Thank you all for helping me make FibroHaven a place of hope and support. Thank you for inspiring me this past year, and for motivating me to make next year even better. You give me strength!

Wishing lots of comfort, joy, and love to each of you this holiday season. Your light shines brightly. I know, because it is what guides me.

The Rusnaks ~ With Love

ComfortPillow

Several weeks ago I was contacted by a marketing agency and asked to participate in a product review of Tempur-Pedic pillows. It was a simple offer. They would send me two free pillows, The ComfortPillow and The NeckPillow, and all I had to do in turn was to review my experience using them on my blog. Sign me up!

But what about the fumes?

Actually before I agreed to participate, I had one major concern I needed addressed; do Tempur-Pedic pillows release any fumes? I have heard reports to that affect about “memory” material but had no direct knowledge. As most of us with Fibromyalgia know, chemical sensitivity is a real issue. Sometimes just being exposed to a smell or inhaling a toxin can debilitate us. Victoria, the lovely marketing agent who contacted me got right on it and quickly got back to me with this response from Tempur-Pedic:

Our mattresses and pillows contain polyurethane foam which is chemically similar to other polyurethane foams utilized in many common products in everyday use including furniture, bedding, carpet underlay, packaging, and automobile seats. Like foams in other products, those used in a Tempur-Pedic® product do experience some levels of “off-gassing” and typically an odor will be associated with the same. The odor will be strongest immediately after manufacture, and will dissipate over time. Upon delivery of your mattress/pillow, you may notice a slight odor which is left over from our manufacturing process; however, this is not harmful to you. We recommend reviewing our “Use and Care Instructions” for more information. Tempur-Pedic® follows a variety of industry standards and conducts proprietary tests to ensure that our products adhere to all local, state and federal health regulations.

I was satisfied with the response so we moved forward and in a few short days I had my two new pillows.

The Tempur-Pedic NeckPillow

NeckPillow

I have been sleeping with a neck pillow for years, so was excited to try the Tempur-Pedic NeckPillow first. There definitely was an odor upon removing the pillow from the packaging, but by the time I laid down on it that evening it was nearly gone, and not strong enough to affect me. By the second evening it had completely disappated.

My first reaction to the pillow was that it is not as soft as I was expecting or used to; there is a firm quality to the material. Although firm, it was immediately comfortable for me. My head was being cradled and supported in all the right places. I did not have to adjust it several times like I did with my previous pillow, because the NeckPillow was adjusting to me.

Patented Construction

Our patented integration of multiple layers of TEMPUR material with different base materials provides a variable balance of pressure-relieving comfort and therapeutic support. The top TEMPUR Comfort Layer (A) is a softer formula that reacts immediately to your body temperature and weight. As you sink further into the mattress, the TEMPUR Support Layer (B) completely absorbs and distributes your body weight and supports your spine in perfect alignment. The typical AirFlow System™ Base Layer© provides a supportive base for the TEMPUR components and increases the flow of air to maximize comfort and responsiveness.

I slept very well on it that first night and on many nights since. My neck is my chronic hotspot for pain. After several concussions and damage from severe whiplash, it aches regularly. Usually the mornings are the worst. I can unequivocally say that my neck aches less in the mornings since I began sleeping with the NeckPillow. It has not been a cure for the restless sleep I suffer due to fibromyalgia, but it is an improvement.

The Tempur-Pedic ComfortPillow

BodyPillow

Next I tried the ComfortPillow which is a more traditional pillow. My experience was similar. It too cradled my head, and even though I am used to a neck pillow, I found the ComfortPillow just as comfortable. Hmmm, maybe that is where they got the name! I did not use it as my head pillow for long, but I continue to sleep with it as a side pillow. I rest it against my chest and between my arms to help keep my body aligned  - similar to this model sleeping with a Tempur-Pedic body pillow, except my hair usually doesn’t lay that beautifully and I often have a scowl on my face, but otherwise, just like that! It is a restorative way to sleep and minimizes morning pain and stiffness.

Seriously though, I am very happy with both pillows. They are definite upgrades from what I was previously using. Thank you Victoria at Rocket XL for asking me to participate and to Tempur-Pedic for my two new pillows. Sleep well!

Comfort is key! That is what I learned after sitting at my old desk working from home for the past year. Although I love dearly the antique chair my husband surprised me with, it soon became clear that beauty and value do not equate with comfort. And my desk was entirely too small for the stacks of papers and books that I normally have spread out around me as I am writing. I cleaned things up a little bit for your visit today!

So this is my new office. Thanks to a great sale and a couple of coupons, we were able to purchase both the desk and the chair for $149 each at Staples. The filing cabinet was also on sale for $69, and the big beautiful armoire which is currently hiding my mess was free! A gift from friends of ours who had just purchased one of those ginormous televisions which take up an entire wall. Thanks guys!

I love the spaciousness of my new desk combined with the extra surface of the filing cabinet. I can really spread out and have everything I need easily within my reach, and still have room for a glass of water, a cup of coffee and the occasional cat. I am just as pleased with my chair. It is as comfortable as it is beautiful. I no longer walk away from my desk feeling worse than when I sat down. My new office is making me much more productive. I don’t think I would have been able to take on my writing assignment at my old desk.

I spend a lot of time at my desk, so it is imperative that it is a space I enjoy going to and that it does not cause a flare in my symptoms. The money we spent was an investment in my health and in my career. If my blog is my happy place, my office is the structure surrounding and supporting it. My new office might be the nicest thing I have ever done for myself!

17/30