Tinge of Blood on Sea Sponge

Submitted by veezvee on June 21, 2013 - 9:05am
Body: 

I have been using Jade & Pearl sea sponges for about 2 months and they are working well (instead of the monstrous Gelhorn my GYN had previously fitted me with). However, from time to time when removing it to clean it, I am seeing spots of blood on the sponge. Other times, I see none.

I did contact J&P and the nice lady there suggested that it could stop once my vaginal tissue toughened up a bit. I tend to agree with that scenario because when the sponge comes out easily, there's no bleeding but when it seems a little tight and I have to tug a little harder to get it out, there is. Even so, I still wanted to get some other opinions from ladies who are also using the sea sponges and may be experiencing the same thing about what might be causing this.

She also recommended seeing my GYN just to make sure all is well and I told her that I had planned on doing that anyway, in line with the 3-month check up I would have been getting if I was still using the pessary.

No doubt the ease in which the sponge comes out depends on how much lubricant I've used and I'm in the process of learning to adjust that amount--too much, it doesn't stay in very well and slips down throughout the day, and too little, it feels stuck, almost as if it's attached itself to my surrounding tissues.

My other question is in regards to a polyurethane sponge J&P sent me with my last order of sea sponges. She said she wanted me to try it and give my opinion. I told her I was reluctant to do so and even with her reassurance that the material is perfectly safe, it's still in the bag. The only experience I've had with that material was with a memory foam mattress I tried a few years ago. I wound up returning it because of the strong chemical smell. Although this sponge has no odor, I'm just skeptical about the material especially putting it inside my body. Has anyone heard of or used this type of sponge and if so what's your opinion on them?

Even with the concerns I've mentioned here, I have to add how pleased I am not only with Jade & Pearl's products but also with their customer service. These days, the Whole Woman forum, J&P, and of course, my GYN, are my top "go to" sources for all things "Prolapse". Anxiously looking forward to some feedback!

Forum:

Down in the dumps

June 21, 2013 - 10:02am

I am so pleased to hear that J&P are trying to find alternative materials to the sea sponge. Can you not just try it a couple of times to see how it feels, so you can give them some feedback? Seems a shame not to aid research for future sufferers. When you tried the natural product for the first time it was a leap of faith, and you were following in the path of others before you who 'gave it a go'. I would try it but don't live in America.

Daphne

June 21, 2013 - 10:41am

Hi Veezvee,
I can't answer your questions I'm afraid but I am interested to what approach you took to insert the sponge. I sent for some, some time ago but was unable to push them inside me to get it to the top of my Vagina. I even tried putting it inside a plastic bag first but that didn't work as it pulled out as I tried pulling out the bag. I also tried cutting it down a bit but no good result with that either. I also used the butter that they sent with it. Is it the sponges for Prolapse that you have and use or did you send for the softer ones that they sell for Period times? I am also wondering if you are young or the older generation like I am.
Hope you get some good answers from some of the other ladies on the Forum. Yes, they are very obliging at J/P.
Daphne.

123Butterfly

June 22, 2013 - 10:02am

I'm still a newbie but I lately tried the sea sponges, J&P offers. I don't have any problems to insert the sponge, but I cut it down to a very small size (probably the size of the softer sponges for menstruation) and I use olive oil as lubrication. My sponge is very full of this oil, then I squeeze it a bit before I insert it. Perhaps this could help you, Daphne?
I don't have any problems with blood on it, so I'm sorry, I can't say nothing about your problem, veezvee. Hope, you're getting better!
Butterfly

Daphne

June 22, 2013 - 10:23am

Hi 123 Butterfly,
Thank you for your suggestion about the Olive oil, I haven't tried that. Perhaps I should cut it down more than I have but I do remember the lady at J/P saying not to cut it only trim it, but I guess whatever works is what we have to do.
I am suffering from a trapped nerve in my hip at the moment, it's causing a lot of pain so I will have to try your method when things get back to normal.
Best Wishes, Daphne.

Daphne

June 22, 2013 - 10:28am

Hope things are still improving for you. I see you have been
on the "Forum/ who is on Line."
Best Wishes, Daphne. Hope Christine won't mind if I send you a Hug!!

