My MeLuna Story Today I got a chance to experience how friendly and helpful the MeLuna customer service team really are. I have to say that they did not disappoint me! They were very kind and helped me out really well. Thank you so much for your kind help MeLuna Team if you were to read this! My MeLuna story starts yesterday. Both my MeLuna Sport glittery-gold S & XL had arrived, and I was super-excited to try them out. I was having a thorough look at them since I was so mesmerized by the glitters in them. MeLuna are very much into providing safe products so they've got a special technique so that the glitter is fully inside of the TPE the cup is made of (to avoid a festive belly-inside :p). It was then that I felt something odd... In one spot on the rim, both cups felt sticky and attracted lint. I tried to wash them to remove it, but I kept feeling the same thing every time I tried. It felt like the same feeling you get when you spill jam and can not get it off. I did not know what to do so I e-mailed the MeLuna Team as well as posted a message on a fb-page about cups to find out if someone had had the same experience and knew what to do. On fb I got the advice to mail the MeLuna Team as it was not normal that my cups felt sticky. I had already mailed them so I was glad I had done so. I did, however, not know how they would react. I offered them to send photos or to even send the cups via mail so they could have a look for themselves if they wanted me to. I really hoped in doing so I could prove that I was honest because I had no clue how I otherwise were to prove to them that my cups really did feel sticky. The same night I e-mailed them, I got a mail back in which they asked me if I could send some photos and that's what I did today. In the slideshow below you can see them. I did not know what to expect, but then I got a mail back from the MeLuna Team saying that I were to cut up the cups I had, take a picture of them as they were destroyed and send it to them. Then, I would get new cups. I felt terrible having to do so, because the cups looked so pretty, but I understood this was necessary since they were, after all, faulty, so I (wo)manned up and scissored each cup and sent a photo as proof I had done so. I then got a mail back saying that I could shortly expect my new cups. I can't thank the MeLuna Team enough for their help and for believing me. I really felt bad that I had to tell them there was something wrong with both of my cups and did not know what to do, but I did not dare to try the cups the way they were, so I had to mail them. I felt so lucky because they were very kind and helpful! Wonderful customer service they have! Thanks to them, I will be able to try my cups and review them for you shortly! So my next period will be worry-free in a double sense this time :D! Once I get my new cups and I have tried them out, I will also do a full review on them, so stay tuned! : p These are the photos I sent to the MeLuna Team: Photo from the MeLuna website of the cups I got! I decided to go for the small and the xlarge, instead of the large as I said I wanted to try in my review about the Shorty, as I wanted to try a really high capacity cup as well. About the MeLuna S&XL Sport:
MeLuna Small Sport dimensions: It is said that the MeLuna small is one of the smallest menstrual cups worldwide (except for the Shorty than of course, which is also by meLuna :p). It is suitable for light flow and if you have good pelvic floor muscles.
MeLuna XL Sport dimensions: This one is one of the larger menstrual cups around. It can be used by women who already had vaginal births, or women, which have a very heavy menstrual flow. On the MeLuna site they say that if the length does not cause any problems, it also can be used at considerably weakened pelvic floor muscles. With the Sport version, however, I recommend you not to do this, as the Sport is specifically designed for women with a very good pelvic floor! Just so you know : )
My opinion: Dry run: MeLuna Sport Small This cup was amazing doing a dry run! I got it in and out problem- and pain free and I could not feel it at all when it was inside. I was also having a bit of pre-period spotting and this was the cup that I used to catch it. I'm glad I did, because it was really nice and comfy on that occasion too. MeLuna Sport XL While I have never had any cup-difficulties on a dry run, this was the one I really could not get to work with me. I got it in, but it would not open for the life of me. I tried everything I could think of, but the XL said no : ) Period: MeLuna Sport Small The MeLuna Sport Small is a very comfortable cup. It's very easy to insert and pops open like a breeze. Then, when it's inside, I can't feel it at all. That's really nice, as I did not know what to expect for I had heard that it is a firmer cup. It also stays in place well. Getting it back out is surprisingly easy and painless too. Yay! I