a little sponge warning

Submitted by Christine on June 14, 2008 - 9:58am
Body: 

Hi All,

I had a most unpleasant experience with the sea sponge yesterday that I thought I might share – particularly relevant for those with severe UP.

My two little sea pearls have been sitting in a cupboard for several years now, because from the beginning I couldn’t make them work for me.

But yesterday I had the idea that I would place the sponge alongside my uterus and push it very high up into the corner at the top/side of my vagina instead of trying to push and hold my cervix up with it as I had tried unsuccessfully in the past.

So I lubricated inside with balm and pushed the smaller of the two sponges up as far as I could reach. This did indeed have the effect of keeping my cervix higher so that I had no detectable prolapse, which was pretty neat.

However, it was not entirely comfortable because my guts have come down around my prolapsed uterus to such a degree that pushing them out of the way at this point causes discomfort – not unlike a pain in the a** feeling.

Well…by the time I was ready to take it out I could sense vaginal tenderness as well as gut-ache. Lo and behold, I couldn’t reach it! I had moved a lot in the posture while the sponge was in and it had worked itself into a little ball tucked way into that corner – there’s actually an anatomical name for the top corners of the vagina, but the term escapes me atm.

It was a bit traumatic getting it out, as I had to bear down on the toilet while reaching in as far as I possibly could…not easy to do with my entire uterus in the way.
Anyway, I scuffed up my vagina in the process and the ordeal ended with my finally and painfully pulling out a bloody sponge.

This morning I feel fine – no lasting damage done. While it was great to be bulge-free for a few hours, this latest adventure showed me, once again, that prolapse may be a nuisance but at least it’s painless.

:/ Christine

Clonmacnoise

June 14, 2008 - 6:53pm

Christine,

I'm so sorry it didn't work for you, and that you had to suffer like that. I know what you mean when you say you "scuffed up" your vagina. That's what happens when I use the sponge.

I've been working with a tampon on the days I have to be on my feet 10 - 12 hours because for me there is a pinching after too many hours, and I find myself hobbling with every step.

The tampon rests comfortably about mid vagina. It's shorter than other tampons I've used, and it opens about 1/4 of the normal expansion if I was having a period. It also opens like a flower, so I can say I've "flowered and de-flowered my own vagina!"

I've had that balling of the sponge experience too, and I thought perhaps the sponge was too small or too soft. Perhaps we should both try again and use a bigger one.

I do like the olive oil. I'd like to try one of your balms, and I might one day soon. Right now I'm trying to keep all this a private matter, and if I bought something, I'd get the third degree and, "You better get to the doctor... blah blah." As if a doctor could... but that's a no win argument and one I'm not ready to put up with right now.

Take care of yourself,

Judy

alemama

June 14, 2008 - 8:27pm

Sorry that happened to you. I haven't tried a sponge yet- but was considering ordering one- hmmm maybe now I won't. Kinda reminds me of the one time I tried to use the instead soft cups- I was jumping up and down trying to get that thing out-

Judy- don't spill your secret. Just say it is like face cream for dry skin- I doubt you will get any more questions....

louiseds

June 15, 2008 - 1:52am

Maybe the Balms should come with an additional stick on label, saying "Mind Your Own Business Balm"?

;-)

louiseds

June 15, 2008 - 2:08am

Hi Christine

The other day I had to splint for a bowel motion, and when I removed my thumb from my vagina it had fresh blood on it. It was clear to me from the position of the blood on my thumb that it had come from inside my cervix. Oh well, I thought, I am going to have a period after all (constipation and last couple of days before a period normally going hand in hand for me). There was no sign of laceration in my vagina after poking around a bit more. I used a napkin for the next 24 hours but had no other sign of blood on it in that time, nor since. Since then I have had very little vaginal discharge at all, for the first time since childhood. Maybe I am there!!

And Christine, maybe your blood was not from the vagina, but from the cervix? Though I do realise that your LS may be involved, and that it may have been from the vagina.

Has anyone else experienced this type of little, bright bleed, probably pressure-related?

Anyway, you have certainly proved that your postural techniques do succeed in pulling things up, even if your innards didn't like the little extra lump!

Cheers

Louise

fairmaiden

June 15, 2008 - 10:39am

Yes, I have had the pressure related bleeding that you were speaking of. It happens whenever I don't drink enough water & I strain to have a bowel movement.

goldfinch1

June 15, 2008 - 11:00am

I had some bleeding one day after lubricating, and realized that I had 'nicked' myself with my fingernail. Now I keep my nails very short - I don't want that to happen again.

Mae

June 16, 2008 - 3:45pm

Hi Christine,

I had the same experience with the sponge, except for the bleeding. I got the sponge in and it held things up nicely for a couple of hours. After a while I realized I could feel my prolapse. I tried to get the sponge out and couldn't find it. I think my prolapse had fallen over it or something. I became panicked and when I reached it I only had a hold of a little piece of it and it tore. Then I really panicked, got a hold of it again and yanked it out. Although I didn't bleed I was sore for a long time. Louise suggested sewing a string on it when I wanted to try it again. That worked great for finding it and it came out a lot easier, but I was sore again after wearing it. I give up! Glad it works for some people...I'm just not one of them. Sorry you had such a bad experience as well.

