cotton balls and corners question

Firstly I am thinking that they need a little safety cord, like on a tampon. Perhaps you could sew a sturdy thread through the cotton ball a couple of times and bring the two ends together, hanging out. At least you could grab them. If you have one on each side you could use different coloured threads for each. I am wondering if you could get them out when you are in a position where you get air in your vagina, ie the vagina is gaping open a bit, and not tightly closed. Or while in a bath full of water, when gravity has less effect?

I wonder what aliens would think of this conversation?

Louise

Hi Aussielou,

If I said 3 hours, I think that was being a bit conservative. I've left them in all day with no issues. Yes, getting them out is a pain (literally) for which I have no solution. I put a foot on the potty and just reach in and carefully grab them.

For those of us who benefit from lifting the back corners like this, wouldn't two small, squishy, non-toxic "sea anemones" be just the ticket? They would be oval and compressible with little round knobby bumps to gently grasp the walls and stay in place. Yet, they would be large enough to be able to take out without all the hassle. I've been dreaming about them for ages, but it's a project too big for us to contemplate at this time.

I've been pretty inactive lately - doing lots of work in my office and I gave up my regular walk/run months ago when Fukushima blew (I know, probably irrational). This morning I awoke with my cervix very low. I put on running gear and (in the posture!) walked/ran/firebreathed/naulied through the neighborhood to go feed my daughter's chickens (she went camping for the weekend). All I can say is....

*This Stuff Works*

:)

I'm 69, put a tampon up for help, and pulled out a bloody tampon later. My tissues are sore and thin and can't take dry rubbing. I think removal in bath water would be easier because the insertion wouldn't come out dry and rough.

It's scary when that happens but perhaps it's worth trying again after a little time to heal and drenching the tampon in masses of KY jelly or Replens so that it's really soaked and smooth. It can't rub then.
Don't think about your age! I don't and I'm older than you are!!
Hope it helps.
My sensible bit says if a sore place continues to bleed get it checked out.
Be careful what you add to the bathwater... salt seems safe but all the bath products you can buy irritate me and I use baby soap. Sure some others will be along to advise.
Replens is a sort of industrial KY jelly.
Amel

HI Amel

I am not convinced that Replens is just a 'sort of industrial KY jelly'. I may have been conned but I have read several articles which discern a difference between lubricants and moisturisers. I have seen a paper, published in a mainstream medical journal, which appears to be good research, which found that Replens does indeed stimulate the production of vaginal epithelium, and claims that it does it as well as oestrogen cream. Its effects at clinical dose rates last for several days, which lubricants don't. You should be able to find the link to the article somewhere in the Forums. I have posted about it several times.

I have used Replens, but I found it quite wasteful, when applied with the applicator, and therefore expensive, and I forgot which day I had to reapply it. I found that Bliss Balm on demand suited me better, so I have not used Replens again. Our old friends Blue and Mae, and I, had hilarious conversations about Replens a couple of years ago. I think one of them was using it on a regular basis. Now I am drinking lots of red clover tea I don't use Bliss Balm every day either. However, I would be the first person to admit that I have not had red bleeding vaginal and vulval tissues, just some redness and discomfort sometimes, and mainly before I stopped menstruating.

Louise

Article from Maturitas. 1996 Apr;23(3):259-63 (Full text available from Elsevier Science database) or maybe free from PubMed, see below.

Replens versus dienoestrol cream in the symptomatic treatment of vaginal atrophy in postmenopausal women.
Bygdeman M, Swahn ML.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of Replens, a non-hormonal moisturizing vaginal gel, on symptoms of vaginal atrophy in postmenopausal women, in comparison with Dienoestrol (Cilag), an oestrogenic vaginal cream. METHODS: Thirty-nine patients were randomly allocated to either of the two treatments. Replens was given three times a week during the 12 weeks of the study, while Dienoestrol was administered daily during the first 2 weeks and thereafter three times a week. Vaginal dryness index, itching, irritation, dyspareunia, pH and safety were evaluated every week the first month and every month thereafter. RESULTS: Both treatments had a significant increase on vaginal dryness index as soon as the first week of treatment, and the hormonal compound was significantly better than the non-hormonal one. All symptoms such as itching, irritation and dyspareunia significantly decreased or disappeared without any difference between the two treatments. For pH, no significant difference was seen either in each group or between the two groups. No adverse events related with the two drugs were found. CONCLUSION: This study shows that Replens applied vaginally three times a week, is a full therapy for all symptoms of vaginal atrophy as well as local estrogen. No serious adverse event was related. Replens is an alternative treatment to local estrogen and perhaps a good complement of systemic HRT in patient suffering from vaginal dryness.
PMID: 8794418 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Fertil Steril. 1994 Jan;61(1):178-80

