messy periods

[-oneway.livejournal.com]

every time i get my period i always end up making a mess and staining my underwear, pants, bedsheets etc. even though i use both a pad and a tampon simultaneously these don't seem to be enough. i feel like i'm the only one to have such messy periods. do i actually have a very heavy flow? or is this kind of thing normal?

Comments

[fianna.livejournal.com]

My flow is exactly like that and the only thing I have found that keeps me from leaking all over everything is the Diva Cup.

[balmofgilead.livejournal.com]

i've heard of other people having the same thing happen to them, but from what i know, i think bleeding through both a tampon and a pad means quite a heavy flow. if you have the ability to check with a doctor, i'd do that, just to make sure everything's ok.

i don't bleed as heavily as you do, but i gotta agree that stained underware is a pain. i'm currently working on starting a collection of black underware.

[-oneway.livejournal.com]

black underwear is a good idea. i basically stop wearing any light-coloured underwear i own during my period because of the consequences.

i don't really feel the need to see a doctor at the moment. my period is more irritating and annoying than anything. i think if it gets worse i will consider going.

[balmofgilead.livejournal.com]

the only reason i mentioned it is that sometimes really heavy periods can be caused by fibroids or other things being out of whack with your body, and it's good to know what's going on. also sometimes people end up anemic from all the blood loss...i guess just stuff to ask about next time you're at the doctor for something else.

[sunsplash.livejournal.com]

I used to have that problem at night.. but now I set my alarm for about 4 hours later than when I go to bed. I'd rather get up during the night and change a tampon than wake up to a bloody mess. I also still wear an ultra-thin, overnight pad as well. When I'm feeling particualarly heavy, I'll put an extra pad in the back (I tend to lay on my back when I'm bleeding and it runs .. and.. just ugh.) Ever since the waking up about 4 hours after I go to bed and changing tampons though.. I don't ever bleed through the pads.

[-oneway.livejournal.com]

i'm not as willing to give up sleep as you are! i tend to use those huge overnight pads at night and, like you, sometimes use an extra pad at the back. it usually stops any leakage but on some occasions nothing helps. someone suggested using one of those huge nappy-like things that women with incontinence use. i feel kind of embarassed to buy them though.

[angelsorrow313.livejournal.com]

I have an uber heavy flow, but after I got on birth control it seemed to cut it down. My doctor said some women just end up having alot more strenth to the lining of thier uterus then others and hence the heavier flow. The other thing my OBGYN suggested this is going to sound sick...Masterbation will losen up the clotting a blood and end the period faster. Taking baths durring the period works wonders too I found out.

To help with the stains OXY Clean works wonders for getting out the blood since it's a natural stain. You can use it on any fabric and it dosen't bleach colors either *winks*.


-Jessica

[angelsorrow313.livejournal.com]

It just feels icky in my opinion is all...

[lyrae.livejournal.com]

Yeah, when I used to have heavier periods I didn't much feel like masturbating during it. I do find it helps cramps though. And I think my libido is stronger during my period.

[lyrae.livejournal.com]

It's not "sick" to masturbate!!

[nelsolidarida.livejournal.com]

I think she meant it might sound sick for her doctor to suggest it.

[lyrae.livejournal.com]

I sincerely hope so. Cause if masturbating is bad, then I'm in BIG TROUBLE.

[nelsolidarida.livejournal.com]

Ha, you'd probably have less trouble than me inserting a mooncup. ;)

[-oneway.livejournal.com]

thanks for the tips. i'd certainly never heard of the masturbation one before! as for birth control, the last time i was on the pill, i didn't notice any change in my flow, although i know that in many women it does lighten it.

[nelsolidarida.livejournal.com]

I get quite a heavy flow, while using tampons i've found that changing them more often than it says on the pack helps. I've pre-empted any leakage problems with the mooncup by buying some boxer shorts, which should keep it contained a bit more. (ie absorb the blood before it runs down my leg, ick)

[-oneway.livejournal.com]

yeah, i've got all sorts of strategies for preventing the occurrence of any embarrassing leakage, eg. i don't wear light coloured pants during my period, i sleep with thick sweatpants so any leakage won't stain the bed, and sometimes i even sleep on top of a towel. still, sometimes unexpected leakage does occur, and it's such a pain!

[nelsolidarida.livejournal.com]

I'm seriously considering black thermal undies for the winter;).

[ev14363.livejournal.com]

when i'm paranoid about bleeding on the sheets i put down a towel too. sleep for me is more of a priority than getting up to check or feel if i'm leaking. my advice is to use OB super plus tampons..they seem to work the best for me..especially at night. i also use the always thin overnight pads for the sake of an extra hour or two of sleep. thats all i can suggest..and i guess we should all be happy knowing its only a few days out of the month. :o)

[-oneway.livejournal.com]

i've always been worried about wearing tampons overnight. isn't it bad to leave them in for more than 4 hours? and i definitely don't want to wake up in the middle of the night to change tampons.

[nelsolidarida.livejournal.com]

I checked this when i first started using them, apparently you can leave them in for up to eight hours when not active. This was the first thing i checked about tampons, because overnight was always the worst time for leakage before i started using them. And i'm still alive after all the times i've inserted a tampon at ten-ish at night, meaning to change it after exactly eight hours then slept in longer than that.

[ev14363.livejournal.com]

its my understanding that you can leave them in for up to 8 hrs...but i've been bad and left them in a little longer.

[nelsolidarida.livejournal.com]

Something i like about the 'cup is that, from the safety angle, you can leave it in as long as you like. Dunno about the leakage angle tho, havent tested that yet.

[voidofher.livejournal.com]

maybe you need to try tampons with higher absorbency... or a different type of tampons. also try changing them more frequently. if it gets worse, you should see a doctor.

[-oneway.livejournal.com]

i do try to change my tampons and pads frequently, but sometimes it isn't possible, like if i'm sitting an exam or something. and yeah, i may go see my doctor if it gets worse, because on top of all the leakage and everything, i also get very bad period pain.

[vampodrama.livejournal.com]

my flow is not heavy, usually, but it does get messy still.... somehow I always end up staining sheets. maybe I just fidget too much in my sleep. or maybe I should stop being cheap and buy overnight pads (I just use a regular thin pad at night, because I never remember to buy pads or tampons, I am always out of them and I buy them pretty much at random)....

[-oneway.livejournal.com]

overnight pads definitely help! because they're bigger, not only do they soak up more, but they protect against any leakage you get from lying down. i'm so used to overnight pads that if i run out, i use two regular pads.