When I'm traveling, if I must sleep on a hotel's extra-firm bed, I awaken the next day feeling as though I have actual bruises on my body wherever I made contact with the mattress.

So when my nine-year-old no wave waterbed mattress began to sag last year and I developed back trouble as a result, I fretted over how on earth I was going to find a replacement that was supportive enough yet gentle enough for my fragile body. Picking the wrong mattress can be a very costly mistake. And my husband, who is healthy, had to like it too.

I already had two Tempur-pedic pillows at home. I bought the first one after an auto accident when the physical therapist suggested I get a neck pillow that would give proper support. I liked it so much that I bought a second flat one to place between my knees to cut down on hip strain. So I did consider that brand from the beginning, but I also wanted to check out the competition to see what they offered.

The first place I went to was a discount furniture warehouse. They had their own brand of memory foam, several pillow tops, adjustable mattresses, and the kind with air in them. None of them would fit in an existing waterbed frame, which would mean I'd have to get a whole new bed with box springs and frame. I would lose the storage of my double under dresser as well. I tested out several mattresses in the store; nearly all of them were too firm for me. The memory foam had the opposite problem; I lay down on it and sagged downward almost immediately as it offered no support at all. I quickly decided that even though I would save money with one of these, the cost in terms of my physical well-being was too high.

I then went to a store that specialized in quality mattresses. Some of the pillow tops here were fairly luxurious, and my husband would have been happy with any of them, but they still weren't quite right for me, and I'd still have to buy a whole new set up to use them. I tried the floor model Tempur-pedic, and the difference was immediately apparent. I didn't sag into the mattress, but after a few minutes, it softened and conformed to my shape. I felt no pressure on my sensitive joints and muscles. And it did not require any sort of box spring or special frame, so I could buy just the mattress and use my existing waterbed frame. I was sold.

My husband was a bit dubious because the mattress is a bit brick-like when you first lie down on it, but we were assured we could return it during the trial period if we decided it wasn't for us. After about a week, he conceded that it did get softer with use. He said he'd gotten accustomed to the feel of it and thought he was sleeping better than he had with the waterbed. So we were both happy.

Choosing the right mattress for you is a very personal decision as our differing ailments cause differing physical requirements. Try out a variety in the stores, and preferably buy something that has a return policy so you can take it back if after a few nights you realize it won't work out. If you need both supportive and gentle at the same time, consider the Tempur-pedic. I found it to be worth every penny.

Review written by Karen Brauer, Butyoudontlooksick.com© 2005