in any case, have to persuade my better half that my observations are correct before convincing her to do so :-)

If my viewpoint becomes clear on this I will return with another comment.

So I'm up in the middle of the night because I can't sleep because of a worsening, burning headache. This headache started 4 days ago after we bought a 3" memory foam topper from Kohl's. My wife has the headache also. The foam produces a sweet, toxic smell. It feels like a burning sensation. It seems to get worse as you sleep on the bed, as if 1) the body heat causes it to produce more fumes and 2) any rolling around squeezes out air from the foam cells.

One of the comments above is trying to slam this "article" as "crap". I'm a computer programmer and think I understand how to breakdown a problem "scientifically". There's obviously a problem with the bed producing fumes and those fumes causing headaches since we did not have the headaches before the bed, and since the bed's sweet fumy smell has permeated the room since we bought it. This is not a scientific experiment, this is a real personal experience.

As I said in an earlier post, this is common with cheap memory foam and imitating products. These incidences are far less common to completely non-existent with a true memory foam product such a Temperpedic.

well let me tell you that i don't think it matters the price ... if someone had a container of some toxic chemical .. would you just go up and sniff it and not think that this was unhealthy for you ... what have we learned over the years about chemicals in anything that companies put out there,,, eventually they will come out with results that it is unhealthy for you .. they're just waiting to make sure ... cause you know ,,, c an't loose out on sales or anything ... if you are not experiencing any symptoms or have no good advice then don't waste your time writting this is peoples health and concerns you are messing with ... you must be all doctors !

Aug 2006 I purchased a Viscoform 5200 mattress for my 16-year-old daughter to help with some upper back scoliosis.
Since then she has had the following symptoms:
Trouble staying awake
Drowsiness
Lethargy
Foggy head
Concentration problems
Heart palipitations
Anxiety attacks
Nightmares
Depression
Unquenchable thirst
Eye problems
Recent Miscarriage
Constant sore throats
Nauseau
No amount of testing or doctor has found a reason for her problems.
My daughter would feel better whenever we went away. She went away to stay with an aunt 3 weeks ago. ALL of her symptoms dissappeared. She gets up at 6:00 am every morning and is thriving.
My son came to visit and slept in her memory foam bed the last 2 nights. He could not wake up and has been feeling unusually groggy. He is not sleeping on that bed tonight.
We have a small dog who slept with my daughter. He would often throw up on her bed. He has not slept in the bed for 3 weeks and has not thrown up.
I am beginning to suspect the bed. We have ruled out anything else in the room as the cause - (prior to purchasing the bed my daughter and another girl staying with us slept in that room on coil mattresses without any problems).
If anyone has a similiar experience with a Viscoform 5200, I'd like to know. Thanks!

I recently purchased a Simmons pillowtop and slept on it 2 nights. It had a strong chemical odor and after the first night I awoke with a headache. After the 2nd night I awoke feeling dizzy and ringing in my ears. That was it! I called the store and told them to pick it up and give me a full refund which they agreed to do. I have now researched this and feel lucky that I did not spend any more time on that mattress. The problem now is finding a new comfortable mattress that will be free of these toxic chemicals. I am appalled that the mattress companies continue to crank out these toxic and dangerous products that are poisoning us and that the stores continue to sell them with no warning to the customer. Most people do not know about the July1, 2007 U.S. requirements for fire retardants, 16 CFR Part 1633. Does anyone know of a store in the Minneapolis area that sells chemical free mattresses. I have read that this can only be done with a Dr's perscription. Is this true? KINGSDOWN claims their mattresses are chemical free but they say on their spec sheet that fibers are blended with silicate and kevlar thread and that this meets the new 2007 fire retardant regulation. Don't know if I trust this. I now want to know exactly what chemicals Simmons puts in their mattresses. I was told by the store I was the first complaint they had ever had. Hmmmmmmm.

I want to sue this online retailer from where I bought this mattress from
http://www.healthyfoundations.com -Healthy Foundations

Any suggestions on how to go about doing this?

Please let me know and we can file a class action law suit over them.

Thanks!