((Hugs))

Mae

Christine

June 16, 2008 - 7:02pm

Thanks, Everyone. The amazing thing is that my uterus has stayed lifted. Not nearly as much as when the sponge was in, but it hasn't descended all the way back down yet, something I cannot account for logically.

At any rate, wouldn't it be neat if we had a great pessary that did the same thing, but wasn't scratchy or hard to reach? I wrote about my dream pessary years ago...a little oval squishy thing with soft nubs that would hold it in place and distribute pressure evenly. A (silicone) sea anemone instead of a sea sponge!

:) Christine

Clonmacnoise

June 16, 2008 - 7:11pm

There has got to be something out there that would work. It can't be absorbent. I'm thinking of a squishy egg shaped ball that's made like a breast implant. It would need an applicator and would need to come in sizes.

So get on with it and invent the insertable, disposible pessary that comes in sizes. Someone will make a fortune.

Judy

Mae

June 16, 2008 - 7:37pm

Christine, I am soo amazed that your prolapse is up since you used the sponge. I had the EXACT same experience, even though, like you, my experiences with the sponge were not great ones. My prolapse was not nearly as pronounced after the first time I used the sponge. Then when I tried it again (with the string attached) a few weeks later, it became even LESS pronounced. So, as I see it, I used the sponge twice over a months time, for about a total of 6 hours and it changed things somehow! My prolapse is obviously there, but hardly peeks anymore. It's very strange. What do you think is happening here?

Mae

AnneH

June 16, 2008 - 9:23pm

My pessary does that. If I wear it a while then take it out, things stay "up" for days, or even weeks. NOT LOGICAL but it is so.

Mae

June 16, 2008 - 10:55pm

That is amazing!! So, should we do that..albeit uncomfortable, to keep our POP up???? Wow! Mae

Christine

June 16, 2008 - 11:23pm

I dunno...for years I tried to wear a pessary comfortably and never did it improve my symptoms. All I can think of is that maybe the sponge hooked some of my fascia onto my ischial spine on that side - lol!

louiseds

June 17, 2008 - 1:32am

I am wondering if there is such a beasty in the babies' teething rings/objects line? Everything that goes in babies' mouths these days is silicon, and I remember them coming in all shapes and sizes, with nobbles too!

The Pessquest continues....

L

Marlene

June 25, 2008 - 8:59pm

I could not use a pessary, so I'm using a sea sponge, which has been wonderful. To put it in, I go down on all fours and put the sponge inside myself after putting K-Y jelly on it. I remove it every nite by going on my knees and putting a mirror on the floor. I push up my fallen bladder with my left hand and the sponge reappears. I pull the sponge out with my right hand. I carry a mirror with me always and look every time I go to the bathroom. If the sponge has fallen, I wash my hands and push the sponge up with my right hand. My obgyn said I had a big bulge berfore using the sea sponge, but now I don't have a bulge.

AnneH

July 1, 2008 - 1:00am

I think I'm going to try the sea sponge. I love my pessary but it is uncomfortable to insert and remove. The sponge sounds softer.

Happy Lady

April 22, 2014 - 12:12pm

I tried using the sponge (Sea Pearl) yesterday. I followed the directions to the letter!

After wearing the sponge for a couple of hours, I noticed several things.
1- I felt irritated inside for the first hour or so.
2- I had abdominal pain also during that time which really did not subside.

After four hours, I removed the sponge and that was where the real fun started!

I worked to the point of panic almost, trying to remove the thing! After finally getting the sponge removed, I did see blood, not a lot but still, blood! I did not like the way the thing adhered to the walls of my uterus! It was not fun and it did frighten me! Surely there must be a better way to wear and remove these things! I really want to do this!

I am going to give myself a few days to "recover" from the irritation. Then, I will trim the sponge and try again!

Advice welcome! Blessings to all!

Surviving60

April 22, 2014 - 12:14pm

Oh my goodness. Why would you even want to try again after an experience like that? Welcome to WW. You will notice this is a 6-year-old discussion you have posted under. I've been on this forum for 4 years and can't think of anyone who has used a sponge with any kind of success and posted about it in the last few years. Have you looked around the site and done any other reading about ways we manage our prolapse? - Surviving

Eck woman

April 22, 2014 - 1:31pm

I have tried to use the sponge and have to keep trimming it to fit it in. I have not had success with keeping it in being post hysterectomy and having a cystocele and vaginal prolapse. My gynecologist was able to insert the pessary but I am still trying to do that myself and not having much luck. I wore a donut pessary before my hysterectomy and it came out while using a public restroom and rolled across the floor!! Not one of my better pessary stories. Anyway it was easier to wear a pessary when I had my uterus.