When I first “cracked the code” on stabilizing and reversing prolapse, and wrote and published Saving the Whole Woman, I set up this forum. While I had finally gotten my own severe uterine prolapse under control with the knowledge I had gained, I didn’t actually know if I could teach other women to do for themselves what I had done for my condition.
So I just started teaching women on this forum. Within weeks, the women started writing back, “It’s working! I can feel the difference!”
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alemama
August 6, 2008 - 1:53pm
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well
I used the instead soft cup and that didn't go very well. I had the suctioned in- couldn't get out problem-
I figure the cup is the same deal- it suctions in and you are instructed to bear-down to get that sucker out- not my idea of fun. but it sure seems like a good deal besides that- good for the environment, saves money, you won't run out of it.....
granolamom
August 6, 2008 - 5:20pm
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suction
so do you think that would be bad for the prolapse?
alemama
August 6, 2008 - 8:37pm
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mental picture
all I can see is that thing stuck up in there and me having to "push" it out-
I think it would probably feel great when it was in- nice and supportive-
but the getting it out thing- that is where I have a problem with it.
I have talked with two girlfriends who use it- One has a prolapse- she likes it but has to bear-down to get it out- like 3-4 times a day and after her period her prolapse is most noticeable. The other lady had some problems with infection that she noticed went away after not using it anymore-
My prolapse was the best ever (EVER) after my last cycle- and I think it is because I used a tampon day and night- so it pushed my prolapse out of the way (those small sport ones that have super shape as they fill- perfect for my low rectocele) and after being pushed like that for 3 days and nights it just kinda stayed gone for a while.
mom30
August 6, 2008 - 9:47pm
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Diva Cup
I had the Diva Cup and thought it was fine. The only bad thing about it for me was if I put it in and left the house and noticed that it wasn't in the "right" way, so I could feel the thing wanting to exit. As far as the prolapse, I didn't think it really bothered it much. I just got tired of worrying about whether it would stay in place. I don't even use tampons anymore either. I just don't like the reminder that something may not be in correctly and having to fix it somewhere outside of home. So, I just use the Always ultra thin overnighters on the first few days and switch to lighter ultra thin on the rest. It's really not that bad.
But, you could give the Cup a try, I did remember if I got it in good not feeling it at all. And, with not much leaking out.
granolamom
August 7, 2008 - 10:44am
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diva cup
well, I just ordered it and will give it a go.
we just had a bad tampon/toilet experience (I know, 'flushable' doesn't mean you should really flush them) and I've been using mostly cloth pads. those are ok (especially because they are so pretty!) but its not the same as wearing something internal, kwim?
babygotback
August 7, 2008 - 10:58pm
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instead
Hi.
I have used Instead, which is like a softish circle with a thin cup. I love it. Alemama had a bad experience, but I love it.
I never have had the experience of bearing down to remove it. I just reach in with my fingers and wiggle it out. The more I wiggle, the easier it works its way out. I feel pretty much like I am not on my period while having it in.
I can't imagine it budging while bearing down and had never considered trying that to get it out. Yikes! No way. It just took me a few times to get the hang of where to position it for best results.
Hope the diva works for you. :)
Clonmacnoise
August 8, 2008 - 5:49am
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Cups
Ladies,
I tried the cup and found them uncomfortable. Like a pessary, not sure what they are supposed to do. Push everything out?
But I did want to report about the tampon use. I've used these most of the summer, and this is what I've discovered. The sport tampons actually stay in place if I use a little olive oil on the inserter before use. It stays in place all day. At the same time, I've been cutting my use of them in half. I only need a tampon about 50 % of the time now. The rest of the time my once stage three prolapse remains high and I don't feel it at all. Can't tell you how great this is.
Judy
granolamom
August 8, 2008 - 9:23am
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cup vs pessary
in this case is comparing apples to oranges. I want to use the cup for menstrual purposes, not for the prolapse. just wanted to hear if anyone felt it would be detrimental.
so happy for you,though, that the tampons are working (for the prolapse!)
louiseds
August 10, 2008 - 3:52am
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Menstrual cups
Hi Gmom
I have never used one but ...
If you Google ""sanitary products" reviews" there are a few discussions of them on other forums. Nobody seems to mention prolapse, but some say that they presumably flip on their ends when you are lying down at night and leak. Some hilarious posts too! Nobody mentioned POP though, but naturalparenting forum was mostly women who are at babymaking stage, and have only used them for a short time before falling pregnant again! ;-)
I would imagine the degree to which they would conform to the dimensions of the vagina might be the determinant of whether they would further stretch the fascia around the vagina or not. I imagine they would need a pretty accurate fit to prevent leakage. There are a few different brands, and Diva Cup has two sizes, one for women under 30 who have not had vaginal or CS births. The other size is for the rest of us! It might be a matter of trial and error.
I did see that they sit low in the vagina, not high near the cervix like a diaphragm. That might determine whether your vagina could retain it or not. Are they too expensive to do a little trial?
Cheers
Louise
granolamom
August 10, 2008 - 10:46am
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diva cup
thanks louise, I will google it, didn't think of that
the diva cup's about $35 and I did order it. I've been wanting to try it for quite some time so I figure its worth a trial.
the thing is alot bigger than I anticipated. I did order size 2, size 1 is only 1/4" smaller they say. its silicone and flexible, but with that said, fairly rigid when open, I don't see it conforming to me as much as me conforming to it (make any sense?)
I did try it on, and once its past the cystocele its comfortable and fully open, but I will have to wait a few weeks to give it a functional trial.
will let you all know...
granolamom
September 11, 2008 - 10:50pm
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diva cup and prolapse - update
ok, so I tried it and thought I'd share
first of all, the ick factor is pretty high. and I thought I had a high tolerance, as I'm used to using cloth pads and rinsing them out in the sink. but a cup full of blood is pretty, well, ick. maybe one could get used to it? and a tip...use a tampon for an hour or two before inserting the cup for the first time. probably would help reduce the initial 'ick' by at least keeping your hands clean. (is there any such thing as tmi here?)
now, regarding the prolapse.
as I suspected, I had a hard time getting the thing in right. you aren't supposed to wear it high up, and it has to be fully open. so once it got past the cystocele (so it could open), it was pretty high up. but I eventually did find the right spot. if its too high, or not completely open it leaks. also I found that if it was too high it formed a suction around the cervix.
I did not have to bear down to remove it, though if you run into suction problems that's the instinct. instead I just fiddled around until I figured out how to break the suction without pulling my cervix out with the cup.
another problem was it starts to move down and press on the cystocele. especially if its full.
now that my period's over, my prolapse is alot lower than I remember it. although, in all honesty, I haven't been looking at it recently. I'm going to nauli like there's no tomorrow and see if I can't reduce the prolapse. and then I'm going to try the cup again next cycle to see if I have the same results or if maybe there's just a learning curve.
on the positive side, its really nice not to have any 'stuff' to contend with. on the first day of my period (and I bleed pretty heavily) we went to the beach, there was a kite display. dh has an office on the boardwalk (how cool is that?) so we had a clean bathroom nearby. and I didnt' have to bring along pads or tampons or anything. also nice not to have garbage or laundry to deal with. just empty and rinse. I do like the simplicity of it.
have to weigh that against the ick-factor and of course, see how it affects the prolapse.