I didn't buy the same type of mattress you did, but I definitely had the Heart palpitations and the Anxiety attacks. I just put my topper outside a few minutes ago, hopefully I will feel better soon. But I would definitely suggest that the problem is your daughters mattress

have had trmperpedic mattress for 5years. had no idea they were so bad for you. my husband and i have both develped problems similar to the ones you have stated. husband will never get rid of it. he loves it. now i understand why i hate it. at first it was great. now i can not sleep. wake up in pain. thought was having a heart attack even. since sleeping on the couch mostly for the last year or so feel better. noticed the smell at first but not any longer. i avoided finding out what it was made of and now am very sorry i did. that killer mattress cost us over a thousand dollars. plus husband smokes and falls asleep in bed almost nightly. no he will never stop. did not think about the fire danger when purchased mattress. he is not concered.

Liar, liar, pants on fire. Are you guys, commenting, going to try and extort money from the manufacturers? Good luck with that, lol.

I bought the New Sensations Memory foam........the smell of it was so bad..thought it might go away,so I tried it anyway.It was great,my neck problems I had for 10 years didn't bother me hardly at all anymore but after a week my muscles all through my body began to ache really bad especially in my legs,I thought I had the flu.....it kept getting worse,I went to the doctor thinking I must have a muscle disease,my blood work was fine,but I was getting sicker.After a month on the memory foam I felt like I was 80 years old and could hardly get out of bed,I never thought it would be the memory foam doing this to me but I thought I would try sleeping without it.After the first night without it I couldn't believe how much better I felt,after 3 days all my symptoms went away!My God,what are they allowed to sell out there! Most places except Walmart(which is where I bought it) are taking it off the shelf,now I know why.I believe all of these people on this site are telling it like it is,it surely is a killer mattress!!

I purchased a bedroom set for my 3 year old daughter and bought a memmory foam matress,a week latter she started to develope a real bad cough and runny nose,i took her to the docks and they said she had a bad cold i took her back a week later she wasnt getting better now she was getting high fevers at night.the docks said she had bronkitis and asthma gave her 3 different inhailers and 2 different medications.after sleepless nights and missing 3 weeks of work to take care of my daughter that had been sick for 3 months.i dicided to get rid of that bed 2 days later my daughter started to feel better that damn bed was killing my daughter .my son of 6 decided he wanted that bed since it was nice and cumfy.he got sick whith the same simtoms took him to the docks ,he got medication .thats when i figured it was the bed. took it out and guess what!he was better whithout taking meds.Lukilly we didnt suffer the same way that we did whith my daughter...seriouslly thoughts came to our minds that we might be losing our daughter .3 weeks now and my daughter looks like nothing was wrong whith her .not worth the risk.dont buy one u never now

I would really like to see some actual research done on this subject. Obviously the caliber and IQ of some of the people reviewing this topic is not the highest.
ie- not knowing allergy symptoms, horrible...AWFUL spelling.
I am looking to buy a new mattress and was comparing "memory foam" to latex based. I wanted to see if there was an increased occurrence of people developing a latex allergy after sleeping on a latex based product. I am a nurse and I am aware of the increasing incidence of latex allergy due to exposure. That being said, we are sleeping on a 30 year old (probably older) inner-spring mattress and we NEED a new one. No that I don't believe that some people may experience some odd symptoms after being exposed to new chemicals- but this is just like eating at a restaurant you've never eaten at before. You may have an unknown allergy- you go to the restaurant and they include your allergen in their food. You have strange symptoms and may not know what they're from- but do you sue the restaurant? NO! There is no way the mattress manufacturers can know what EVERY single person is allergic to. I don't know any real statistics- but I'm willing to bet that for each one of you that has left a comment and complained on this site- there are hundreds to thousands of others that have no problems. If you want real answers- conduct your own scientific study and THEN you can "sue" the companies. Until then- go back to school and learn how to properly spell !! I wish I could sue every single person that has had on too much perfume that has walked by me- I'd be a BILLIONAIRE!

We bought one of those memory foam mattresses, top of the line, but it smelled horrible. We put the air conditioner on, plus fans, but I woke up feeling like I had the flu. I had no idea it was the mattress causing those symptoms, so I kept sleeping on the mattress. The smell went away some, but the flu symptoms never did. I felt feverish, severe headache, aches all over my body, exhausted, foggy headed. It was awful! After that went on for several weeks, I tried to figure out why I wasn't getting well. A cold or flu goes away within 10 days max, but I wasn't getting any better. I was worried I'd end up with pneumonia. I realized that my symptoms started the day after we got the mattress, so I started sleeping on the couch in the living room. My symptoms went away the next day! Needless to say, we got rid of that mattress. It cost a fortune to ship it back, but it was worth. NEVER AGAIN! And here's another bit of information: lots of shoes have memory foam padding. Don't buy them unless you want headaches and a feeling of having the flu!!!

