Get a low rise bed frame and thin box springs. The total height for the low frame and thin springs is 9". With a 13" mattress and a 2" topper, the total height will be 24".

Alternately, if you get a low platform bed, you won't even need a boxspring.

Thank you. The Bed Mart salesman is telling me I need metal-frame box springs/supports because wood ones will splinter. Really? DH and I are Seniors (106 lbs and 180 lbs), and we don't *leap* into bed.

I'd rather not buy a new bed. Existing frame is good quality, heavy steel.

I've never had metal-frame boxsprings and have never had any trouble with wooden boxsprings. And I have two teenage boys, 18 and almost 20, one of whom weighs around 180 lbs and the other considerably more than 106 lbs, who do leap into bed.

Forgot to mention -- I live a good six-hour roundtrip from any bed/mattress store, so I ordered all of our bunkie boards from Amazon.

Thanks again. I've ordered the Beautyrest Bridgewater mattress and two cloth-covered wood bunkie boards. Delivery is supposed to be tomorrow. (This is from Mattress Firm, not Bed Mart. I misspoke.)

Now I can't find the Martha Stewart Dream Science 2" topper that Macy's had for $192. They have the 3" for $232, but I think that's overkill. We've liked the 2" on another bed.

chisue, it looks like it's not available anymore : ( . When I googled Martha Stewart Dream Science 2", the first hit was this, and it has "closeout" in the link and the page says it's no longer available,

https://www.macys.com/shop/product/closeout-dream-science-2-memory-foam-mattress-toppers-venttech-ventilated-foam-by-martha-stewart-collection-created-for-macys?ID=1847289

Crazy that something with 64 reviews, with all five stars, gets discontinued.

Oh, for heaven's sake! Now I have a TOO SHORT bed: It's 19.5" off the floor.

The Beautyrest Bridgewater Firm mattress that came this afternoon is NOT 13.5" tall. It's 11" tall. They are charging me more to replace the bunkies with 4.5" supports -- to arrive next Tuesday. Nobody will explain or apologize about the wrong info on the Mattress Firm website that says this mattress is 13.5".

My DH drove to our nearest Macy's this morning to get a 3" MS Dream Science topper. They had no 2" toppers in the store. Today they said I could order a 2" shipped free, but it wouldn't arrive for a week. The 3" is currently 'breathing' -- in our LR.

At least I can sleep on the new mattress tonight. I've used our LR sofa the last two nights -- along with a morphine pill and a 500 Tylenol to combat sciatic nerve pain. I had no idea I could sleep on that sofa, but it's wonderful -- Century spring/down construction; new 17 years ago. I don't know if that's still available.

chisue, I'm sorry for your mattress rodeo, and for your sciatic nerve pain, which I can sympathize with (I had surgery my senior year in college and several rounds of physio over the years). I hope you get this straightened out soon and get to sleep in your new bed soon : ) .

I find buying new mattresses absolutely crazy-making.

Thank you so much for your sympathy! Fear of Mattress Buying got me into this mess in the first place...procrastinating too long, *knowing* it would be crazy-making.

The new mattress was too hard for me to use last night, but I got 4-5 hours sleep in the LR anyway -- just me and the topper, silently 'breathing' on the floor.

I did 'chat' with Mattress Firm this morning: Stonewall. They say the height of a mattress can vary by 2.5". (Didn't everybody know that? haha) So, this mattress could have been 11', or the 13.5 advertised on their webpage, or even 16"?

They can't even tell me that the supports will be 4" (salesman's first statement), or 4.5" (salesman's second quote), or 5" (website). They took away our old 8" springs yesterday.

'Chat' is going to "reach out" to the store. Hahahahahaha.

That's The End. Thanks for being an ear.

Eek. Good luck with the rest of the journey, chisue : ) .

My problem with my back has always been mattresses that are too soft. Unfortunately, my husband has always preferred a softer mattress, so for many years I slept with a board under my side of the mattress. I think our latest choice, the Novaform Pearl from Costco, keeps both of us pretty happy. Though honestly one of the best parts was ordering online and having it delivered -- no mattress stores or salespeople! The new height was a shock though, and that's how I discovered bunkie boards.

Wishing you a good night's sleep tonight!

I spoke too soon. Not Over Yet.

The 3" foam topper was 'way too much cushioning. We both woke with sore backs. I've called DS to come help us put that genie back into its bottle (expanded foam into its box). It has to be 'saleable' for a refund ($230).

DH brought home a 1.5" gel/foam topper today. Now that is 'breathing' on the LR floor. It won't be inflated enough until tomorrow night. I guess I have another night on the sofa.

I am so tired of making and unmaking this bed.

I am so sorry, chisue. Not sleeping well is no fun : ( .