Hi SC

I'm so sorry!! You mention the memory foam and I have to say it really helps me. It's true that it can have less air flow than other materials, but I have a huge fan blowing on me all night to cancel out all of my issues causing heat. We're even thinking of getting the mattress. I hope you feel better!

I use the Slumber Gel pillow by Wamsutta and absolutely love it. It's soft and squishy and doesn't hold heat that I've noticed. What I really love about this pillow is that I can pretty much shape it to my mood: flatter if I want, or shoved further into the pillow case if I need more propping up (the miracle of gel!). And if I remember the tag right it's good for all sleep positions. Good luck with your search! :D

OMG thaanks for this post, im so picky about pillows. I am always washing mine, and buying new ones like every few months i swear. i only have 1 that i like the rest r just cheap crap. I like the down ones that are soft and moldable. This gel pillow gevurhgirl speaks of looks amazing, Just googled it and will be buying at least one tommorow. I really hope it does not hold heat as i too get so hot. Also for the rest of who sweaty sleepers, i find that u must must get at least 300 thread count sheets, anything less is hot and ruff. And the satin ones, forget it! If i want to play slip and slide im go to a water park.

just checked walmart website and they have some gel pillows for cheap and they have a cool touch memory foam pillow

The only pillow I can use (and I take it with me no matter where I go) is a one pice latex foam. It has air vents in it so doesn't get hot either.

Kind of expensive, usually 25-35 on sale but my sleep is worth it and don't have to replace them often at all.

Polly

Thanks everyone for your responses. I'll be looking them all up today. Hopefully I can find some on the net since I'm down for the count with pain.

Lol, fibroguy about the satin sheets. I just bought a 450 count set, but have had to much pain to change them. Maybe the new pillows will motivate me.

Hmm, new pillows, new sheets--sounds sweeeeet.

Like Pollybizz, I ~who am VERY picky about pillows~ love my latex foam pillow. BUT I tried a newer one to give me a bit more height to help my shoulder pain (I'm a side sleeper) and it wasn't the same as my older one. Or, it WAS the same, when it should have had a bit more loft. Oh, well, everything is going down in quality. There isa company that makes organic handcrafted bedding and I really want those but... finances will not allow. Check this out:
http://www.obasan.ca/en/main_nav/our-products/pillows/saguenay/8900/

Sandyclause, can you tell me a little more about your Sjoegren's? My neuro thinks I have this, but I don't believe so... oh, should I go to that discussion group? I'll look for your posts there and get some info. Don't want to hijack this discussion!

Great thread, thanks for starting it Sandyclause. I haven't found my perfect pillow yet.
I get hot too.

Sandyclause, I got myself a buckwheat husk pillow, which is what the Sobakawa is, I got a different brand, but basically the same thing, there are tiny little husks inside the pillow.
Unfortunately is was so loud and crunchy in my ear, it sounded like someone was walking on gravel next to my ear. Everytime I moved, it was crunch, crunch, in my ear. Also the pillow is smaller than standard size. I actually like a kingsize pillow.

Fibroguy, I am with you on the slip and slide sheets, I had some satin ones once, I thought they would add sensuality to the bedroom. LOL.
I hated them. one night is about all I could put up with. Awful.

So I go for the 100% cotton sheets now, and you are right, the higher the thread count, the softer and nicer the sheets are.

I will check out all the suggestions being made here.

Has anyone used a contoured pillow? how are they?

Sure, I had a contour pillow for a while. Turns out it was wasted money because I turn so much in my sleep.

i have two of every kind & more about 20 on bed @ all times so i change them as the pain does! & put tennis balls in pillows for pressure point! always a neck bone/round bolsters & feather pillow under my neck a fat foamy one between my knees! & i have two huge king size(actual X-tra lge dog pillows w/zippered coversw cheaper then king size pillows only $6 apce)i put them under my body to sleep @ night=don't have money to but a nice thick mattress & have two 36inx6in rolls one under my head pillows to keep them in place & one under my knees while i watch tv!w/the timier on 2hrs after i take my ambian!HOPEFULLY OUT FOR 8HRS hope yu find some great pillow

ps i do have two star shaped gel pillows those are great too!they have those tiny gel beads in them shapes any way you want!

cool version of memory foam and a contour memory foam. I swap them around depending on bad neck and shoulders hurt. use the contour when have alot of neck pain the regular most other times. I tried one of the gel ones and it did not give me the support I needed but I am glad they work for other people.

misunshine is there room for you in your bed after all the pillows are in and arranged? You remind me of the adult version of my 6 yr old she sleeps with about 25 or 30 stuffed animals and is all over the bed, uses them for pillows, huggers and talks in her sleep to them.

That buckwheat kind felt so hard under my ear, I couldn't stand that more than the noise! ugh. I have used the contoured, but it was not comfortable for me. I hate memory foam, so it's the latex foam for me. I have a small, cheap bolster that I use between my knees or under my lower leg somehow, to keep aligned. I can't be without it!
I also keep a very old flattened pillow under my foam~cored one to give it a little more height for my shoulder to survive my side sleeping.