have not yet used it for a heavy day, but I'm planning to. I like the MeLuna Sport Small so much that I really want to know if I would be able to wear it then too as I really, really like this one : ) MeLuna Sport XL The MeLuna Sport XL being one of the largest cups, and I being tiny, I had to make sure I folded it enough in order for it not to touch my bum when I tried to get it in. In contrast with my difficulties with this cup on a dry run though, it was supereasy to get it to open up inside me when I was on my period. I am so happy! As I am very tight and this cup is really wide, I could feel it a bit when it was inside of me, but it's also possible that that was because my period was not that heavy when I tried it. (I probably will try the Large size also to be able to see the difference.) Getting the MeLuna Sport XL out, was about being careful, read: it has a learning curve! When you are tight and tiny, you have to be really careful when you try and get it out. I had to punch the rim down quite a bit to get it out of my vagina again as otherwise I would have hurt myself (but I didn't! :D) (it being a firm cup it would have really hurt). Not getting it out super easily also had its advantages though. You cannot pull the cup so hard that it floops out and creates a murder scene scenario in your bathroom! Thumbs up for that one! My overall opinion: If you like firmer cups these 2 are definitely worth a try! I would also highly recommend MeLuna's ring stem. It is simply amazing: it is easy to get hold of, you cannot feel it, and it makes cup removal easier. It all started with my granny's old armoire I inherited. About a year and a half ago, I discovered something about myself I seemed to have forgotten. I love to redecorate, or in Dutch the great word 'opleuken', old furniture. I I had moved house and wanted to use my granny's armoire, but, upon a closer look, it seemed to have tiny wormholes in a few places. You can imagine how devastated I was! If indeed they were wormholes, the armoire would have to go. When you know I had the best possible relationship with my granny, you can imagine how heartbreaking a decision it would be to have to say goodbye to one of her possessions that reminded me so much of her. Upon an even closer inspection we luckily decided that the wormholes were not sufficient in number to be new ones, i.e. containing live woodworm. I, I mean my granny's armoire, was saved! The armoire would, however, be treated with a solution against woodworm. That was how I got the idea to redecorate granny's armoire. I wanted to make absolutely sure the woodworm wood never be back! What else than painting it would make sure of that? So the painting begun... and then I happened to find some leftover scraps of wallpaper lying around the house : ) I immediately got a visual image of how pretty the wallpaper would combine with my chosen paint and decided to go with my hunch. Ever since, I have nearly constantly been working on smaller and larger furniture projects. In doing so, I really seem to find myself time and time again and I can really relax. It all started with me wanting to give my granny's old armoire a new lease on life and ended up with me getting one in return too! I feel eternally grateful! (Picture of the front will come!) On the weather forecast they just predicted that it will start to snow in Belgium anytime now! I'm so happy :D! I love snow. It's so cosy and it creates such a magical atmosphere. It is therefore I wanted to share with you all a film that, in my opinion, really captures this magical feeling and transports you to another world. It is also an adaptation of a book by Raymond Briggs, i.e. The Snowman. The Snowman is a wonderful film. It creates a heartwarming cosy and cuddly wintery feeling. The word in Danish that really encompasses the meaning of all these words, is hyggelig! :D Enjoy! The film you could see here and which I can highly recommend (also suited for very small children!!) was the screen adaptation of one of my favourite books when I was little, Father Christmas. There is always a beautiful second book: Father Christmas Goes on Holiday. Father Christmas was given to me by my granny when I was four. Even today I still love the book and the film as they're so whimsical and endearing. You cannot help falling in love with Christmas and Father Christmas after you've seen this. :p The 'people' of illuminated film took all versions of it down from YouTube. All links kept failing to show on my blog and said that was why. Sadly for them, they seem to forget that, if people love it on YouTube, they are more likely to buy it. That's because they know for sure that they love it because they got to see it. In this knowledge they no longer have to doubt whether or not to buy it, afraid to loose money, but they just buy it and maybe even buy one or more as a gift for others too. This is an interview with the writer istället (with some sneek peeks from the film!): After my fright with both my Si-Bell cups, I decided I definitely wanted a more firm cup, ahum, make that a very firm cup! My next cup certainly would not be allowed to do circus acts in my belly! ( : It was thanks to someone asking on a menstrual cup comparison on a menstrual cup page on facebook that I found out that the most firm cup existing should be the Yuuki Classic. At that moment I was really, really desperate and in shock, so I went straight to Femininewear to order it : )! I felt so relieved to learn that, indeed, there existed this really, really firm cup I was looking after! I'm so grateful I found it and was able to buy it! How great it is that in helping someone else, I got the help I needed myself as well :D Yuuki cup also have their own website! I did not know that when I ordered my Yuuki. Otherwise, I might have gotten it of there, since they offer combination packs that allow you to either try two different sizes of cups or two different firmnesses, which is not only practical but economical too! About the small Yuuki:
Infusion! The Yuuki Classic comes with an infuser box to instead of a cotton pouch. An infuser? It's a plastic box especially designed to be used in the microwave to boil, and thus sterilize!, your menstrual cup. In the microwave, the box lets steam escape through the Yuuki holes in the top. When your not wearing your cup, you can also store your Yuuki in this box. Thanks to the Yuuki holes in the top, it is not airtight, so no nasty things can develop and your cup is safely stored until your next period! The Yuuki infuser box is 3.75” tall and 2.5” wide. It holds approximately 250ml. On the box itsself are the instructions for how many water you need to boil your cup (varies for the small and large) and on which wattage you have to put your microwave. The infuser is available in two colours, green, the one I have as green is my favourite colour! :p, and a very pretty dark reddish-pink (strawberry-like). Photo's of the Yuuki infuser box: My opinion: Dry-run I forgot to mention that, before my period started, I had already tried my 'rock' on a so-called 'dry-run', i.e. wearing your cup while not on your period just to get the feel of it and try it out. I was so excited from finally owning a decently firm cup that I just could not refrain myself :p I just had to try it, like yesterday! :D I thus boiled it first to sterilize it and then the fun could begin! It felt so comfortable I even forgot taking it out before bed, only to wake up and realize I had, for the first time ever!, slept wearing a menstrual cup! If you know I have always been a bit reluctant to wear a menstrual cup to bed. I do not like the idea of the blood being able to float around freely inside my belly for 8 hours or more with no escape route : ). But I guess the Yuuki just is really so comfortable to me that I could forget I was wearing it while not even being on my period :p On my period After having heard so many complain about that it was so firm and that it was too hard for them, I was really apprehensive about it and really hesitant to give it a try, but now I'm so thrilled I did! I LOVE the fact that the Yuuki Classic Small is so firm! I was so enthusiastic about finally being able to try such a firm cup, that when my period started, I immediately boiled my Yuuki again and put it in! After having tried it for one day, I was so happy with it, that I used my 'rock' my entire period, even one night as well (just to try if I would leak or not, it will be only a one-timer do when testing cups to be able to give overnight-advice as I'm always worried for the blood being able to roam around freely inside of me, while, during daytime, it is collected in the cup). I liked it's firmness? I did! Admittedly, it is firm, but I could not feel it once it was inside, I got it to pop open like a dream and it stayed in place very well. On regular days I never ever had any leaks. I was so happy :D On heavy days, however, I noticed that I leaked. Assuming that my cup was full I took it out only to come to the conclusion that it was only half full :O I was puzzled. It could not be anything wrong with my cup as it weren't even filled to the holes! Luckily, I came across a post describing someone having a similar problem as mine on a facebook page concerning menstrual cups. It said that it is possible that your cervix can sit in your cup, which gives it less capacity and causes you to leak. I'm sure this is what happened to me to and I am glad that I now that such a thing exists so I can share it with you! Overall, I just love my Yuuki Classic small, however, something I do not like about it, is its stem. I really don't. First, it's hollow and therefore it traps blood, which is a hassle to get out on (quick!) refills, fibers when it's not being used, and water. After boiling, it's filled up with hot water, which is not nice