(no subject)

[adamantplatypus.livejournal.com]

Does anyone get "diaper rash" like symptoms when they wear pads?

I know it's not a yeast infection, because the ouchy feeling goes away when I shower and don't have a pad pressed to my crotch. When I'm not sitting in a pad, I'm fine. When I wear and change pads, though, my soft female parts get raw.

I figure it's something like when a baby is sitting in a wet diaper. You sit in your pad for three hours, change it, and go right back to sitting in a wet pad until you repeat the process.

I've started to take a bath at night, now (on top of my morning shower) to let my skin breath and relax with out bleeding all over the place.

Is this a weird occurance?

Comments

[purplepants.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's happened to me before...change often, I suppose.

[littlepenguin.livejournal.com]

it happens to me, too. If it's possible, try cloth pads...they fixed everything up for me :)

[tree]

it's likely that you're having a reaction to the toxins or the bleaching agents in the pads. i agree that cloth pads are a better option (better for you and the environment as well).

[amylynn.livejournal.com]

not uncommon at all... that was actually one of the main reasons I completely stopped using pads... they're potentially quite irritating to those fragile girlyparts...

[hopeforyou.livejournal.com]

I have a theory that I am irritated by the adhesive in the pad, and sometimes a corner comes up when I'm not aware of it and it chafes my skin. As an experiment, try wearing a tampon or Instead or menstrual cup and see what happens...see if your skin is no longer irritated. It worked for me. Good luck!

[amylynn.livejournal.com]

of course that would work, if the pad is the problem... if you're not wearing a pad, it's not there to irritate you, adhesive or not :)
-amy

[tyrsalvia.livejournal.com]

another thing to consider is the brand of pad you're using. they're not all the same, so if one brand isn't working for you, you might want to try another one. also, the idea of cloth pads is a good one too.

[gigglinggorgon.livejournal.com]

that happens to me if I use a brand like Always that has a plasticy top layer. I either use cloth now or (for work) disposables that are papery or cloth like instead.

[dahliablue.livejournal.com]

you're not alone. i was going to write about this last month, but i forgot once my period ended.
i use "stayfree", and they don't seem to have that plastic-y cover that "always" has. i thought they'd be better, but i'm still having the same problems. the discomfort is definitely making me think about cloth pads!

[gigglinggorgon.livejournal.com]

the cloth pads are easy to make, and I really like them. I got some vynal from the fabric store for the underside so they don't leak through, and I keep a bucket of bleach water in the bathroom during my menses to soak them in between washings.

[ailbhe]

Try a different pad, maybe unbleached or cotton.

[the-marionette.livejournal.com]

One of the main reasons I switched from pads to tampons as a teenager. I used the brand Always and found that the plastic/rubber mesh over the pads irritated me horribly. The entire area would burn and be bright red. I didn't try another brand and moved straight to tampons as I found pads horribly uncomfortable anyway. Try changing the brand of pads or move to tampons, instead or the keeper.

[sylvanfae]

I would love to use all tampons, all the time. But aren't you supposed to alternate pads and tampons so you don't get TSS?

Right now I only use tampons when I'm going out or bleeding heavily. I don't like using them at the end of my period (light bleeding) because they get dry and scratchy and hard to pull out. But in the first few days I'd love to use them the whole time. Is it possible?

[ailbhe]

Me, tampons scare me. Lots of my female family have serious gynae issues one way or another, so if we did get preliminary TSS symptoms (like pain or discharge) we'd ignore it totally. So we avoid tampons.

However, if you reckon you'd notice a funny symptom, tampons are fine as long as you change them fairly often and maybe try to alternate with pads a little; maybe big bulky cloth pads at night?

[isolt.livejournal.com]

lucky me, my flow is so light that I use tampons whenever I need them, and just go without *anything* really, when my flow is lighter, to keep my cunt happy.

I have used tampons for several days at a time without a break, though, and with no problems. Mainly, you're not supposed to leave a single tampon in for too long (8 hours is the absolute maximum).

I totally agree with you about using tampons at the end of the period, but as I said, my flow is usually so light by then that I don't even need anything, really. Maybe putting some KY Jelly on the tampon before you put it in would help? I know that's one of the things it says to do in the KY tube.

[melonaise.livejournal.com]

Keep in mind that TSS is a rare illness, despite the rampant warnings in every box of tampons. Only 200 to 400 women in the US report TSS each year (rate of less than 1 in 100,000). The rate of TSS has dropped since the major outbreaks in the 70s/80s due to changes in the manufacturing process.

Most cases of TSS involve people who don't have antibodies to staph or strep bacteria- about 10% of the population. Because the body doesn't already know how to make antibodies, the staph/strep infection spreads very quickly. Maybe ask your doctor if there's a way s/he can determine if you do, so you can be less worried?

Washing your hands extra well and storing your tampons in a dry place (not the bathroom) between periods can also reduce the risk of introducing staph or strep to your grrl parts.

Re:

[sylvanfae]

I guess I'll have to check with my doc first, to get this bladder infection treated, and hopefully it won't be a staph infection like the last one. I'll ask him about TSS and ask for a bc prescription while I'm at it. I'm slightly a-feared about the pill, after all the horror stories I've heard, but it's necessary.

Sometimes I wish I didn't even have grrly parts. =/ But only sometimes.

[amylynn.livejournal.com]

the less you use tampons, the less likely you are to get TSS. direct correlation. so yes, if you alternate, you're less likely to get it. however, the big risk with tampons and TSS occurs when a tampon is left in for too long -- that's what allows the nasty bacteria to grow and get their nastiness and potentially give you TSS. so, the key is in religiously changing them. every 4-6 hours, just like the instructions say. (and, obviously, more often if you wish.)
just another reason I love the Keeper... no risk of TSS, can be left in for 12 hours, and no more annoying pad-ness. :) I hate sounding like an advertisement for the things, but really... it's made my life while bleeding about 500 times easier. :)
-amy

Re:

[sylvanfae]

12 hours? Damn! It's time for me to look into the Keeper. ;)

Thanks for the info, I understand TSS better now. I feel dumb admitting it, but I had been thinking it was the body's reaction to having something in there for a long time, fresh tampon or not. How ignorant am I? LOL. I hadn't read anything about TSS since my 6th grade menses education and then what it said about it in my first box of tampons. It's been awhile. LOL

And if your 500 times easier-ness is anything like the improvement of tampons over pads (OMG, it's like I'm not even ON my period!) then I am so there. =)

[amylynn.livejournal.com]

Yup... 12 hours. :)
You're more than welcome on the explanation...
oh, god. tampons are to pads as the Keeper is to something better than tampons. LOL in other words, go get one. ;)
-amy

[juno-februa.livejournal.com]

yes I get this, during my 8 month period I was reeeaallly sore! It is the reason prefer tampons, but bathing and then using a tampon and pottering round house with no pants on usually provides effective relief! Talcum powder is handy for use too