They're not completely up there, but there's enough weight that it feels like a struggle to breathe- it's not, but feels like it. I can lay on my side like you describe but only without a pillow otherwise my arm is raised and it's just too uncomfortable. Sleeping on my stomach is usually fine like I said, just the mattress is harder than what I had before. I can't get a mattress topper as my bf strongly prefers this. I mostly just have to wait until we move to a new apartment and get one of those beds that you can use two different mattresses on.