Mooncup :( Please tell me what's wrong with me.

[LadyOfTheFlowers]

So, I got my cup a few weeks ago - I tried to put it in before my period with great success, thought 'brilliant, that was easy, this will be great'.
Period started yesterday so I put it in, again, no problem, no leaking.
Today, day 2, and my flow has upped it's ante as usual and now the sodding thing is not working.
It's as if it's up there causing a blockage for around 10 minutes, then that's it, it's leaking.
There is stuff in the cup but also stuff coming out around it. I don't understand what I'm doing wrong.
I've spent all afternoon up and down to the bathroom. I want it to work.
Initially I think I was putting it a bit too high so the last few times I've put it really quite low and it feels fine - first thing I did was cut the stem right off - ouch!
I have just put it in again right before typing this and I have checked I have a seal by gently pulling it (without pinching it- no squelch noise) and it felt like it will pull everything out so it's plunged up alright.
My periods are heavy but since childbirth they are painless but the cup is in this time and I feel a light crampy/dragging sensation which I am assuming is another clue I have a seal.

If it is relevant, I have delivered 4 babies naturally between the years of 2005 - 2010 ranging in weight from 8lb12 - 10lb12. I sustained some minor damage with 3 of the deliveries, never more severe than 2nd degree with a few external and internal stitches and never had any repercussions from said repair jobs.
My 'angle of entry' (for tampons) varied greatly following the delivery of my 10lb'er to a much less steep slope, much more towards the base of my spine.
I have looked over all the other threads and seen that other people experience their innards becoming a bit puffy inside from day 2 onwards - I have that too and am glad it's not just me.

I know it's only day 2 but I would really like to take my life back and I think this cup will help me do that to some degree. :(
I am no longer a SAHM and can't be fannying around like this every 10 minutes for another 2 - 3 cycles. I must be able to get this cracked surely?

Your thoughts? Anyone had similar?

[addictedtosugar]

I get a little leakage if I keep the cup out for a bit - almost as if there is blood which has come down and is lining the walls below the top of the cup?
But it is only a little bit, and I just wear a liner. I know that partially defeats the point, but it is what I'm comfortable with.

After very fast delivery of DS2, tampons just leaked whatever I did, so something had to change!

Are you sure you've got the right size? Or might a different brand suit? I use MeLuna, but there are lots of others around.

[LadyOfTheFlowers]

Hey. :)
Yeah, I got the size recommended for over 30 and vaginal delivery.
I know what you mean about the bit of blood below the cup edge, I sometimes get a little of that when I wipe if I wee during the 20 minutes it seems to work for.
By leak I mean I get that familiar warm glug, rush to loo, and it's genuinely letting blood escape. It's as if the seal only holds for around 20 minutes then that's it.
I've been googling since I started this thread and have even tried flipping it inside out but that was really hard to insert then and wouldn't seal at all.
I was thinking of trying another brand but want to stick at this one a bit longer as I've forked out for it.
Maybe my innards are mullered and it just won't work for me.

[rockybalboa]

Are you on FB? There is a closed forum there set up by the Feminine Wear website and the ladies on there are an absolute mine of info. It might be that the Mooncup just isn't the right shape for you as there seems to be quite a bit of variation between the dimensions and I think how pliable they are makes a difference too.

[LadyOfTheFlowers]

Thanks, I'll check that out now.

[blueberryboybait]

I had a similar issue and when I asked lady who makes CSP and sells moon cups, she suggested I may be pushing it in too far and my cervix was in the cup so it couldn't fill properly and was leaking very quickly.

[LadyOfTheFlowers]

I think a stiffer cup might be better for me and I seem to dislodge this one which is really quite soft and has become more so already.
I also think maybe too many little air holes in this one?

[TitsCrossed]

Are you twisting it after insertion? That should stop the leaks.

[blueberryboybait]

I have a Meluna cup now and it is much better than my moon cup ever was.

[LadyOfTheFlowers]

Interesting. I know my cervix does come down quite low (I think) once it all kicks off properly.
I've tried higher and really low and still only manage short amounts of seal.
I have most success if I get it in, let it open then push it up and down a little which seems to 'pump' the seal up and it's nice and secure.
Then I'll sit down, maybe lean forward to reach something and it's ruined.

[LadyOfTheFlowers]

Initially I couldn't seem to get enough room to twirl it round but I can now.
I think I've sprung a leak now again.