I experienced something similar to some of the experiences above.I was prescribed anti-biotic's for a mild flu that is now clear to me was caused by foam mattresses.

I got a new bed with a polyurethane foam pad and several months later it still smells too bad for me to sleep in. And I'm glad I didn't after reading all of these posts. I have CFIDS/ME and Multiple food, drug and chemical sensitivities and I surely don't want to aggravate my condition. I asked the people I bought this bed from if it had any chemicals that would bother me and they said no, but it has Polyurethane foam pad plainly written on the pad tag. I'm going to contact them about returning this horrible thing. So what kind of bed did everyone end up buying?

Well what can I say I have been feeling ill for over twelve months. I have had blood tests for hormone problems which have come back clear. Ihave been diagnosed with Arthritis in all my joints. I have been feeling low in mood and lack of energy and interest in all sorts of things I used to love like my Dancing and swimming. I have had a fuzzy head and memory problems and the most horrendous fatigue as if someone put a shot of morphine in me. Waking up feeling unrested like I had been battered. I have tryed to think back when I became ill and it looks like when I bought my pillows and matress off the internet last year . I Read this article on this site and I emmediately took my mattress topper and pillows off my bed 2 days ago. I have been feeling a lot better since I removed them I cant believe it. I feel like my old self again. I am going back to line dancing agaig which I had to give up because I felt so ill. This sort of thing should be exposed I have been ill for such a long time. Who can I report this kind of thing to? does anyone know? x

Well ten days on from my last blog on the 1st June and I am now definately convinced that my memoryy foam matress and pillows have been making me ill because of the chemicals. All my blood tests have now come back clear and my Doctor has advised me to contact Trade and Standards. I have gone back to line dancing and today I was able to walk up five flights of stairs at college without any trouble something which I couldn,t do two weeks ago and haven,t been able to do for about 3 years. I just can,t believe how well I feel both mentally and phyisically and know longer need to take 5htp a herbal antidepressant that I have been taking for about sixteen months for low moods. All my symptoms included fatigueness,depression,aches and pains all over in all my joints, breathlessness when carrying out any physical activity, waking up feeling as though I,d been battered, wieght gain, water retention with swollen fingers and feet, fuzzy head, memory proplems and just genrally feeling not well most of the time . Iam so glad that I found this site otherwise I would probably still be feeling ill. I have been researching the chemicals in these matresses and I have learnt that there is 64 chemicals in total. Two of them are Benzine and formalelhyde. I can,t pronounce the others but I have been informed these two chemicals are carcenogenic and were supposed to be banned? My mum and my Brother both had memory foam pillows and they have both experienced similar symptoms to mine. But since I told them about my discovery they have removed them from there bed and guess what? their symptoms have gone and they feel much better and brighter.

We bought a Tempur-Pedic king size memory foam bed, and I have been experiencing ALL the of the symptoms I've read here! Kidney pain, flu feelings, congestion, headaches, diarrhea, joint & muscle aches, allergy-like symptoms, nausea, horrible neck pain (I've recently found a small nodule on the left side of my neck) and just general fatigue and not feeling well. I have the bed and pillows....any idea if there has been a class action suit started by anyone? I'm only 38 years old, and I was in GREAT, nearly perfect health prior to the recent onslaught of these symptoms. I've been treated for bronchitis (which I've never had) and a bronchial infection, then was told my horrible stomach issues were due to antibiotics; however, I've been beyond the "infection" for over a month, and I'm still suffering all these symptoms. The worst is in the mornings...I gag and nearly throw up every morning and have terrible diarrhea which wakes me up every day, then I experience diarrhea at least 2-3 additional times within an hour of getting up. We financed this bed, and now I feel as though we should get rid of it!

