Support from "Instead Softcups"

I haven't tried any sort of pessary myself, but that sounds like as good a pessary as any. just wondering, what type of prolapse are you dealing with?

I remember reading that cystoceles/rectoceles were harder to fit in terms of pessary use. seemed that for uterine prolapse it was easier.
I think its great that you found something that works for you, maybe others will find it helpful also.

Hi Penny6, I bought the instead a while back, but really didn't give it a good try. I was fitted for a donut pessary in November, it felt fine when the doctor put it in and I wore it to pee and then home! I took it out that night and every stinkin' time I try to put it back in, it goes flying across the room!!!!! It's really hilarious, when I think about it! I used to write a lot last year, I joined in here when there was only 445 members! Look up my profile! I'm 63 soon, and sometimes I feel like I should just go ahead and have the surgery, but so far I've put it off for 2 years! I wear the V-belt, and it helps a lot, but would like to try the instead cups again! Talk to me! Try to e-mail me! Nancy

I went out immediately after I read your post and tried the Instead Softcups. I had just found out that I have an level 4 uterine prolaspe - everything else is where it belongs. The softcup wouldn't stay in place. It kept slipping, and did nothing for me - and when I went to pee, out it came.
I just ordered kegelmaster Kegelmaster 2000 after reading a ton of testimonies about it. I've ordered the book here as well, and I intend to exercise my way to a better situation. I am VERY uncomfortable right now, because I couldn't get fitted with a pessary by my doctor. I was hoping that the pessary would make me more comfortable while I was exercising - and even walking around! I'm thinking about trying one of the donut types to see if that will work. Check out the website for the Kegelmaster - if anyone has comments, please write!

Well I have to tell you I have been using the kegelmaster every day with absolutely no day off for 3 months now. I know for sure it hasnt helped my cystocyle. Im not sure if it will ever help. I still use it every day. Time will tell I guess. Im just afraid it will make things worse. I heard from some people it makes things worse. So we will see.
I dont know if it helps at all, I seem to have week muscles still after 3 months which seems crazy to me. Every gimmack is just that. They want you to believe what they want you to believe. Good luck to you and let us know if it helps.

Just wondering why use a kegelmaster when you can do the kegel exercises just by contracting your muscles. I do squeezing, like you are holding back your urine flow, and hold for 10 counts then relax for ten counts. I do ten of these, four times a day. I think it has helped the "bulge" - I'm not sure whether I have a cystocele or uterine prolapse, possibly a bit of both. It really has helped me doing these exercises and they are "free" (and I'm all for anything that doesn't cost as my money is very tight).
Cheers,
Wendy

I have a level three uterine prolapse(it actually is partly outside my vagina on most days and a level 2 bladder prolapse, I would try the softcups also but I wonder if anyone else who has this problem tried it, was this your case also, if you don't mind me asking?

Trust me, Im not saying the kegelmaster is the best invention or anything. But, they make a good point. Exercising any muscle against tension is better than just moving that muscle. The kegelmaster is spring loaded with 15 tension settings and you work yourself up. The whold theory makes sense to me thats why I bought it. I will keep using it until I wear it out.
Patty

I think the problem with prolapse though is that it is mainly caused by a combination of factors, one of which includes damage to ligaments, fascia, and muscle. No amount of kegels, whether through using a device, or independently, will repair damage. I think this is one of the reasons, (amongst others), why kegels don't work with prolapse.

Don't get me wrong, I do a few kegels a day and think they have increased muscle tone post partum, but I certainly don't believe anymore that anyone can kegel themselves out of prolapse.

I am certainly not knocking anyone trying these things, and would love to hear of something which works, but don't you think if these testimonials were true, that we would have heard about them other than from the kegelmaster web site?

There was a whole thread about the kegel thing recently, and some one made a good point that if kegels had ever cured prolapse there would be no need for surgery, and none of us would be here looking for alternatives! :)

In the US, the first type of treatment many doctors think about is SURGERY. It is the PHILOSOPHY of the medicine in this country: treat the symptom, NOT the cause. No wonder you wouldn't hear anything from the medical establishment that would "cut into" their profits!!

