Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Diva Cup Question

jnclelland

Recommended Posts

jnclelland Contributor
jnclelland
Posted

Okay, after reading everyone raving about the Diva cup, I ordered one. I'm trying it for the first time today, and I REALLY want to like it, but I'm either doing something wrong, or else I'm just shaped funny. :blink: I'm pretty sure I'm inserting it right, but within a few minutes it slips down so that the stem - and even a bit of the base - is protruding from my vaginal opening, and it's NOT comfortable. After reading about how you're not supposed to even feel it, I think I must be doing something wrong. But it is forming a seal and it's not leaking, so is it possible that I'm just not shaped right for it? Any suggestions?

Jeanne

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Lisa Mentor
Lisa
Posted

Sorry, my days are over.....unless George Clooney starts delivering my mail. :P

Guhlia Rising Star
Guhlia
Posted

Either you're not inserting it far enough or you may have to do kegel exercises (sp?) to tighten up your muscles so that it will stay in place.

wolfie Enthusiast
wolfie
Posted

I think that they say that you can trim the stem if it bothers you. Have you checked their website? If it isn't leaking, I would imagine that you have it in place correctly. Were you able to spin the cup around once or feel that the cup has opened up? Sorry for the TMI, but I have been using this for over a year and it took me a cycle or two to get it down.

jnclelland Contributor
jnclelland
Posted
  • Author
I think that they say that you can trim the stem if it bothers you. Have you checked their website? If it isn't leaking, I would imagine that you have it in place correctly. Were you able to spin the cup around once or feel that the cup has opened up? Sorry for the TMI, but I have been using this for over a year and it took me a cycle or two to get it down.

Yeah, I looked at the web site and read the directions carefully, and after a few tries I was able to spin it, so I don't think that's the problem. I may try trimming the stem, but I think it's slipping low enough that even the base of the cup would bother me.

I do semi-regular (okay, not regular enough!) Kegels, so I wouldn't have *thought* that would be the problem, but I guess you never know. -sigh-

Jeanne

Michi8 Contributor
Michi8
Posted
Yeah, I looked at the web site and read the directions carefully, and after a few tries I was able to spin it, so I don't think that's the problem. I may try trimming the stem, but I think it's slipping low enough that even the base of the cup would bother me.

I do semi-regular (okay, not regular enough!) Kegels, so I wouldn't have *thought* that would be the problem, but I guess you never know. -sigh-

Jeanne

The only suggestion I have is to ensure that you have purchased the correct size. For women who have had children or are simply older than 30 (regardless of having children or not) size 2 is recommended for proper fit. I suspect, though, that it simply doesn't work well for everyone.

Michelle

jnclelland Contributor
jnclelland
Posted
  • Author
The only suggestion I have is to ensure that you have purchased the correct size. For women who have had children or are simply older than 30 (regardless of having children or not) size 2 is recommended for proper fit. I suspect, though, that it simply doesn't work well for everyone.

Michelle

Yup, I got size 2. (I'm over 30 AND have 2 kids!)

I tried trimming the stem, but it didn't really help. And I'm inserting it as far as it will go; it's fine at first, but then it slides down to this uncomfortable position. -sigh- And it sounded like such a great idea! I guess I'll try doing more Kegels for awhile, but I suspect that somehow my innards are just shaped wrong for it. :angry:

Jeanne

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


hathor Contributor
hathor
Posted

If it is sliding down, wouldn't that mean you need the smaller size? I would contact the company if I were you.

I remember doing a little research on this for my daughter. I'm menopausal ... unfair that I finally hear about something like this when it is too late. Anyway, I thought I ran across a few comments of older women who found the size 2 too large. You might google a bit & see if you can find women's comments on their personal experiences with the Diva Cup.

Michi8 Contributor
Michi8
Posted
If it is sliding down, wouldn't that mean you need the smaller size? I would contact the company if I were you.

I remember doing a little research on this for my daughter. I'm menopausal ... unfair that I finally hear about something like this when it is too late. Anyway, I thought I ran across a few comments of older women who found the size 2 too large. You might google a bit & see if you can find women's comments on their personal experiences with the Diva Cup.