Wow! I am soooo happy to know that I am NOT crazy. I am a very healthy 45 year old. One month ago I purchased a memory foam bed topper from Bed, Bath & Beyond. I always wanted to try one, but felt they were too expensive. Well, I caught one on sale and had a 20% coupon and tried it out. This topper came with a cover. I put it on. I really didn't notice a smell but the topper was very flat. I looked for instructions, but none. I put it on the bed assuming it would inflate and it did after about a week. The first night I slept on it was a dream. When I woke up however, I had hives all over my body. I thought I was allergic to something I ate and was tryingto figure out what it was. I thought it would go away but NO. A week later my partner was getting cold drenching sweats and I was vomitting all over the place. I noticed the hives would leave and come back. I didn' think it was the matress at all. 2 more weeks went by and I still had this ugly rash. The idea that it could be the mattress crossed my mind because the rash came the first night of use, but I dismissed it. Finally a month later, I took the topper off by instinct and guess what guys? After one night, my rash faded. We have to be so careful about what we expose our bodies to. Thank you everyone for your comments. And for those of you that think this is not true; walk a month in my shoes.

I purchased a memory foam mattress about 7 weeks ago; and I went through 2 in a 5 week period. I had the same symptoms I hade when I got sick from mold, not to mention that aweful smell never went away. I had headaches, dizzyness, that groggy sleepy feeling always, much more pain kept coming on my body as the days went by. Depression was really hard to fight. The company that made the mattress just told me to sleep in it as much as I could and things would eventually get better. I felt like each day I was progressively getting worse and I felt like I was really slowly dying.I have had a new matress for about a week and I am finally starting to get better.

I agree with everything that has been said about memory foam,I only bought two pillows but that was enough for me and my wife to start feeling ill every time we woke up,how come nothing has been done to stop these from selling and I see on the top of this very page are adverts urging you to buy memory foam at a greatly reduced price even a 60 day trail,I wonder why...

I HAVE HAD A MATTRESS TOPPER FOR THE PAST 6 YEARS. I ALWAYS THOUGHT IT TO BE COMFORTABLE BUT THERE ARE ISUES THAT IHAVE NOTICED AND DDIDN'T MAKE TOO MUCH OF. IT IS HOT, VERY HOT. I STARTED WAKING UP RECENTLY FROM SLEEPING ON A PILLOR MADE OF MEMORY FOAM, SOAK AND WET. I COULDN'T IMAGINE WHAT WAS WRONG WITH ME. THOUGHT IT WAS MY MEDICATION BUT REALIZED I HADN'T USED THE PILLOW IN A LONG WHITE AND WAS FINE. THE TOPPER AS WELL IS VERY HOT. ALTHOUGH IT MAY SEEM COMFORTABLE, I HAVE HAD MANY BODILY ACHES AND PAINS FOR THE PAST 5 OR 6 YEARS AND STARTED TAKING PAIN KILLERS THINKING IT IS MY BODY. AFTER READING ALL THESE COMMENTS, I AM STARTING TO BELIEVE THAT MY PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN COMING FROM THE MATTRESS TOPPER. I CAME ONLINE TO PURCHASE A NEW MATTRESS TOPPER TODAY AS MY CURRENT ONE HAS LOST ALOT OF VELOSITY. IN OTHER WORDS, IT IS NOT AS SUPPORTIVE AS I MIGHT LIKE. IT'S CORRECT WHEN THEY SAY THAT WHEN YOU ARE IN ONE SPOT, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO CHANGE POSITONS BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE MATTRESS MAKES YOU SINK IN. ALTHOUGH I HAVN'T NOTICED ANY ALLLERGY SYMPTOMS, I WILL NOT PURCHASE ANOTHER TOPPER UNTIL MORE RESEARCH IS DONE OR SOME REMEDY IS REACHED TO MAKE THESEE MATTRESSES HARMLESS./

Have had a bobopedic mattress for 10 months and have had breathing problems and non-stop coughing. Finally have deduced it is the mattress.
Will try to contact company and will update.

Two weeks ago bought a memory foam mattress, as others have described the chemical smell from them is very strong. Since having received it I have have suffered with swollen red itchy eyes, breathing problems and burnt facial skin. No denying mattress is comfortable but not worth the horrendous allergic symptoms! I am hoping they will will let me return it.