From the hours of reading that I've been doing since my diagnosis, I have come to conclude that exercise (and eating properly) WILL make a difference. Why? Because when we give birth, everything stretches, and then comes back (hopefully) to almost pre-pregnancy shape. That is how nature works! If you look historically at how humans lived, we were hunter/gatherers and did LOTS of walking (and ate healthy, raw food - lots of fiber). Nowadays, we do next to nothing in exercise - people even use remote controls to change their channels on the TV, auto controls to open the DOORS and windows in your car, garage door openers, etc... We don't walk anywhere - not to the bus, to the grocery store - don't carry anything... Research shows that all the way through life, we can strengthen our bodies (muscle and bone) with weight training - (that's resistance as in the Kegelmaster).

I AM going to strengthen the Pelvic floor muscles- and using resistance works much better than isometrics in ANY kind of exercise, it's logical that this would be much more effective. What have you got to lose?? they give you a TRIPLE moneyback guarantee (no, I don't work for them, or benefit in anyway, I swear). I believe in MY ability to deal with this temporary setback - and I will be writing to you in the future telling you how much better I am doing - I promise!

Good for you Yogam!!! :)

I for one am inspired with your positive attitude and I so look forward to hearing of your progress and any tips you can pass along! You go girl!

I have no doubt that a positive attitude is the key towards achieving anything and everything in this life.

Michelle.

If you do your kegals standing up- you have the weight of your pelvic organs - and it's free.

I admire your attitude yogam! and I agree with you about the medical philosophy here in the states, and with the idea that exercise and diet can have a HUGE impact on wellbeing.

I also agree that resistence helps strengthen muscle. the only point I wish to make is that it is unlikely that strong pelvic muscles will reverse a prolapse. kegels have been shown to help with stress incontinence, but that's because strong muscles can compensate for the poor position of the bladder/urethra while you sneeze or cough.

some women here have seen adverse effects of too many kegels, so kegel away, but do so cautiously and pay attention to how you feel. you will notice if your prolapses start to feel worse or not. I suspect position while you kegel makes a difference too, but have no evidence of such.

I think the way to reposition pelvic organs is with posture and exercises designed to help the body support those organs in their natural positions.

ladygreer53 I am really having trouble getting the softcup to stay in. Could that be because my bladder prolapse is too far gone or maybe I'm not putting it in far enough. Would you have any suggestions as to what I might be doing wrong?? Thanks for any advice!

Hi Penny,
I have a stage 4 uterine prolapse, and I couldn't use the instead.... It slid right out. The pessaries didn't work either - the donut was so painful going in, the only thing that hurt me worse was the doctor taking it out!! I was feeling pretty down, but I discovered something that seems to be working so far..... sea sponge. I read about it here on whole woman, and ran out to the store and got a natural, large size. I cut it down to approximately the size of the pessary (although I still am not sure if this is what I'm supposed to do). I got it wet with warm water, applied a little sterile jelly, and it went in with no trouble. I'm not sure if I'm feeling it because of other effects (I'll go into that later), but it has stayed in!! When it feels "weird" I go to the bathroom and check to see if it's falling out. It has dropped a bit, but, it hasn't fallen out!! And tonight, for the first time in a week (since I prolapsed), I went out for a walk. I was a bit nervous, thinking that it would fall out onto the pavement while I was walking!! It stayed in!!! I'm beyond thrilled.
I take it out at night, wash it with natural soap and let it dry.

My other comment is about the kegelmaster. I have always practiced tightening my kegels during peeing- and even when I walk, I practice. However, I got the device yesterday, and started at spring position 2 because I wasn't completely weakened. I could never feel the effect on my muscles like I did after using this thing! My inner stomach area feels like I've been lifting weights!

