SAAFE forum
General Category => Questions and Answers => Topic started by: Sun & Rain on 28 January 2017, 09:25:25 am
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I'm so stupid. About 10 years ago I used a bit of a sponge as a tampon and couldn't get it back out. It was stuck for a week until a friend was able to remove it, by which time it was absolutely horrendously disgusting. I planned to NEVER do itbagain, but my friend encouraged me and said that loads of people do it and are fine. Reluctantly so did it, thinking that maybe I'd used a too small piece of sponge previously. And an hour later when I went to remove it, it's stuck. I can't reach it at all to pull it out, it's too far up. I have nobody to ask. I daren't go to A&E as it's I think it's a bit drastic and I would hate to be a time waster as it's not an emergency, but being Saturday, docs are not open and I'm not sure I want to wait til Monday. What would you do?
I should probably (embarrassingly) mention that it's half of a kitchen sponge without the scourer).
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OK first of all, buy some proper sponges!
Try pouring a lot of water into your vag to soften the sponge up. If you have a hand held shower, unscrew the head and direct the pipe up. After you've soaked it, try again, beating down with your pelvic muscles at the same time you reach up.
If still no luck, I'd go to the local walk in center or minor injuries unit. If you don't have one locally then you'll have to go to A&E. Don't leave it because you'll be risking infection, which will put you put of action for far longer than a period!
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I would just go to the walk in as if you leave it there you could end up with toxic shock syndrome also using a shower hose with any sort of high water pressure can cause problems, if you decide to use the shower then please use a low water pressure also use warm water as if you use cold you could end up with the vaginal wall muscles going into spasm.
They will not be bothered at any walk in clinic I have a background in Nursing and you would not believe some of the things that people present with you will be embarrassed but the staff will not care
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OK first of all, buy some proper sponges!
Try pouring a lot of water into your vag to soften the sponge up. If you have a hand held shower, unscrew the head and direct the pipe up. After you've soaked it, try again, beating down with your pelvic muscles at the same time you reach up.
If still no luck, I'd go to the local walk in center or minor injuries unit. If you don't have one locally then you'll have to go to A&E. Don't leave it because you'll be risking infection, which will put you put of action for far longer than a period!
Yep VC That's what I was going to say because the heavier/ wetter they are they seem to be easier to grab ! I'd get in a warm bath and try and soak up there , push down with pelvic floor too .
I have really long nails and I can often just get the 'edge' with one to nudge it down a bit ' mind you think I'm a funny shape right up the top , seem to veer off a bit , like I've got a little 'corner' to get them trapped in lol.
Don't panic and just keep trying , I've though 'there's no way that's coming out' and it has ! But always a bit later when it's wetter. Lube on fingers might help if your getting sore ? Good luck , and if you end up in casualty if your embarrassed say your friend told you you can do it because she bought some for her honeymoon or something .
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This happened to me too, twice as well lol. I'd echo what other people have said and see if you can get some water in there, as if it's saturated it'll be heavier and move downwards.
If it's really impossible, try a sexual health walk-in clinic first (I had to go twice, don't worry about it they won't judge), they shouldn't have a problem with a speculum and forceps to get it out. The sooner the better though.
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I tend to sit on the loo to get mine out as I find it's a better position to get further up. If I get one stuck I try and get one finger up the side of it and just sort of scratch it out (can't think of a better expression) at the same time pushing really hard with your pelvis (as if giving birth) .
Good luck x
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If I'm desperate I lie under a towel on my bed to help with the angle. I have a tilted womb so they do get stuck. Long nails help but I find if I stay calm and lie down, I can get them out.
I only use Gynotex. Bits don't break off like a normal sponge.
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I'm so stupid. About 10 years ago I used a bit of a sponge as a tampon and couldn't get it back out. It was stuck for a week until a friend was able to remove it, by which time it was absolutely horrendously disgusting. I planned to NEVER do itbagain, but my friend encouraged me and said that loads of people do it and are fine. Reluctantly so did it, thinking that maybe I'd used a too small piece of sponge previously. And an hour later when I went to remove it, it's stuck. I can't reach it at all to pull it out, it's too far up. I have nobody to ask. I daren't go to A&E as it's I think it's a bit drastic and I would hate to be a time waster as it's not an emergency, but being Saturday, docs are not open and I'm not sure I want to wait til Monday. What would you do?
I should probably (embarrassingly) mention that it's half of a kitchen sponge without the scourer).
Oh you poor thing... I've had similar happen to me before where I just could not get it out. I think some of us are "longer" inside than others and sometimes fingers just won't reach.
You mentioned your friend - are you sure she can't come and help? I do know it's embarrassing though.
I have another solution you can try which helped me in a similar situation on one occasion, but be warned maybe TMI..... if you bring yourself to orgasm then squat down and bear down, your fingers might be able to get hold of the sponge in that position. The vagina is wetter and has expanded so there's more room to feel about, plus you're lubricated inside so with luck the sponge might slip down a bit.
If you can't do it though please do go and see a doctor ASAP. I'm sure they've seen this type of thing a million times before x
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Or sit in a warm bath and when it fills with water, stand up. The weight will help it move down.