123Butterfly

June 22, 2013 - 11:08am

First time I saw these biiiig sponges, I was scared to insert them. I only trimmed the smaller one, but it was still too big(after inserting I felt a lot of pressure), so I decided to cut it down and that worked pretty good for me. Do you know, why one shouldn't cut it?
I hope, your hip/ nerve will soon be better!
All the best for you!
Butterfly

veezvee

June 23, 2013 - 11:07am

While I appreciate your comment, "Down in the Dumps", I just don't feel comfortable putting something with this particular chemical inside me. In regards to it being a "leap of faith" in using the sea sponges for the first time, yes, I would describe it that way but only because I was hopeful that they would actually work. My apprehension wasn't due to the material they are made of. And the fact that they ARE natural is what made me comfortable in trying them in the first place. As I said, I have not had a good experience with "polyurethane." Whenever I can, I'd rather stay as close to "natural" as possible when it comes to what I use topically and especially inside my body. I've gone too many years of being in the dark about all the toxins, additives, preservatives and chemical-laced products was using. However, If it turns out that my research leads me to believe that polyurethane inside the vagina is safe, I may reconsider. (smile)

veezvee

June 23, 2013 - 11:34am

Hello, Daphne,
I recently turned 59 so I am using the sponges for Prolapse, only. Yes, I use the wild yam butter from J&P and it works quite well for me for insertion. It's odd that you are using multiple techniques and still find it difficult to insert the sponge. I'd like to ask, though, are you wetting it with water first and squeezing out the excess to make it really pliable? I'm getting a little nervous since I'm not getting any responses related to my question. I actually went an entire day without using the sponge and I never noticed any blood after using the bathroom and wiping. As I said, I'm paying close attention to all the steps I take, even using surgical-type gloves to make sure I'm not possibly cutting myself with a fingernail. I've concluded, so far, that when really smearing on the body butter (and I mean REALLY), removal is smooth. I've been running quite low (had to re-order) and have been using it more sparingly than usual which may be the problem right there. I think many of us menopausal women experience extreme vaginal dryness and sponges do what sponges do--they absorb! So, what little moisture IS in there is probably getting soaked up and my tissues are left dry. This is why they most likely work well as tampons for women still having menstrual cycles. There's lots of "liquid" to absorb. Not so with us.

While waiting on my wild yam body butter, I've tried other things suggested here as a lubricant. Olive and coconut oil soaked up the sponge but didn't keep ME lubricated and things still felt dry when I tried removing it.

Ya just gotta laugh...you can't get them in and I have trouble getting them out! I hope we both find a solution, soon! (smile)

veezvee

June 23, 2013 - 11:55am

Thank you, Butterfly. Right now, I just try going a few hours or all day without the sponge in. Although the prolapse is uncomfortable, it gives me a chance to see that I have no bleeding during those times. They work so well for me as far as treating the uterine prolapse and I don't want to give them up. But if my GYN says they are damaging my tissue in some way, I may have to. Oh, how I dread with every fiber of my being going back to using that Gelhorn pessary!!! It's so difficult to get in and out that only the doctor can do it. That means going back and forth to her office for that, alone, with a co-payment every time!!! At least with the sponges, if I feel like I just don't want or need it in on any particular day, I can just take it out myself and put it back in whenever I want.

This tinge of blood on the sea sponge reminds me of times when I was having a period and using tampons. Near the end of my cycle, when flow was light or about to stop, whenever I'd pull the string to remove the tampon, sometimes it would be completely dry and I'd see spots of blood maybe on one side of it. Like the dry cotton fibers of the tampon had nothing wet to absorb and had gotten stuck to the vaginal tissues and actually scratched while being pulled out. I'm thinking that's probably what's happening with the sea sponge, now. My last exam a few months ago, while using the pessary, was fine but it was a hard material with no way to get "stuck" to any tissues. We'll see.

Surviving60

June 23, 2013 - 3:42pm

Hi veezvee - I know from other posts that you are working on posture. It can be a little hard to tell how posture work is going (or even to remember posture!) if you always have something stuck up there. Anything that holds the vagina open is working against pelvic organ support, as the fully-extended posture helps move the organs forward and close that space into which the other organs might otherwise creep. I'm glad you are trying to "go without" at certain times, and hope that during these times you are very obervant of the differences that good versus bad posture can make. Also firebreathing - very important for uterine prolapse. - Surviving

123Butterfly

June 24, 2013 - 1:22am

hope your tissue isn't damaged, so you don't need to insert the pessary again. Perhaps you have to trim the sponge a little more or use more lube? How are your days without its support? It would be great, if you would only need it on stressful days. I'm trying this at the moment, too.
And I'm working on posture. To remember to stay in posture, I put a little bell in my pocket and every time I move, it reminds me to move in posture (while sitting I think of it most of the time).
All the best for you
Butterfly