Bought two memory foam mattress pads from Target today for kid's beds. Both very excited even though the SMELL was awful. Laid out both pads in room in front of air conditioner trying to "air them out" for 6 hours before putting on beds.
My daughter woke up after three hours of sleeping on it (with sheet and quilted mattress pad) covered in itchy red hives. I've sprayed her with Benadryl spray and she took a Claritin. My son woke up just now with a severe sore throat.
Both kids are now sleeping in my bed and I've just stuffed those pads back into their cases to return to Target.
I've had a memory foam topper on my bed for four years. AND for the last four years, I've been to Dr after Dr for allergy symptoms--coughing, hoarseness, laryngitis, runny nose. I have never tested positive as allergic to anything-- it has been a major puzzle to my Drs.
I don't know if any of this is caused by memory foam or not. I do know that I am getting rid of my topper as well. A not-as-soft bed is a small price to pay for better health.

My 19 y/o D had a memory foam topper for the past 2 years, has had quite a run of health issues over the past two years, prior to this she had never had a complaint .
1.Hives
2.Congestion
3. Almost daily headaches
4.Back/kidney/lung pain
5.Food intolerances
6.Can no longer eat uncooked vegetables her throat gets itchy
7. Anaphylaxic reaction to bananas/cantelope/watermelon
8.Latex allergy
Can I say without a doubt it is the memory foam, no, as she got a new bed at the same time. I have slept in her bed and I also wake up with lung pain as if I can not take a deep breath because it hurts.

She will sleep in her old twin bed from her childhood and we will see if there is any improvement in her health.

I am not looking to sue anybody, but I purchased a couple of memory foam pillows and on the first night of using it, woke up with the worst headache and more tired than I went to bed. My wife had the same problem.

I will employ simple science (the kind that people should rely on!) and try sleeping without the pillows. If the problems go away, I shall give the pillows one more chance and if the problems re-occur, I will not use the pillows again.

Now call me a simpleton if you like, but are you "defenders" really saying that if a simple experiment like that shows that the pillows cause me and my wife headaches, that we should keep using them anyway just because there has been no complex scientific study and no published explanation about the effects I am seeing? Really?

Common sense (again, the kind you can trust) tells me not to put myself in situations where I don't like the outcome - scientifically proven or not!

I just don't want headaches. No law suits, no debates, no compensation, just a good nights sleep.

I just wanted to update everyone on my situation which I posted above. I successfully got a full refund from the seller as the mattress was described as hypoallergenic but I had suffered a major reaction. My symptoms arrived the day the mattress came and have now started, at last to go, now the mattress has been got rid off. I have had to open all the windows to air the house. Trading standards said that it was a common issue to do with outgasing of the chemicals! There are several other sites with similar postings and they include people who worked in the manufacturing process and some who have had their mattress analyzed, and they make for interesting reading. All I can say is when the mattress was here I was suffering from what felt like chemical burning to the eyes and breathing problems and now that its gone I am fine! If people want to be sure put the item in the shed and see whether your symptoms clear up.

I recently purchased a memory foam top cover 6', and did not notice a smell the first night. The second night my sheets smelt like paint thinner and I woke with a headache. I have only had the mattress for two days and think I may need to send it back!

I worked in the furniture industry for 12 years selling mattresses, purchased a high end pillow top memory foam mattress, after a couple of months I broke out into a severe rash, nothing like I had ever experienced. Terrified, I went to an allergist, he could not figure it out, but I did my own process of elimination and found that the hives were the worst the first thing in the morning. Eventhough you can not see the memory foam inside the mattress, it still envelopes your body every night exposing you to all certain chemicals. Memory foam is 100% petroleum (think about it, how unhealthy), the entire thing is a mountain of chemicals. I did a process of elimination and slept on the couch for a week, the hives started to go away, I sold my expensive mattress and bought one that has latex foam instead, latex is a natural rubber product but it is breathable and not chemical bases. I have been fine ever since. There should be toxicity warnings on these beds, from reading other emails here, a lot of people have experienced the same provlems, and remember when chemicals touch your skin, they are readily absorbed. Be very careful when purchasing memory foam if you have any allergies..

We bought our memory foam mattress from Costco about a 2 weeks ago.... we thought it would be a cheaper alternative to purchasing a new mattress set. I aired the mattress out for an entire day and also sprayed the thing with an odor neutralizing product. The smell is so...chemical! After a few days of super comfortable sleep, my wife and I realized we were not feeling rejuvenated. We felt like we had severe sinus allergies, accompanied by headache. Both of us ended up with a severe cough and dry scratchy throat (we NEVER get sick). Not only has our quality of life been compromised, but we are afraid that our mattress under the foam is permeated with the chemical vapors. I am going to Costco tomorrow to return the memory foam. I am also going to threaten law suit if they do not pull it off the shelves!

