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

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

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

Guhlia Rising Star

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

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
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
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
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

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
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

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

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

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

Lisa Mentor
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
.... 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
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
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

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

jnclelland Contributor
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
:D:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Archived

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

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):





    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):




  • Recent Activity

    1. - trents replied to SilkieFairy's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      1

      IBS-D vs Celiac

    2. - trents replied to catnapt's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      7

      how much gluten do I need to eat before blood tests?

    3. - SilkieFairy posted a topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      1

      IBS-D vs Celiac

    4. - catnapt posted a topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      0

      anyone here diagnosed with a PARAthyroid disorder? (NOT the thyroid) the calcium controlling glands

    5. - catnapt replied to catnapt's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      7

      how much gluten do I need to eat before blood tests?

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):
  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,322
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    James Minton
    Newest Member
    James Minton
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):
  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.6k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):
  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • trents
      Welcome to the celiac.com community, @SilkieFairy! You could also have NCGS (Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity) as opposed to celiac disease. They share many of the same symptoms, especially the GI ones. There is no test for NCGS. Celiac disease must first be ruled out.
    • trents
      Under the circumstances, your decision to have the testing done on day 14 sounds very reasonable. But I think by now you know for certain that you either have celiac disease or NCGS and either way you absolutely need to eliminate gluten from your diet. I don't think you have to have an official diagnosis of celiac disease to leverage gluten free service in hospitals or institutional care and I'm guessing your physician would be willing to grant you a diagnosis of gluten sensitivity (NCGS) even if your celiac testing comes up negative. Also, you need to be aware that oats (even gluten free oats) is a common cross reactor in the celiac community. Oat protein (avenin) is similar to gluten. You might want to look at some other gluten free hot  breakfast cereal alternatives.
    • SilkieFairy
      After the birth of my daughter nearly 6 years ago, my stools changed. They became thin if they happened to be solid (which was rare) but most of the time it was Bristol #6 (very loose and 6-8x a day). I was on various medications and put it down to that. A few years later I went on this strict "fruit and meat" diet where I just ate meat, fruit, and squash vegetables. I noticed my stools were suddenly formed, if a bit narrow. I knew then that the diarrhea was probably food related not medication related. I tried following the fodmap diet but honestly it was just too complicated, I just lived with pooping 8x a day and wondering how I'd ever get and keep a job once my children were in school.  This past December I got my yearly bloodwork and my triglycerides were high. I looked into Dr. William Davis (wheat belly author) and he recommended going off wheat and other grains. This is the first time in my life I was reading labels to make sure there was no wheat. Within 2 weeks, not only were my stools formed and firm but I was only pooping twice a day, beautiful formed Bristol #4.  Dr. Davis allows some legumes, so I went ahead and added red lentils and beans. Nervous that the diarrhea would come back if I had IBS-D. Not only did it not come back, it just made my stools even bigger and beautiful. Still formed just with a lot more width and bulk. I've also been eating a lot of plant food like tofu, mushrooms, bell peppers, hummus etc which I thought was the cause of my diarrhea before and still, my stools are formed. In January I ran a genetics test because I knew you had to have the genes for celiac. The report came back with  DQ 2.2 plus other markers that I guess are necessary in order for it to be possible to have celiac. Apparently DQ 2.2 is the "rarer" kind but based on my report it's genetically possible for me to have celiac.  I know the next step is to bring gluten back so I can get testing but I am just not wanting to do that. After suffering with diarrhea for years I can't bring myself to do it right now. So that is where I am!   
    • catnapt
      learned I had a high PTH level in 2022 suspected to be due to low vit D  got my vit D level up a bit but still have high PTH   I am 70 yrs old (today in fact) I am looking for someone who also has hyperparathyroidism that might be caused by malabsorption    
    • catnapt
      I am on day 13 of eating gluten  and have decided to have the celiac panel done tomorrow instead of Wed. (and instead of extending it a few more weeks) because I am SO incredibly sick. I have almost no appetite and am not able to consume the required daily intake of calcium to try to keep up with the loss of calcium from the high parathyroid hormone and/or the renal calcium leak.    I have spent the past 15 years working hard to improve my health. I lost 50lbs, got off handfuls of medications, lowered my cholesterol to enviable levels, and in spite of having end stage osteoarthritis in both knees, with a good diet and keeping active I have NO pain in those joints- til now.  Almost all of my joints hurt now I feel like someone has repeatedly punched me all over my torso- even my ribs hurt- I have nausea, gas, bloating, headache, mood swings, irritability, horrid flatulence (afraid to leave the house or be in any enclosed spaces with other people- the smell would knock them off their feet) I was so sure that I wanted a firm diagnosis but now- I'm asking myself is THIS worth it? esp over the past 2 yrs I have been feeling better and better the more I adjusted my diet to exclude highly refined grains and processed foods. I didn't purposely avoid gluten, but it just happened that not eating gluten has made me feel better.   I don't know what I would have to gain by getting a definitive diagnosis. I think possibly the only advantage to a DX would be that I could insist on gluten-free foods in settings where I am unable to have access to foods of my choice (hospital, rehab, nursing home)  and maybe having a medical reason to see a dietician?   please let me know if it's reasonable to just go back to the way I was eating.  Actually I do plan to buy certified gluten-free oats as that is the only grain I consume (and really like) so there will be some minor tweaks I hope and pray that I heal quickly from any possible damage that may have been done from 13 days of eating gluten.    
×
×
  • 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.