The bigger size is necessary for women who have had children, because the vaginal tissues have relaxed more. For some women, the tissue elasticity changes enough that even the larger size will not remain in place correctly. Unfortunately, kegels don't always make much difference when it comes to genetics and the effects of gravity.

Michelle

Cheri A Contributor
Cheri A
Posted

Bummer. I think I'd contact the company too.

I've only used it one cycle so far. I did have to trim the stem because it was bothering me. But, once I did that, it was fine.

jnclelland Contributor
jnclelland
Posted
  • Author

I do wonder if a smaller size would work better. It stays in place fine; it's just that the place where it stays is a little too low to be comfortable. I know there's an issue of vaginal stretching because of having had 2 kids, but my feeling is that my vagina is a little too *short* for this one.

After a couple of days, I can report that it feels fine when I'm sitting or lying down (so I can use it at night, which is nice!); it's when I'm up and walking around that it gets uncomfortable. I think I'm going to call the company and see what they suggest.

Thanks for all the input!

Jeanne

jkmunchkin Rising Star
jkmunchkin
Posted

Ok I clearly missed this thread!!! What the heck is the diva cup??!!!

Lisa Mentor
Lisa
Posted
Ok I clearly missed this thread!!! What the heck is the diva cup??!!!

.... a birth control thing-a-ma- zig? :huh: No longer a diva. <_<

cat40 Newbie
cat40
Posted
.... a birth control thing-a-ma- zig? :huh: No longer a diva. <_<

Nope..it's a menstrual thing a ma jig. We sell them at the Co-op I work at. Never used one tho' just couldn't get past my own mental images. :huh:

Cathleen

Lisa Mentor
Lisa
Posted
Nope..it's a menstrual thing a ma jig. We sell them at the Co-op I work at. Never used one tho' just couldn't get past my own mental images. :huh:

Cathleen

ooops. sorry, but out of that market.

jkmunchkin Rising Star
jkmunchkin
Posted
Nope..it's a menstrual thing a ma jig. We sell them at the Co-op I work at. Never used one tho' just couldn't get past my own mental images. :huh:

Cathleen

Thanks. I had to go on the website and look. I think I'll stick to my tampons for now.

Cheri A Contributor
Cheri A
Posted

It took me about a year to try the Diva Cup.

jnclelland Contributor
jnclelland
Posted
  • Author
I do wonder if a smaller size would work better. It stays in place fine; it's just that the place where it stays is a little too low to be comfortable. I know there's an issue of vaginal stretching because of having had 2 kids, but my feeling is that my vagina is a little too *short* for this one.

I checked the web site, and it doesn't look like the smaller size is any shorter. But I decided to throw caution to the wind, ignore the directions, and cut the stem completely off. (Watch out - next thing you know, I'll be running with scissors! :lol: ) That helped a LOT; I can still feel it, but it's not terribly uncomfortable anymore. I even went on a hike with it yesterday, and it felt okay.

And I gotta say, I LOVE that I can just leave it in all day and forget about it! I'm on vacation and out of my normal routine, and the last couple of days it would have been a real hassle to have to change a tampon every hour or so. So I think I'm a convert!

And now I think I'll go back to NOT discussing my menstrual cycle on the internet... ;)

Jeanne

cat40 Newbie
cat40
Posted
:D:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,900
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    tessycork47
    Newest Member
    tessycork47
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • trents
      New (possible) celiac diagnosis

