Blah

[katwritespoetry.livejournal.com]

Man, girls, cramps are awful. This is just not a good day. It's lunch now...I've slept straight through every class just because I'd rather sleep than be awake to feel pain. Blah.

And I really need to invest in something new...I'm thinking sea-sponges, but I'm not sure. My flow's very heavy, and I'm not sure how long they last.

All I know is that tampons are evil. My poor vagina is begging me to switch. No more terrible dry, bleached cotton for me.

Anyone have any suggestions? Or info on sea-sponges? I'm definitely gonna have my sister, _last_serenade_, help me look around, but I wanted your input, too.

Comments

[ellettra.livejournal.com]

i use sea sponges and i love 'em. swear by 'em! never going back to tampons. i order mine from http://www.jadeandpearl.com and have been very happy with the company and the sponges. they last for about 4-6 months and are about $11 for a package of 2 (including shipping and stuff). as for how they work: you wear it until it becomes full and then you remove it and clean it and re-insert. once you get the hang of it, cleaning in public restrooms is no big deal. that was the biggest problem for me... the last thing i wanted to do was be cleaning my sponges at school. but, with a bit of practice it becomes very easy and i always carry an extra and a plastic bag with me in case i really can't clean it right then.

i am in love with my sponges. i feel more connected to my body and am happy that i'm not polluting the earth with non-biodegradeable things, not contributing money to huge corporations bent on the exploitation and shaming of womyn. i also love it that i never have to make sure to have extra tampons on hand. my little sponges are always ready to go and have never let me down.

hope this info helps!!

[http://users.livejournal.com/_last_serenade_/]

they use dioxin in tampons and pads for bleaching purposes.

dioxin = carcinogen

dioxin = heavier flow/more blood/more cramps

sponges rule. one sponge lasts me a good 6 hours on my first (heaviest) day. i used to have to change tampons every 4 hours or so. plus sponges don't dry you out.

and that jade and pearl link is where i got my stuff too. i ended up getting 2 packages of 2, so i have 4 sponges. they're different sizes too, so i use the bigger one for heavier days. i clean them w/hydrogen peroxide and rinse with water. also, i don't do this, but if you want to sew a piece of floss to the sponge, it works more like a conventional tampon. just be ready to stick yer finger up there to get it in. ;)

but honestly, they're wonderful. i love them...i can't imagine ever using a tampon again...my poor vagina would freak.

[annis39.livejournal.com]

i've also got jade and pearl sponges, though i actually got them when they were, for a brief time, carried by a natural foods store near me. they rock. the only difficulty i have with them is getting all the slimy mucous-y blood off; it's a little more difficult. i also try to always empty them at home and squeeze them into my plants.

i thought i was the only one...

[http://users.livejournal.com/_last_serenade_/]

yaaah, me too! that snottish-looking discharge is impossible to get off!!! *growls* although after doing a hydrogen peroxide soak overnight, they're usually ok.

[lizdefiance.livejournal.com]

http://www.foodrevolution.org/askjohn/49.htm has an interesting perspective on sea sponges.

i will say one thing, though - switching from tampons greatly reduces cramps!

[peregrin8.livejournal.com]

sea sponge faq (http://mwmw.com/dodo/ssfaq.html) -- i love 'em. (I do use cloth pads for the heaviest days though.) I never get bad cramps except on the rare occasions when I use a tampon.