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I tend to sit on the loo to get mine out as I find it's a better position to get further up. If I get one stuck I try and get one finger up the side of it and just sort of scratch it out (can't think of a better expression) at the same time pushing really hard with your pelvis (as if giving birth) .
Good luck x
Yep this is what I do, wait until you need a wee your muscles tend to relax a lot more. Try the baby ramer sponges the small round ones.
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If you do need to go to A and E just say you ran out of tampon's and your friend told you about using a sponge and now it's stuck, they really won't judge, it's happened to me six times, good luck :).
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I'd get yourself to the walk in centre. It's happened to me before and I felt a bit awkward but I just laughed it off while I was in there and so did they. It wasn't as horrific as I thought it would be and they hadn't even heard of sponge tampons until then!
I probably put them off then for life :P
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push down with pelvic floor too .
This always helps get it out you have to keep pushing hard and often (it does come down a bit) and at the same time try reaching for it. Hope you managed to get it out.
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Thanks for your help ladies. I FINALLY managed to remove it after several attempts. I think I have short fingers which doesnt help. I'll never be doing that again. my periods are so irregular though so it's annoying if I come on after booking a hotel and having clients booked up. I think I'm future I'll have to cancel if I come on :-( I can't risk that again, it was incredibly different to remove xxx
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Thanks for your help ladies. I FINALLY managed to remove it after several attempts. I think I have short fingers which doesnt help. I'll never be doing that again. my periods are so irregular though so it's annoying if I come on after booking a hotel and having clients booked up. I think I'm future I'll have to cancel if I come on :-( I can't risk that again, it was incredibly different to remove xxx
There is a tablet you can order that will stop your period or try being on the pill and just skip the 7 sugar tabs at the end.
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Thanks for your help ladies. I FINALLY managed to remove it after several attempts. I think I have short fingers which doesnt help. I'll never be doing that again. my periods are so irregular though so it's annoying if I come on after booking a hotel and having clients booked up. I think I'm future I'll have to cancel if I come on :-( I can't risk that again, it was incredibly different to remove xxx
Glad to hear you were finally able to remove it! I have loads of people tell me to use it but Ive read too many horror stories like yours so I vowed never to use a sponge and I never will!
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Glad to hear you were finally able to remove it! I have loads of people tell me to use it but Ive read too many horror stories like yours so I vowed never to use a sponge and I never will!
The correct sponges are fine to use they are the correct shape and also have a loop you can hook with your finger to get them out easily, I used them for many years in the past and never had a problem. Anyone pushing a piece of normal sponge up is asking for trouble getting it out.
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Incase it ever happens again or happens to anyone use Olive oil pour a lot of it inside it works like magic
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Personally, I couldn't work without them. They are a godsend during my bleed days. (I'm on hrt ;D)
They are a bastard to get out but I have always managed. Don't laugh, but laughing helps! The more wound up you are the less likely you are to extricate the damn thing.
I have used Beppys (with the hole you hook your finger through, supposedly) but as I have a tilted womb this makes it worse and I find them much harder to get out. Gynotex are bigger and when I finish laughing (at earning money doing sex work on my period) I relax on the bed and then it does eventually come out of the 'corner ' of my womb.
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The correct sponges are fine to use they are the correct shape and also have a loop you can hook with your finger to get them out easily
Oh okay. I wasnt aware they had a loop on the end. I assumed they were all cordless sponges. But even still
They are a bastard to get out..
I just dont like the idea of them being pushed further up during sex.... But I guess I wont know until I try eh?
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I just Googled Beppys and this thread came up lol
http://www.saafe.info/main/index.php?topic=608.0
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Sorry ladies this will offend some but i use standard foundation sponges and below are 3 methods for the odd occasion one gets stuck (ps disregard is squemish)
1. Try normal method of removal, lie back. Open legs. Lube up fingers. Grab sponge and pull
2. Sponge is stuck.. Determine why.. If A . its too far up to reach then
3. Sqat and low as you can. This contracts the length of your vagina and allows your fingers to reach further getting a better grip
B. Its stuck because of the angle.. Either try option above or better lie of your side with the lower leg bent back behind. Relax as much as possible. Lube fingers and attempt to change the position of the sponge.. If its can be removed immediatly thats great. In most cases. Leave it 10mins or so and go back to plan a for standard removal. Repeat as necessary
4. Dont panic. You will tense up and it will get trickier
5. If youre really stuck just leave it an hour or 2. Forget about it and go back to it later. Many times yu will find a previously impossible to remove sponge later comes out with no problem just from leaving it for a while and getting on with life in the meantime.
IMO Lube amd squatting are the best options. Shorten your vagina and lots of lube allows movement, try if possible to hook your fingers around the top of the spo ge to guatantee a pull. If you try to grab an end it can rip making things worse..
Ps i know you should use the specialist ones but the OP wanted emergency advice for a stuck sponge and i doubt she will be the last to find herself in the f-it situation and then find herself searching saafe for a way out!!
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I've heard of the tablets that stop periods before actually. Worth looking into to see how they'd work with my irregularity x