This is the first night of our 8 day petsit for a nice cat.
We didn’t feel welcomed as we were not offered a drink of tea coffee or even water and sat there waiting for their taxi to arrive. Once they had left we brought our luggage in. Then off we went to explore. Not really impressed by the area so far but will venture further.
Came home fed the cat & watched tv then went to bed. That’s when the problem started with the bed it was unbearably uncomfortable.
I’ve had to come downstairs and try to sleep on the settee. I’m 64 & suffer with fibromyalgia so I don’t know if I can get through another 8 days being so uncomfortable. I’m lying here in tears 
I just want to go home
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Sorry that you are dealing with this. I know how lack of sleep can make me miserable and emotional. 
I can sleep on anything, so I have no suggestions for improving the bed, but I’m sure others will have ideas.
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I’m on the couch now but not comfortable. It’s still better than the bed though. First time I’ve experienced this problem. Surely the HO knows how uncomfortable the bed is. It has a huge lump in the middle so impossible for 2 people to sleep in it.
Thank you for your reply
Crazydoglady, I’m so sorry you’re so uncomfortable, that sucks. I guess this must be this the only bed in the house?
Is there a hotel close enough by that you and your partner could switch off at so you’d both get a good night’s sleep every other night?
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That’s good idea Val I will look into that
Thanks
We have one of those hand held back massage gadgets in the car with us, we’ve only needed it a couple of times since we starting sitting when the beds were really really bad, but we’ve been so relieved to have it with us when it’s happened. It seems like huge chore to even get it back out the car when one of us is in pain, but they are so good. They just remove a bit of the pain that then allows you to get a little more mobile to naturally ease things.
It actually only got put in the car thinking the constant car journeys may get to one of us, but that hasn’t been the case. It’s been the odd bed.
Try turning the mattress over and around.
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Maybe consider ordering a cot or such. That would be cheaper than staying at a hotel, for instance.
Unfortunately I don’t think that would work with my fibromyalgia. I have hardly slept a wink on the couch and I’m in a lot of pain this morning. Looked at hotel prices and they are out of my budget. I’m so miserable 
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Hi. May I ask how many sits you have done? I’m Sorry if this sounds unkind but dealing with variables such as differences in beds is part of the gig. We have slept on beds that varied from luxurious to boards. Everyone’s mattress preferences differ. On the subject of not being offered tea, sometimes people are in a fluster to get off on their trip and their manners slip. Good luck.
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The poor welcome and lacklustre area didn’t get the sit off to a good start and it won’t have improved with an uncomfortable mattress and no sleep. I feel for you.
Are you in a guest bedroom?
Is there an alternative bedroom/mattress available.
If not and a hotel is beyond your budget I would consider ordering a mattress online. Many of the ones that arrive next day and rolled up are very reasonable and comfortable.
Don’t expect a contribution from the homeowner but it would be a nice gesture on their part if the mattress is definitely in need of replacement.
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As @KChev said it could be worthwhile turning the mattress.
It may not be so for the mattress you have, unfortunately, but some mattresses are also different from one side to the other regarding softness.
Maybe too late for your sit, but I know some people with special needs have an upper mattress they bring for travel.
Like this (there are others of course)
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It sounds like that with your condition, you will have to plan for your pain. Maybe a memory foam top for the mattresses where you sit? You will find many different kinds of places you will be staying. It’s best you figure out how to be more comfortable so you can enjoy the experience more. It will help a lot.
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You mentioned ‘we’ is it possible that you go home, or you travel to go to a cheaper place for a hotel on your own, and leave your other half, I know it’s not ideal, but at the moment you just need your pain to ease. We sit as a couple and it’s our back up plan to part ways short term if we need to, it’s not what either of us want to ever do, but it’s the good thing about sitting as a couple.
Also, as for the cuppa tea/water thing, we’ve found it very normal for an HO to bring us up to speed with everything we NEED to know as a priority for both of us, especially when there’s a taxi coming at a certain time and their focus is naturally on clock-watching. You’re just seeing it as unwelcoming with hurting so much, the pain is making it look worse to you. They would have simply had their minds on their pets, their packing, and their taxi… and then you, which is only natural.
Personally we would never expect a cuppa when we’ve just turned up and they are leaving shortly after. The pain is making you see things in an unrealistic way, and you’re not impressed by the area, but you choose to sit in that area. None of it is the HO’s fault when you already have fibromyalgia, but you’ve brought them into your post, so you need to ease your pain somehow, it’s affecting the way you see things.
Hopefully it may ease a little as the day goes on, I know that doesn’t solve your problem about tonight though. If you can’t afford a local hotel, I’d sleep on the couch instead tonight.
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When we once encountered a very uncomfortable bed, we put the mattress on the floor and found it was much better. Or, as others have said, try turning it, or adding a memory foam topper. Is this the only bed in the property? If there is another of a similar size, you could either request to move bedrooms or just switch the mattresses. If nothing else, you could maybe try putting a duvet under the bottom sheet. If there’s a hump in the middle, try putting pillows on each side, underneath the mattress.
None of this is ideal, but might just work to make you comfortable enough to manage. Please mention the bed issues in your review.
Good luck with it!
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I would find a camping shop or Amazon and get a blow up mattress.
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Is this in the guest room?
If so, I would suggest switching the mattress for the owners and then putting it back. Buying a good mattress topper to use on future sits might be a good investnent too.
I paid £700 plus for my super dooper mattress and found I hated it, I put a mattress topper on it and now I can rest better
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It’s something I’ve never come across before also the house was very dirty. Mold around bath & shower. Very dirty stained toilets. Just horrible. It’s put me off petsitting if I have to carry a mattress topper around with me that’s just not practical but thanks for the suggestions
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Are you the first sitters for this owner ? Please leave an honest review for future sitters .
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We had this once. Multiple weeks sit.
We put the extra pillows they had in the bump.
Worked good.
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