Comparative study: Replens versus local estrogen in menopausal women.
Nachtigall LE.
New York University School of Medicine, New York.
This was an open-label study comparing effects of a nonhormonal drug-free bioadhesive vaginal moisturizer to a local estrogen therapy in the treatment of vaginal dryness symptoms. There were 15 women evaluated in each treatment group during a 12-week period. Results indicated that the bioadhesive vaginal moisturizer was a safe and effective alternative to estrogen vaginal cream, with both therapies exhibiting statistically significant increases in vaginal moisture, vaginal fluid volume, and vaginal elasticity with a return of the premenopausal pH state.
PMID: 8293835 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

I like this feminine moisurizer during the day. It has alo vera gel, calendula, Vit E, and ginseng in a water based liquid. No parabens. It comes out of a woman owned company in Portland, OR. It, along with estradiol cream at night has made a big difference in my rawness and burning. I've always used calendula for any skin irritations and burns so I was impressed that it was in this moisturizer. Has any one else tried this product.? I got it on line from Vitacost but I'm sure you could Goggle the name and get information.

Hi KMScott

Do you think the Emerita works differently from a lubricant? How many times a week do you apply it?

I have tried to have a medical grade pesary fitted to me but unfortunately my "shape" is not what is needed to make it stay up there and as soon as it is fitted it just starts sliding out again... bugger! Anyway after a bit of internet research I came across the Sea Sponge for Prolapse - I am sure it has been discussed on the WW forum at some stage already. I have since brought them but haven't been game enough to give it a try yet! I heard about a pair of scissors with a round end that you can just insert and grab hold of the sponge and pull it out. Obviously the rounded end (a bit like a flat spoon) doesn't cause any damage. I can't remember if they are medical scissors or hardware scissors but I am going to try and find the info again. I mentioned the sea sponge to my physio but she is concernced that it has to be fitted right in order to to the job properly. This scared me a little because if I don't do it right and then get into some really active sport (which I am dying to do again) then I might make myself worse. But at the same time I see this sponge as my only chance at remaining active while my body needs time to strengthen and support itself.

I'm not sure of the difference between a moisturizer and a lubricant. I use a small amount in the morning and later in the day if I begin to feel irritated. The blessing is that I have no irritating side effects. Remember, I am using a dot of .1 mg estradiol each night. I hope this lack of burning continues and I can get a pessary in 2 weeks. I take one day at a time...and at the time my days are much improved with the exercises and these products. I'll keep posting my progress.

Hi Minimoo

Firstly, it is not your insides that are the wrong shape. That's like going to a doctor with a broken arm, and the doctors saying they can't fix it because you broke it in the wrong place! The problem is either with the shape or size of the pessary. For many women pessaries are not helpful because their shortcomings are greater than their benefit. You might need another fitting.

You can find a lot of topics about sea sponges by Searching the Forums. I don't use sponges or pessary, but I think they are worth trying. Ensure that it is wet when inserted. A long piece of dental floss threaded up through it, and back down again, will give you a means of grabbing it when it is time to remove it. Wetting it again before removal may make removal easier because it tends to grab the vaginal walls, and if your vaginal walls are thin or fragile you can get bleeding happening when removing it. Also, you have to be careful to clean it properly.

Good luck. Some other sponge users may post too.

Louise

Hi Minimoo

Perhaps by now you have typed in 'sea sponge pessary' or similar in the search box, and seen recent posts. I wrote recently of my experiences. in a nutshell, so far:
a) I waited until I had a free-ish day at home to try for the first time.
b) First attempt fitted in semi standing position in front of the toilet didn't work, nor on all fours. Both times I didn't insert far up enough and sponge worked its way out very quickly (and uncomfortably).
c) Decided to explore a bit inside the vagina before next insertion, which I did lying on the bed, feet in air. Also I made sure the rectocele was tucked in and not protruding at all, then I eased sponge as far up as I possibly could. this time, it stayed in several hours, giving great relief from 'draggy' rectocele pressure.
d) downside seems to be that as soon as I use the toilet, out comes the sponge.
e) am now using sponge if I think the relief from it will be greater than the (admittedly small) hassle of insertion. I have worn it for a few hours on several days now, but not dared to go away from home in it, and don't see how I could use it at work (teaching). But it gives me hope that at some point I may find a silicone pessary that will suit me ( so far my NHS consultant said the donut type would't work and not offered anything else except pelvic floor exercises or surgery)

As regards exercise: cycling and swimming have been totally symptom free. 20 miles on the bike no problem. My downfall is gardening which I love but is difficult to keep good posture. Walking I find just causes the prolapse to steadily protrude further due I guess simply to gravity.

Hope the above helps, I'm in a learning process. Rest and prayers along the way all helping!