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[http://users.livejournal.com/j-e-a-n-/]

Okay I don't know if any of you have Kash 'N' Karry stores where you live, but if you do DO NOT buy their tampons! I bought their store brand tampons cos I was low on cash at the time and I needed them pronto. Well yesterday I put one in because I was due to start my period and I had something to do that I didn't want interrupted by red panties. Later when I went to take the tampon out it the string was nowhere to be found and the tampon was STUCK inside me and I COULD NOT get it out. After sitting on the toilet for LITERALLY about a half an hour frantically trying anything I could think of to get this thing out of me, I decided to just get up and go on about my activities and maybe after I peed again or something and kept bleeding onto it, it would moisten and I could get it out.

Later I went back again and after about 10 minutes of trying this time I got it out. There were only a few drops of blood on the tip so I hadn't bled enough yet to get it moist enough to let it slide out. It's an awful feeling when you have something inside you that will not come out no matter what you do.

So after all this I opened another one of the tampons and inspected it. Here's the problem: It is covered with this netted-type material in all the places it expands which is supposed to provide better protection. It is soft to the touch of the finger when just taken out of the wrapping, but when it has been up inside you and hasn't been moistened it kind of dries out and hardens at the edge of each of the expansion walls and thus is rough and (and painful to boot) to remove in a place so sensitive. When it gets rough and cannot move, surprise, it gets stuck. Luckily I only used a regular absorbency one this time. If I'd have gone with the super ones (which I also have) I am confident that it probably would have resulted in a trip to the ER.

And I have a question, I realize this may be kind of gross to some, but does anyone else feel like they need to take a bowel movement the whole time they're on their period with the exception of like, the last day or so? I thought it may just be because of the way the tampon presses on me but I have been using a pad all day and it still feels that way. Anyone know why?

Comments

[bluebear225.livejournal.com]

i know what you mean...i get the same thing. i think though that sometimes i think its from a bowel movement..but really its just cramping..it can be hard to tell the difference sometimes

[co-techie.livejournal.com]

The whole thing with bowel movement (and sometimes light diahrrea early on in your period) is some of side effect of your muscles cramping and squeezing on the organs/parts around itself that causes you to feel like you have to go potty. It happens to me on the first day usually .. but dissipates after a while.

[pontiuspilates.livejournal.com]

LIGHT diarrhea? christ, you get off lucky...

[bi-ballerina.livejournal.com]

the feeling could be because of cramping. . . but it is also because progetin controls smooth muscle functiong, and your period happens when your hormone levels drop. Therefore, smooth muscle functioning of the intestines weakens, usually resulting ineither diarrea or constipation. My suggestion for these problems is to watch extra carefully what you eat around this time and have more fiber (if you get constipated), or watch out for fiber (if you get diarrea). The feeling that you have to poop, but not actually being able to is usually a sign of slight constipation.

[morning-stand.livejournal.com]

I think it has something to do with the contractions of the uterus and related muscles aiding the movement of bowels. I have the same problem.

[aster13.livejournal.com]

Um, not meanin to be rude (and i can see why you did it) but i think it is generally considered a bad idea to put in a tampon in if you're not actually bleeding - cos of exactly this type o thing happening (and TSS etc). So i'd suggest that it wouldn't be a great plan to do that again - try using a pad instead, or better yet, get a mooncup!

[skeptictank.livejournal.com]

I don't use tampons right at the VERY beginning or last 2 days of my period. If you use a higher absorbency than you should, you run the risk of TSS and obviously having not started yours quite yet, you were using a higher absorbency than your body required at the time.

I've also heard (although I'm not sure how much truth this holds) that using one when you're not actually bleeding can soak up a lot of fluids and things in your vagina that your body needs while NOT actually bleeding, even if only for a couple hours before starting your period.

The sad truth of it all, though, is that if it were as easy as putting in a tampon whenever you felt like you were about to start, we'd all save a lot of money on replacement undergarments. In my opinion, stick a pantyliner on until you feel like it's just starting, then go switch to a tampon when there are actual signs of a flow. You just kinda have to deal with it.

[mylittleaadvark.livejournal.com]

Yep. My pet theory is it's my body getting rid of the bloating/water retention beforehand. Plus it's sometimes hard to tell exactly what organ's causing the abdominal cramps - we can play the fun "is it my uterus? is it my intestines?" game!