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!

Take the latest ad for example:

Lady walking out onto her porch with a beautiful tray of food says: “My fibromyalgia muscle pain is real, but I’m not the type of person to just lie down and quit.”

Lady takes the tray to a table of family members, continues speech: “Not with all these people counting on me. I walked right in and asked my doctor about Lyrica.”

Really? Is Fibromyalgia really just so neat and tidy as all that? Really? Is Fibromyalgia really just about the muscle pain and if you take a pill it will really all just go away? Really? And if I don’t walk right in and  ask my doctor about Lyrica, am I then the kind of person who does just lie down and quit? Am I not taking care of the people counting on me if I am not taking Lyrica? Will my tray of food not be as lovely as yours if I am not taking Lyrica?

If I had the video of the commercial to share with you I could go on and on with my “really” rant. There is a dog, and a tree swing, and a beautiful stone walkway, and a picnic table with a picture perfect family. The grass is green, the sun is shining, and it is all made possible with Lyrica! Blech! If you would like to watch the commercial you can watch it here.

So today I am reading the Fibromyalgia Network Newsletter and I read this:

Pfizer’s Fibro Put Down

Even if Lyrica has not been helpful for controlling your symptoms, the many widely publicized TV commercials sponsored by the drug’s manufacturer, Pfizer, have certainly improved awareness of your medical condition. Some advertisements have been better than others, but some Members feel the latest TV ad starts off as a put down to fibromyalgia (FM) patients everywhere. It shows a woman with a tray full of food at a family gathering making the following statements:

“My fibromyalgia muscle pain is real. But I am not the type of person to just lie down and quit, not with all these people counting on me. I walked right in and asked my doctor about Lyrica.”

It’s doubtful that Pfizer intended to imply that “other” fibromyalgia patients are the type who just “lie down and quit,” but this is how the commercial is being perceived, and it couldn’t be further from the truth. The 2008 Fibromyalgia Network survey on employment issues clearly showed that patients are doing everything possible to hang onto their jobs and careers. You are definitely all fighters and you don’t take anything laying down!

As a survivor, let Pfizer know a few key factors about living with fibromyalgia that you would like their next commercial to portray. The company has a website that invites FM patients to share their stories. Click on this link to the Lyrica website and identify yourself as a fibromyalgia patient representative and consumer, and then briefly point out what you would like for them to convey in their next commercial (in other words, state how you would like a person with fibromyalgia to appear). Are there certain strengths that you would like the patient in the commercial to portray? Also, are there specific symptoms of fibromyalgia that you would like to see emphasized? Please give this some thought and take the time to offer useful advice and constructive suggestions. Without your input, Pfizer could very well botch another commercial!

I think this is a fair idea. I just spent the last 30 minutes telling you all what I hate about their commercials. Now I should be more proactive and tell Pfizer how they can be less offensive! Whether I want them to be or not, they are the face of Fibromyalgia on our television sets. But it is clear the people writing their ad copy do not have Fibromyalgia or even a great understanding of it. I am going to have to give it some thought as to how I would want Fibromyalgia represented and marketed. It has to make sense to both me and Pfizer. The bottom line is this really is about Pfizer’s bottom line. Fibromyalgia is profitable for them and it is doubtful they will consider any suggestion that could negatively effect their profits – regardless of their totally offensive commercials.

Hooray for those of you who are feeling better since taking Lyrica! But I really would like to know, do you think these commercials are a fair representation of your life since being on Lyrica? If so I am sooo happy for you. If not what would you say to Pfizer that could help them portray your life with Fibromyalgia more accurately?

I HATE DRUG COMPANIES! I hate that their sole purpose is to profit off the needs and health concerns of the public. I hate that they view every illness as an opportunity to line their pockets. I hate that they perpetuate a culture of sickness by treating symptoms and not caring to find a cure. Why would they ever want to find a cure. A cure would be disastrous to their bottom line. I hate that they find a way to create need through their marketing and sales techniques. I hate that they look specifically for disease and illnesses that are marketable. I hate that they have now zoned in on Fibromyalgia and that FM is now the newest, trendy marketable disease. Don’t believe me? Well then let me share with you what the company analyst for Savella had to say.

Savella is the newest FDA approved drug for the treatment of Fibromyalgia. Cypress Bioscience and Forest Laboratories are partners in the creation of Savella. Here is what their analyst had to say:

“With the approval of Savella, we expect Cypress Bioscience to become one of the few profitable biotech companies starting in 2009,” Citi analyst Dr. Lucy Lu said in a note to investors. “Moreover, we view fibromyalgia as a real and significant market opportunity, which is large enough to support multiple successful drugs given the heterogeneous nature of the disease.”

I have bolded and italicized the part of the statement which infuriates me. They are letting their investors know that they have hit the disease jackpot – a real and significant market opportunity. Fibromyalgia is a complicated and multi-symptom disease, heterogeneous if you will,  and no two patients experience it the same way. What a wonderful opportunity these complexities present to drug companies. Savella is just the beginning, but if Savella only treats the pain symptoms of FM, then they will have to create a drug to treat the fatigue. And once they have succeeded in masking the pain and fatigue of FM, well then they can work on another PROFITABLE drug for the brain fog and cognition issues. With a disease like Fibromyalgia the opportunities are endless, and that is exactly what Dr Lucy Lu was expressing to their investors in the above statement. She is promising them multiple successful drugs for the treatment of Fibromyalgia.

I feel physically ill right now, but I am sure they are working on a drug for that too!

Well this is one Fibromyalgia patient who refuses to line their pockets. Call me silly, or stupid, or stubborn, but I will not be a passenger on their drug highway. This is the main reason I have made the decision to battle my FM without the use of prescription drugs. In no way am I critical of those of you who are taking prescription medication to treat Fibromyalgia. I know personally of many people who feel they could not function without them. I am not saying that there is not a need for drugs and drug companies, but I am angry and disgusted with the monopoly they have over healthcare. I believe the more profitable Fibromyalgia becomes, the more pressure drug companies will put on researchers and doctors to NOT find a cure. My abstinence will not give them any less power, but for now it is the only stance against them that I can take.

But as a side note, if you are looking to diversify your portfolio, stocks of Cypress Bioscience Inc. surged 33 percent after receiving FDA approval for Savella.