because, when after boiling my cup, I want to take it out of the water, but have to be extremely careful in order not to get burnt. It also traps cold water when cleaning in between refills and cleaning after removal to store it for the night or till your next period. Between refills, if you forget to pinch the water out, it will get you wet on reinsertion, the water first dribbling drown your cup, hand and then leg, ugh. After removal, if you forget to pinch it out, the water will remain in the stem until you squish it out! Second, it's quite thick and in the beginning it used to stab me and made me feel sore. I did not dare to trim it as i have a heigh cervix and I was afraid that, after trimming it, I would not be able to get hold of my cup again when it was time to take it out. I thus did not trim it and I was lucky because after a while the stem no longer disturbed me internally! Not all is bad about the Yuuki's stem though! I like the fact that it has got 4 grip rings. They make it very easy to get a good hold of the stem upon cup removal! It's also not too flexible as that it would stretch the whole way and then be catapulted back if you accidentally let it slip and get hit hard... : ) I would love for the Yuuki to be available in a coloured version also, as due to it being clear, it is prone to discoloration. I'm not that bothered by it though, as I recently discovered that it's possible to stain-treat it! (will follow how!). I have to mention that, on the other side, I also like the fact the Yuuki is clear because it allows you to see exactly how much you've bled and if everything seems to be normal. It can be done with a coloured cup too, though a bit more difficult. Would I recommend the Yuuki Classic size small? I would recommend the Yuuki Classic small for sure! I love it. To me, it's one of the greatest cups I've tried so far. It really fits my needs for a firm, good-sitting cup. Although, you may need to consider this: If you are a heavy bleeder, or on a heavy day, you may need to empty this little fellow a few times extra, especially if your cervix wants to take a bath in your cup :p. Or maybe, you could try the Yuuki Classic large? :p Stem-wise, it depends. In my opinion, the advantages of the Yuuki Classic size small outweigh the disadvantages of its (to me!) not so great stem, you can also cut it if your cervix is low enough for you to grab your cup without it, but if you are one to be more bothered by such a thing you might better go for another cup. Thus, overall, in my opinion, if you are looking for a very firm resistance cup, the Yuuki Classic is worth the while to try! It definitely is a 'Classic'! ;-)
At the bottom of this post, you can find two versions of a very merry song I heard on the radio this morning! The first is an all male choir. The second is a mixed choir. The version I heard and found to be prettiest was by jennifer Larmore, but sadly I could not find her version. These are the lyrics: Aaron Copland – Ching-a-ring Chaw Lyrics Ching-a-ring-a ring ching ching, Ho a ding-a-ding kum larkee, Ching-a-ring-a ring ching ching, Ho a ding kum larkee. Brothers gather round, Listen to this story, 'Bout the promised land, An' the promised glory. You don't need to fear, If you have no money, You don't need none there, To buy you milk and honey. There you'll ride in style, Coach with four white horses, There the evenin' meal, Has one two three four courses. Ching-a-ring-a ring ching ching, Ho a ding-a-ding kum larkee, Ching-a-ring-a ring, Ho a ding kum larkee. Nights we all will dance To the harp and fiddle, Waltz and jig and prance, "And Cast off down the middle!" When the mornin' come, All in grand and splendour, Stand out in the sun, And hear the holy thunder! Brothers hear me out, The promised land's a-comin' Dance and sing and shout, I hear them harps a strummin'. Ching-a-ring-a ching Ching ching, ching a ring ching Ching-a-ring-a ching ching, Ching-a-ring-a ching ching, Ching-a-ring-a, Ching-a-ring-a, Ching-a-ring-a, Ring, ching ching ching chaw! Here it says 'husband', but I think most women will agree that sometimes men in general would benefit from having a uterus for awhile in order to be able to understand what we sometimes have to go through and that we really are in pain and have cravings and the like! : ) I'm sure that there are a lot of great, caring and compassionate men when a woman is on their period too by the way!! Just thought this cartoon to be really funny :D :P And as a beautiful Irish proverb says: 'A good laugh and a good night's sleep can cure almost anything', I wanted to share this with you to relieve some of your period pain with humour as an antidote :P Hope you like it!
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AuthorLottemarie, KULeuven-student, life-enthusiast, happy-go-lucky, thinker, determined, persistent, creative Archives
December 2015
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