(no subject)

[rotf-lmao.livejournal.com]

Hello, ladies. I've been a member (and lurker!) in this community for ages now, but tonight I have a little question for you all. I'm hoping you can shed some light on this for me.



I've been having my period for seventeen years now (since I was nine.) I've never been regular; I can make a ballpark guess as to when my period's going to show up, but I can never be 100% sure. Some months I don't get it at all, and with the pain I have during my periods, that's more a blessing than a curse! I suffer from cramps, headaches, bloating, the works.

Anyway.

I've always used pads. Always. First it was just because, well, I was nine. I used what my mother bought me, and at nine I'm sure she wasn't keen on buying me things that I would have to put up there. Then, I suppose, I just got used to them and never thought about using anything else.

I did finally try tampons when I was a junior in high school. But something weird happened the month after I tried them. I had what amounted to the WORST period I have EVER had. Massive bleeding, hellish cramps...just....wow. It was unbelievable.

And so, I never used tampons again. That was ten years ago.

But now, I'm getting SO tired of pads again. They're just so fucking bulky and...I hate feeling like I'm wearing a damn diaper. I mean...well, you probably all know what I'm trying to get at here. Plus, to be frank, I despise wearing underwear, and using pads pretty much dictates that I have to wear them for five days of the month.

So what I'm wondering is: That period from hell that I described above....has anyone ever found that using tampons made their period symptoms worse? Have they ever made anyone in the community sick? Or could it be due to, I don't know...maybe I was using ones that were too much for me? (I always used the "super" ones; but at work tonight I picked up a box of the regular ones.)

I know this is all very confusing, and kudos to anyone who managed to read all the way through! I'd really appreciate any insight into this.

Comments

[anony-m0use.livejournal.com]

I think I started last year, and it hasn't made any changes in my period. Only making it more comforable to walk around xD

[rotf-lmao.livejournal.com]

That's what I've been hoping for. I hate feeling things bunch and shift and....ugh!

[belinconnu.livejournal.com]

tampons have always made my cramps slightly worse (and as the first day or so used to have me in so much pain I'd throw up for 12 hours) I always used pads for the first two days and tampons when my crapms have backed off a bit.... but you'll probably be able to get better advice from the others here.....

[mmmfobbs.livejournal.com]

I just switched to cloth pads and a Diva cup, but I do know a bit about tampons.

Due to the risks for TSS, you should choose the lowest possible absorbency! And never leave it in for more than four hours. Some are okay for overnight, but I'd avoid that if you can stand pads at night. Also, deoderants and perfumes are unnecessary and probably just irritate your sensitive tissues.

So, stick with the smallest, simplest tampon you can find, if you still want to use them. I'm pretty biased by now, but I recommend researching the Diva Cup and products like it.

[spiffychicky.livejournal.com]

TSS is basically a non-issue recently. The only real danger came with a range of absorbancy that they no longer produce.
I had an article on hand with solid proof of this, but I can't find it right now. If I do I'll post it. I used to be really iffy with tampons because of "omgz TSS will kill me!" but nowadays, as long as you change them regularly there's no risks. And tampons are fine for overnight.

[winifred.livejournal.com]

http://leda.law.harvard.edu/leda/data/359/Kohen.html

I wouldn't call TSS a non-issue because it's still a risk associated with tampon use. Maybe it's not as prevalent as it was in the 70's and 80's, but that's due to education, better warnings on tampon packages, and progress in regulating tampon absorbency.

It's a matter of knowing all the facts. The more a woman knows the less likely she is to injure or sicken herself through mis-use.

[winifred.livejournal.com]

You know, as you get older your period will change a bit. I realize your period has been incredibly un-fun up until this point, but ten years is an awful lot of time for your body to evolve. There's a good chance you won't experience the same thing now that you did in high school.

Like mmmfobbs mentioned, that you used super absorbencies probably contributed more to the misery you experienced than using a tampon at all. Try the regulars. If the symptoms reappear your non-pad options are slender regulars or menstrual cups (neither require underwear).

[br0ken-heart-x0.livejournal.com]

[jaipur.livejournal.com]

I only get cramps when I use tampons or menstrual cups, so I try to wait 'til day 2 to use them if I can. You might try it that way... (I like Instead cups better than tampons 'cause I can leave them in for 12 hours, while tampons are 4 hours max. But other folks I know can't abide them...)