Trialling the N:rem system for better sleep

I have been given this product as part of a product review through the Chronic Illness Bloggers Network. Although the product was a gift, all opinions in this review remain my own and I was in no way influenced by the company.

In the past six months I’ve had at least three unplanned hospital visits due to severe neck and back pain, which compounded my problems sleeping.

I’ve largely managed my back/neck pains through medication and other remedies but never really considered acquiring a better mattress  for various reasons including cost. But the pains exacerbated in the past year, and when it gets excruciating, I am unable to shift position in bed, particularly if I’m lying on my back and trying to get up in the morning. I realised that I needed to do something about the problem but wasn’t sure what.

When I was asked to review the N:rem sleep system, I received the trial pack with great anticipation, and set out to test the product over a 30 day period.

N:rem specifically targets chronic pain sufferers and promises to “improve the way you sleep” by providing “comfort for painful areas and support where needed.” One of their biggest and boldest claims is that they provide customisable support for varying needs – an ambitious promise considering everyone’s pain problems are different. Now that I knew what I could expect, I was curious and keen to find out whether the sleep system delivered.

Setting up the N:rem system for tailored support

In my trial pack, I received five colour-coded deep reflex foam tablets (one firm, one medium, one soft and two super soft) for one side of my bed. The system comes with various sizes for all beds, from single all the way up to super king.

Perhaps this system’s biggest selling point is that it’s tailored to individual needs.  The tablets can be shifted around in relation to one’s pain needs – a heaven-sent if one lives with an unpredictable chronic pain condition like fibromyalgia (fms). It comes with a helpful guide on the various set-ups for the tablets, as well as accessible customer support over the phone.

It was quite easy finding the best set-up for me using the N:rem guide. I went with the recommended layout for back pain, starting with super soft at the top, followed by firm, medium, soft then super soft. I placed the tablets in this order under my bottom sheet, half worrying that they might move during the course of the night, given that I toss and turn quite a lot.

The ultimate test

Admittedly, I had some anxiety at bedtime with a healthy dose of scepticism, and it took a few days for me to adjust to the tablets. Despite this, I noticed from the first night I used the system, that I fell asleep far quicker than I’m used to. It felt bizarre but wonderful. Because, as someone living with fms, I battle insomnia, which has plagued me since childhood. Falling asleep is usually the hardest part for me, sometimes even after taking medication to induce drowsiness.

The system was ultra comfortable and my body adjusted nicely (loving every moment of it to be honest). This continued over the rest of the 30-day trial period.

It would be remiss of me not to mention that after my first few nights of trialling the N:rem system I started looking forward to going to bed every night, instead of dreading it.

In the mornings I woke feeling better than I would usually, with no soreness or strains on my neck or back. Monitoring my sleep patterns with the Sleep Bot app, on mornings, I noted that I continued waking up several times at night. However I couldn’t actually recall waking up, and I can only reason that it’s because I quickly returned to my slumber – which, again, is not always easy for me.

The only constructive criticism I have, is that initially the N:rem tablets shifted a bit during the nights, but I suspect this was because I currently have a king-sized bed and I was using tablets for one side of it. I’m guessing that this may be easily remedied by using tablets on both sides of the bed.

Verdict + extras

I’m completely sold on the N:rem sleep system. I however understand that the price may be a deterrent, with the mattress costing £695 for a double-sized bed.  The great thing is that N:rem offers  a number of practical payment plans, including their £1 a Night Payment Plan, and a Buy-Now-Pay-Later Payment Plan.

If you’d like to try the sleep system before making the purchase, there’s a 90-night trial. The foam tablets are machine-washable, and come with free next-day delivery and 10 years warranty.

I’m definitely planning on purchasing the full system, with the CoolMax Cover for convenience, in the very near future.

Lastly, for comparison and to be completely sure of my opinion before writing this post, I removed the system from my bed for a night’s sleep. My bed felt unusually hard and flat, causing great discomfort in my shoulders and at the centre of my back.

Needless to say, I’ve pulled the N:rem tablets right back out.

Gentle Hugs 🙂