We also bought our mattress set from Costco at the end of Aug 2009. We aired it out for a couple of days then began to sleep on it. Mattress top was memory foam and it had a bad smell. Once we started to sleep on it I experienced profound and debilitating fatigue... but I didn't put it together that the new mattress was the reason for a month. Ended up with two visits to the doctor, blood tests that all came out normal. and continuing fatigue. It was all I could do to sit on the sofa during the day and maybe take a shower. Complete exhaustion, and it appeared to be unexplainable. Until a friend asked about the mattress and did some sleuthing online. Once we found some info on the chemicals used in it, we removed the new mattress, replaced our old mattress and within 48 hours I began to feel like myself again. The only piece of good news in all this is that Costco will take the mattress back without question. But, I lost a full month of life and activity, was out two co-pays for doctor visits and felt like crap for so long I was getting depressed. And, the mattress never bothered my husband at all!

We received a memory foam topper for Christmas last year. Within a week of using it, I started feeling sick. I was diagnosed with a bad sinus infection but then ended up with a swollen thyroid. I was then diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. This is unusual and something that usually runs in families. There is no history of this in my family.

I kept looking back to try and figure out what was making me feel sick. I felt miserable and lifeless. Each night when I went to bed, I hated the smell of the mattress topper. Finally, I took all the sheets and mattress cover off of the bed and sprayed it well with Febreeze and left the windows open and the fan running on a cold January day. This helped with the odor and my thyroid problem went away. I thought that maybe this had caused my problem and when going to this website today I think I was right.

Is there a memory pillow or mattress that isn't full of chemicals? a natural alternative without the toxins?

I bought a memory foam mattress not long ago; since then I have been feeling terrible. I have been to many doctors and have not been able to get any releif from the nausea and head aches I have had since had this mattress has entered my life. I have had this mattress tested for chemicals and the results came back in low concentration since time as passed and the mattress has somewhat aired out. I was wondering if anyone has had any success in calling the mattress companies bluff?

I too took 9 or ten weeks to find out that the mattress was the cause of my dizziness, tinnitusd, nausea, tremors, etc. After brain scans, GI series, diabetic evaluations and aa multitude of other tessts came back noemal, I was fortunate that some concernrd people shared their stories on the internet. After being told my one month warranty had expired, regardless of my illness from the toxins in the mattress, I retained an attorney, who dropped the case once the mattress was found (5 months after purchase) to have minimal levels of toxins, at least in their opinion. At this time the mattress had been in storage for 3 months or so. I have been referred to another attorney via my detox doctor, and although I'm getting over the nausea slowly, it has left me potentially w/ MCS (multiple chemical sesnitivity). I now have gone green with organic foods, natural cleaning products, and body care products when I am bold enough to use them. I can't believe a class action hasn't brought these companies down. If someone wants to smoke in bed, let THEM purchase the mattress; why do the rest of us have to suffer for that? Any suggestions or comments are welcome. I want my money back and then some...

I have a new egg crate foam topping for my mattress. Got it at Boscov's Department Store for $90. It is the worst smelling egg crate foam topping I ever smelled ....or owned.

This one is made by The Carpenter Company (www.sleepbetter.org). It was aired out for 8 hours in a well ventilated space, per the instructions on the insert within the packaging. I have other health problems and I'm not sure which of them have been worsened by this chemical odor. I do however had new health problems which started right after putting this vile smelling thing on my bed.

The Carpenter Company refers to odor as a "newness scent". It advises people in the insert "Although unlikely, some people may find themselves hyper-sensitive to the newness scent in which case you may want to discontinue use and return the product to your retailer".

During the past two weeks I found that when I am walking at a normal pace with people on a sidewalk my lungs start to burn. I have to slow down. I've always been a walker. This symptom came out of nowhere.

My eyes which are generally sensitive to shampoo from years of glaucoma drops. After I shampoo in the morning I am use to them being somewhat inflammed for a while. Now they are blood red for three to four hours. I had no idea why.

This afternoon the burning in my lungs and my nose started and I was sitting at my computer. I work from home. My friend said it sounds like asthma. I looked up asthma and found a comment about noxious odors from egg crates, and mattresses, etc. Everything clicked at that moment.