      By trents · Posted

      Welcome to the forum, @Judy M! Yes, he definitely needs to continue eating gluten until the day of the endoscopy. Not sure why the GI doc advised otherwise but it was a bum steer.  Celiac disease has a genetic component but also an "epigenetic" component. Let me explain. There are two main genes that have been identified as providing the "potential" to develop "active" celiac disease. We know them as HLA-DQ 2.5 (aka, HLA-DQ 2) and HLA-DQ8. Without one or both of these genes it is highly unlikely that a person will develop celiac disease at some point in their life. About 40% of the general population carry one or both of these two genes but only about 1% of the population develops active celiac disease. Thus, possessing the genetic potential for celiac disease is far less than deterministic. Most who have the potential never develop the disease. In order for the potential to develop celiac disease to turn into active celiac disease, some triggering stress event or events must "turn on" the latent genes. This triggering stress event can be a viral infection, some other medical event, or even prolonged psychological/emotional trauma. This part of the equation is difficult to quantify but this is the epigenetic dimension of the disease. Epigenetics has to do with the influence that environmental factors and things not coded into the DNA itself have to do in "turning on" susceptible genes. And this is why celiac disease can develop at any stage of life. Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition (not a food allergy) that causes inflammation in the lining of the small bowel. The ingestion of gluten causes the body to attack the cells of this lining which, over time, damages and destroys them, impairing the body's ability to absorb nutrients since this is the part of the intestinal track responsible for nutrient absorption and also causing numerous other food sensitivities such as dairy/lactose intolerance. There is another gluten-related disorder known as NCGS (Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity or just, "gluten sensitivity") that is not autoimmune in nature and which does not damage the small bowel lining. However, NCGS shares many of the same symptoms with celiac disease such as gas, bloating, and diarrhea. It is also much more common than celiac disease. There is no test for NCGS so, because they share common symptoms, celiac disease must first be ruled out through formal testing for celiac disease. This is where your husband is right now. It should also be said that some experts believe NCGS can transition into celiac disease. I hope this helps.
    • Judy M
      New (possible) celiac diagnosis

      By Judy M · Posted

      My husband has had lactose intolerance for his entire life (he's 68 yo).  So, he's used to gastro issues. But for the past year he's been experiencing bouts of diarrhea that last for hours.  He finally went to his gastroenterologist ... several blood tests ruled out other maladies, but his celiac results are suspect.  He is scheduled for an endoscopy and colonoscopy in 2 weeks.  He was told to eat "gluten free" until the tests!!!  I, and he know nothing about this "diet" much less how to navigate his in daily life!! The more I read, the more my head is spinning.  So I guess I have 2 questions.  First, I read on this website that prior to testing, eat gluten so as not to compromise the testing!  Is that true? His primary care doctor told him to eat gluten free prior to testing!  I'm so confused.  Second, I read that celiac disease is genetic or caused by other ways such as surgery.  No family history but Gall bladder removal 7 years ago, maybe?  But how in God's name does something like this crop up and now is so awful he can't go a day without worrying.  He still works in Manhattan and considers himself lucky if he gets there without incident!  Advice from those who know would be appreciated!!!!!!!!!!!!
    • Scott Adams
      Patiently Waiting to See Results

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      You've done an excellent job of meticulously tracking the rash's unpredictable behavior, from its symmetrical spread and stubborn scabbing to the potential triggers you've identified, like the asthma medication and dietary changes. It's particularly telling that the rash seems to flare with wheat consumption, even though your initial blood test was negative—as you've noted, being off wheat before a test can sometimes lead to a false negative, and your description of the other symptoms—joint pain, brain fog, stomach issues—is very compelling. The symmetry of the rash is a crucial detail that often points toward an internal cause, such as an autoimmune response or a systemic reaction, rather than just an external irritant like a plant or mites. I hope your doctor tomorrow takes the time to listen carefully to all of this evidence you've gathered and works with you to find some real answers and effective relief. Don't be discouraged if the rash fluctuates; your detailed history is the most valuable tool you have for getting an accurate diagnosis.
    • Scott Adams
      Gluten free beer ?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      In this case the beer is excellent, but for those who are super sensitive it is likely better to go the full gluten-free beer route. Lakefront Brewery (another sponsor!) has good gluten-free beer made without any gluten ingredients.
    • trents
      Patiently Waiting to See Results

      By trents · Posted

      Welcome to the forum, @catsrlife! Celiac disease can be diagnosed without committing to a full-blown "gluten challenge" if you get a skin biopsy done during an active outbreak of dermatitis herpetiformis, assuming that is what is causing the rash. There is no other known cause for dermatitis herpetiformis so it is definitive for celiac disease. You would need to find a dermatologist who is familiar with doing the biopsy correctly, however. The samples need to be taken next to the pustules, not on them . . . a mistake many dermatologists make when biopsying for dermatitis herpetiformis. 
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.