New here and need quick help on dealing with periods, please!

Submitted by MomK on September 19, 2008 - 9:31am
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I apologize if I'm in the wrong place. I'm new and need to spend some time figuring out the board, but I'm hoping someone can help me out quickly.

The quick background on me - I'm 36 years old, I have a 3 yr old son and 6 month old daughter. My daughter was 10+ pounds at birth, VBAC (YAY!), and I have a prolapsed uterus and rectocele as a result. I've gotten to the point where most of the time, it doesn't cause me any discomfort and has not been a big problem, so I've been happy overall. I'm not sure exactly what they are rated one scoring system. My cervix is just inside the vaginal opening if I'm standing or sitting - it doesn't actually protrude, but it's right there.

So here's my problem for the day - I just got my first post-period, just in time for a week's vacation at the beach - leaving Sunday. Nice timing. My periods usually last a full week, so it will be an issue at the beach. As I suspected, my first attempt at trying a tampon did not go well. It just kind of slides between the uterus and vaginal wall, I guess, and isn't positioned to actually do it's job of absorbing anything.

Is there any alternative out there so that I can wear a bathing suit and swim this week? I'm thinking a diva cup wouldn't work or be comfortable because my cervix is so low, and I'm not sure I could get my hands on one in time anyway. (With this being Friday and I leave Sunday, no time to order anything.)

I seem to recall reading somewhere about using a sea sponge? Has anyone tried that? Can you tell me more like where I get one, what I need to know, how I use it, etc? My cycles didn't return until about a year post-partum with my son, so I thought I would have more time to worry about this.

If anyone is online today, I would really appreciate some help. And once I'm back from vacation, I'd like to explore the site more and learn more about options for dealing with the prolapse as time goes on. My mother also had one after my sister was born but had an hysterectomy within a year, so she's not been able to offer much advice.

Christine

September 19, 2008 - 10:55am

Welcome, MomK,

First of all, I want to commend you on your spirit. Severe UP is difficult to deal with and you seem to be handling it very well.

The trick is getting enough of whatever tampon material you are using - sport tampon, sea sponge, etc. to both lift your uterus and absorb flow. I never could make it work comfortably (third degree UP), but had given up tampons anyway so was resigned to homemade pads for the last decade of my cycle. If you want to be free of a bulky pad, there's really no option but to stuff as much as you comfortably can and hope it will stay in. Maybe someone has some other ideas.

Wishing you well,

Christine

PA runner

September 19, 2008 - 1:04pm

Welcome, when I have had trouble with a tampon I bend at my waist and half squat when inserting the tampon. Sometimes I put it in at an angle. I also use one with a cardboard applicator as it gives me more control when inserting it but I go very slow. Also try a couple different sizes. Good Luck

granolamom

September 19, 2008 - 2:36pm

I've had varying degrees of trouble with tampons. best I've found was to use the smaller OB tampons, so I could position them just so. but still, every now and then they would slide down.

the diva cup isn't supposed to be worn right at the cervix (instructions say it will leak? not sure why that is?) and so if your cervix is so low, it probably wouldn't be a good fit.

when you're done with your period, try the nauli exercise. maybe you can pull up your cervix enough to comfortably wear tampons.

enjoy your week-at-the-beach!

KatKat

September 19, 2008 - 5:33pm

You might try inserting two tampons (insert first one, hold its string and insert the second along side, tie strings together so you don't absent-mindedly leave one in). I used to sometimes have to do that when my periods were unusually heavy. Now I am using the Playtex Sport as a pessary. It flares some at the top, but probably not enough for your situation.

Good luck in working out something.