Now, I can't be sure that this is going to change my prolapse, but it's logical that if your vagina is tight, organs are not going to be sloshing around as much - and hopefully will be held generally in place. At least that's the supposition that I'm going on. I am committed to give it my ALL for at least 6 months (using Christine's book, which I'm still waiting to receive), continue yoga, chi-gong, and then I will re-evaluate what I will do next. (the only thing I'm nervous about doing is playing tennis - and that truly makes me sad..)
So, sorry for the very long post, but I hope it will help you!

Hi Penny,
I think that the softcups were too flimsy to hold up the weight of my uterus - and probably because my vaginal walls are not tight enough to provide resistance to the ring. Remember, assorted pessaries wouldn't stay up. But I am VERY HAPPY to report that the sea sponge is doing the job! And I am tightening up from the kegelmaster - I can already see a difference in just 3 days!

The kegelmaster isn't all it is cracked up to be. The posture is a lot less invasive and doesn't worsen things. The kegelmaster worsened my rectocele or caused it! I would definitely use that thing with caution. And yes I was doing it right. Kegels make my rectocele feel worse so even if you don't have one now you could develop one and trust me you don't want that added problem!

Although I am still waiting for my book to be delivered, I am doing things that I believe will help me, and so far I'm pleased. I'm sure that the posture will work in conjunction with having tighter, more youthful muscles aiding the process. In fact, from day one, when no pessary could hold inside my vaginal walls, I can now rely on the sponge staying where I put it. I have only a uterine prolapse, and I cannot speak about your experience, but I can say from my experience I am very pleased, and optimistic. Although all women, we're all built slightly differently from eachother, and I think that we have to experiment to see what works for us as individuals.

With regard to the kegelmaster causing your rectocele, I would like Christine's opinion on that.

m ah

After reading on the forum about them, I went right out after work to pick them up. Tried them the next day as I wanted to be able to give them a "whole day" of energy and focus. WEeell, It felt kind of nice, mildly supportive and tightened things up a bit. It did, as someone else mentioned, slip down a bit, but not too far. After about 4 hours, I was noticing it felt slightly uncomfortable and pinched so I removed it. So,..Now I don't know if it was because of having it in for a bit, but there was a lot of like a creamy discharge that came with it, not fluid. But... the next day, I felt great! So, I don't know if having that little bit of support helped for that few hours or if it cleared something out, but either way it seemed to make a positive difference. So, I will use it when i feel I need a bit of support.
I had been fit for a pessary by a Nurse practitioner when I was diagnosed, but it really hurt at that time, so the softcup is a very nice find. Thanks to whoever mentioned it. Also, I have found that instead of wearing my "Highrise" panties, that wearing bikini style seem more supportive and then I have less stuff squeezing in and down on my midsection. Just a thought.

penny6
I also tried the soft cup and I really think it is going to work for me. Do you take it out, if you have intercourse? What about when you exercise, does it do well with treadmill, or working out with weights?
Any suggestions, I have to say I did keep it in with intercourse and it doesn't feel to great this AM
Thanks

Can I do pelvic floor exercises with the pessary in or should I remove it?

where can I buy and try the softcups....I had been using a sports tampon when I knew I would be on my feet alot....Did anyone have succeess with a cycstole prolapse using the softcup?

I haven't tried them, but I did see them on the shelf at our local walmart.

I buy mine at Walgreens, CVS, or Rite-Aid. That is great that Wal-Mart has them. I will have to see if ours carries them, too.

I've had pretty good luck with them, but sometimes have to try a couple of times to get it just right. For the most part they stay put, but it depends on how low down things are that day.

Hello, I see a few people are trying to find Softcups. Just a little help, The Instead Softcups are sold a various stores nation wide, but not all stores in every market. Some of the retailers are Walgreen's, Wal-mart, Rite Aid, Duane Reade, Harmon, CVS and more. If you can not find them at these retailers you can go to www.softcup.com. Most questions will be answered here as well. Hope this helps!