I'm with it all day except for brief trips to a post-office or bank...etc. This smell is probably permeating every room in my one floor condo.

The only change in my household recently was this product was put on my bed.

I remembered the packaging insert. Had not thrown it away. Something about it being called a "newness scent" made me suspicous on some level.

I believe I am right about it being this egg crate foam product and hope the burning sensation in my lungs and my nose leave soon after I discontine using it.

I read with interest some other problems with these foam crates products for their beds and the problems people have with the mattresses like Tempera-Pedic. I had almost ordered one of those matteresses; so glad I did not.

Ann

I've been sleeping on a Memory Foam mattress for nearly 3 years, although the mattress does not make me feel as ill as some of the comments mentioned, it has effected my life in a huge way, my excema has flared up, sleepless nights, scratching myself stupid, burning face, waking up sweating and i'm not sure how related it is, but my throat just will not stop producing phlegm. Only until this morning while searching for my allergy's have i found posts about similar memory foam related illnesses.

My itching has effected me for over 3 years, same as when i got the bed, my throat well over two years, i'm going to start sleeping on our non-memory foam sofabed, see how i get on. it was an expensive mattress and would be a shame to get rid of it, but health is more important.

I need a new mattress. I need something supportive yet soft enough to be easy on pressure points. I used a memory foam pillow and got one of the worst migraines of my life. I was sick for five days. I've reviewed a lot of sites, and am still confused. Please if anyone has a recommendation on a brand, let me know. Thanks!

When they tell you to leave it air for a day or two, you should be suspicious. If it was a couple of days matter they would have done it themselves right after manufacturing. The thing is, the matress needs air refreshing all time, not only once, and that means it will always be dangerous!

At first I found the mattress to be very comfortable, but it took me months to notice that, even though I felt sleepy when I went to bed, as soon as I lay down I would feel wide awake ! Also, my occasional sleep apnea became an everynight nightmare! I was afraid to go to sleep at night because it was so severe. Though it took me a long time to consider that the mattress was what was making it so much worse. It was definitely the mattress, because I rarely have the problem while sleeping on another mattress. I will not go near this bed, even though it is comfortable..

Amazing that you never see these posts until you buy the matrress, equally amazing that there is no health warning or adverse publicity. We purchased a visco elastic mattress 3 weeks ago and similar symtoms to those above, feels like you have flu when you wake up, also started getting ezcema (never had it before) Will now try to sell but feel a little uncomfortable passing the problem on. These mattresses dont smell - they stink and the evidence from these posts seem to paint a pretty consistant picture. AVOID

Strange. I owned a Sensus topper for years and loved it. Never had a problem other than getting hot because they retain heat. It went out after about 5 years and I was getting the runaround about their warranty so I started looking for another mattress.

I bought a 12" Sensations (?) mattress from Wal-Mart and, in spite of airing it out forever including an entire weekend with windows open and the fans on it, I could never get rid of that annoying stink. I did experience some of the issues people were talking about too such as restlessness, occasional headaches and an inability to sleep comfortably. Sometimes I'd sleep 12 hours and didn't feel like I got any sleep. I just chalked it up to the bed being new and having to adjust to it.

Finally, I couldn't take the stink any longer and returned it then purchased another one from foambymail. Yeah it has some stink but it reduced after about a month. There's a slight amount of that polyurethane smell when I press my nose against it and after about a week I can see the smell seeps into the pillow if I don't air it out. STILL I don't run into the problems I had with the Wal-Mart mattress. I love sleeping on it.

One difference between the Sensus and Foambymail as opposed to the Wal-Mart is the Wal-Mart mattress is made in China whereas the others I sleep fine on are made in the US.

My 30 yr. old son just told me that he has been using a memory foam pillow for a year. His wife first noticed that it was discoloring his pillow case and then recently, he rolled over in bed and his wedding ring scraped against the wall. The paint scraped right off the wall where his pillow rests. They looked and the paint was all soft and discolored in that area, but not where his wife's cotton pillow rests. I also recently came across a book "Cot Death", where a researcher in New Zealand has linked SIDS (crib deaths) to the chemicals sprayed on baby mattresses. Way to go, FDA- protect the manufacturers and not the citizens of the US!

im 18 just got a memory foam matress ..i now have to drop my classes because i missed out on the test days from being sick. this thing sucks ..anyone know if the symptoms go away??