[goodasitgets]

I also much prefer my meluna cup

[LadyOfTheFlowers]

What's different about Meluna then? Is it stiffer?

[blueberryboybait]

this site is brilliant for figuring them all out.

[LadyOfTheFlowers]

Brilliant.

[LadyOfTheFlowers]

Ha! I have just experienced my first leak because it was full up to the holes!
A mini victory!

[goodasitgets]

I have a normal meluna in L which is stiffer than a mooncup. I like the capacity and the holes are easy to clean
I have a fleurcup too which I also prefer. Although this is all redundant as I've lost my mooncup

[GothMummy]

excellent, it sounds like you are getting your positioning figured out. Personally I have to shove mine up higher than the mooncup leaflet says to avoid leaking, Its a steep learning curve for me, and I dont always get it right but I am using pads as well and hoping that I figure it out very soon....

[LadyOfTheFlowers]

I 'feel' better with the cup.
I'm out of supplies so have the cup back in now. Had to use last of the super plus tampax today as was at work. Home again now so battling on with it. It's in now and I think it will be ok as my flow has slowed and it's not so puffy. God only knows why my innards puff up!?

[13Stitches]

I've had this issue. I bought a softer cup (sckoon) and now make sure I pop it right over my cervix (also comes quite low) which seemed to sort it out. I sti get a bit of leakage but not as bad as before.

The other thing I tried last time was taking ibuprofen, which did seem to reduce the quantity a bit.

[LadyOfTheFlowers]

I'll try ibuprofen then.
It has slowed considerably - I am convinced all the fiddling and pumping it like a plunger trying to get a seal has drawn it down more.
It's still in as I type, sealed. Well I'm not leaking anyway. This is a record - 1 hour and 20 minutes.

[13Stitches]

at your winning streak!

Ibuprofen is the poor mans mefenamic / tranexamic (sp?) acid. It worked for me. I'm considering asking the the doc for the heavy duty stuff. Apparently filling a mooncup hourly is officially Heavy.

[LadyOfTheFlowers]

Thanks!
When I started at 14ish, I remember an almighty flood and the doc giving me that acid stuff that slows it. They told me to try one then if it didn't work, 2. I recall taking 1, it not working, taking 2 and it stopped completely - then caught me by surprise the next day at school. Mortified. Being young and naïve I assumed it had 'got rid of it' for the month. I promptly got put on Microgynon 30 and I had a wonderful time for many years, until it came to TTC, having kids then experiencing an absolutely crippling migraine which entailed me getting taken to hosp. at 3am and begging for intravenous morphine - I could have married the nurse who administered it - then a nervous wait for a brain scan. Now, I am no longer allowed to take anything with hormones in. I'm quite pleased really as now I am older and wiser I'm not sure I like the idea of the extra hormones anyway.
But, it leaves me with periods, that although painless, saturate a super plus tampon in 30 minutes (my record) and render me pretty much toilet bound for 3 days.

PS - After all that rambling - I checked the cup at around 2.5 hours, put it back in and I'm doing fine now. Flow much reduced - for whatever reason I think the amount of blood and the weird puffy thing my vag does (which has subsided now) stopped it sealing??

[DoingTheSwanThing]

You might have tried already, but anyway...
I have much better results after changing the squishing/folding technique - originally was doing the c-fold thing, now kinda folding one side in so it's a more pointed shape then pinging open and leaving -- so no twist/fiddle. My only thought is that maybe it keeps more of a vacuum?? Who knows, works for me anyway (though also changed to lunette - again, no idea why that would work better, it just does!).

[GothMummy]

Oh you poor thing, OP, yes, I had/have similar experiences with heavy periods, its horrible isnt it. The tranexamic acid (usually) works progressively over several months to reduce your flow, so dont panic if it does not work the first month you take it.
I had microgynon 30 as well for a few years in my 20s and loved the freedom from worry/pain/having to plan around where a toilet was etc.
I cant take it now, too old/higher blood pressure etc :(

I go "puffy" as well for a couple of days, Im sure its normal!

[LadyOfTheFlowers]

It is actually still puffy up there today.
I had the cup in 8am till 3pm today with no issues.
(Flow is massively reduced - as mentioned think I pumped it all out on day 2 ) so put it back in to go for a run.
As soon as I stopped running I was leaking. I dived into co op for the loo.
I couldn't find it initially - actually had to ask myself if I'd forgotten to put it in before leaving - it had worked right up to the top!
Sorted it and it's fine again now.
Pelvic floor too shot to run with it in I guess? :(