pads vs. tampons

[tyrsalvia.livejournal.com]

Ok, so bleeding has always had something of a mystical dimension for me. Maybe it's because I don't get the emotional aspect of PMS, but I like bleeding in a way, it's very grounding for me. The last time I tried to use a tampon was in Jr. High. I can't stand wearing the things, they make me feel 'plugged-up'. (Along those lines, the time I tried to use a diaphragm, it made me feel the same way.) I'm kind of glad, really, because it seems like tampons are kinda creepy - all those nasty chemicals of bleach and whatever else start to soak into your vaginal walls, and who really wants a toxic cunt?

Anyhow, I just wanted to say that I realize tampons are very convinient, but I can't stand them. The pads are messy, but if you use the really huge ones it's not a big problem (I like Always Ultra w/ Wings in overnight protection, they're thin and huge so you don't bleed over onto your underwear by accident, nor do you feel like you've shoved a pillow in your underwear).

Anyone else feel 'plugged up' by these things?

Comments

[moonrose.livejournal.com]

I like my sponge because I never feel plugged up ... it actually feels to me like I am getting *cleaner*, putting a fresh clean damp sponge in, and rinsing out the blood every few hours. But yeah, with the cotton tampons, i could see feeling plugged...

[gigglinggorgon.livejournal.com]

I haven't heard of this meathod, could you fill me in? I have vaginal scarring from my daughter's birth and tampons now hurt.

[bonniebon.livejournal.com]

yeah, I bet you'd be ok with a sponge coz its more gentle, one of the girlies here will no doupt have a link for you. By the way, maybe a keeper or instead cups could be compfortable? I guess it depends how tender the scarring is. The "After childbirth" size keeper is apparently a little softer and more flexible (as well as being a bit bigger) so it might not be too uncomfortable to insert/remove, especially if you have plenty of KY handy. Also, you get a 3 month money back guarantee if it doesn't work out.

Re:

[gigglinggorgon.livejournal.com]

I have a latex alergy, and they warn about that in the add, I was really looking into it :) I found the link for the sponges, and if I can bring myself to stick a dead animal up my coochie I am going to order some ;) If Wilma Flinstone can do it, so can I, right??? heh heh heh

[rockstarbob.livejournal.com]

i used to feel that way toward the end of my period. but now i just use my keeper (http://www.thekeeperstore.com) and all is well.

[adamantplatypus.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad. I thought I was the only one that wore "overnight" pads as regular pads. I still change them as frequently as you're supposed to change the smaller pads, but I'm so much more comfortable with overnights.

I would like to try a sponge, though. It seemes that would be more airy than a cotton stick shoved up there.

[missjessyjessy.livejournal.com]

I used to be an avid tampon user, but i was convinced they were making my cramps worse. They gave me the feeling of unfreshness....sort of like I wasn't letting it flow out naturally like it was meant to. I dunno.

Anyhows the last few months of periods I have been sticking to pads. I have a renewed sense of feeling fresher (I should be a commercial haha).

Maybe I'm gross but I like to see what exactly is coming out of me....is that noraml or am I completely disgusting? I mean you can't see if you have unusual large clots or anything with tampons...on a pads..they stand out. I dunno I feel safer with a pad.

[moonrose.livejournal.com]

that's why I like the sea sponges ... I can see and feel if there is an odd texture that might be something wrong, or right, when I rinse it. Also, i'm a fairly light bleeder since I got on the Pill so I just go *without* as much as I can too. But then I've gotten pretty comfy with my cycle too :>

[missjessyjessy.livejournal.com]

that's the thing...I am a heavy bleeder...do you have any more info on the sponge?

[moonrose.livejournal.com]

well, my first 2 days I bleed like a stuck pig, and I just have to rinse my sponge like twice at work (it's easy to be discreet though)

I think the ewbsite for them is http://www.jadeandpearl.com - I use the Sea Pearls Sea Sponges, and I *adore* them. They last about 6 months, and I just clean my between cycles with peroxide, since the body generally doesn't mind peroxide much anyhow. I rinse them in water after, but I figure if there's gonna be residue, I don't want it to be soap ;)

[missjessyjessy.livejournal.com]

so from what I am reading they are just like tampons...only are made of natural sea sponge?...and are re-useable unlike tampons.

Do they end up having an odor ever? Can you get some sort of irritation from them? Are they rough?

[moonrose.livejournal.com]

they aren't perfectly odorless or anything, but I never noticed anything odd beyond blood-smell, and I got that with pads too. They are like tampons, but they arent' rough or scratchy, and since they aren't wads of cotton waiting to absorb (you actually rinse them and squeeze them out before using them so they are damp) they aren't rough or anything. I actually totally forget I have it in sometimes ... thoguht I suppose you could get an irritation from them, it would be more likely that you moght scratch yourself putting it in or taking it out.

[missjessyjessy.livejournal.com]

alright I'm getting the idea of how they work.

Thanks, I have seriously learned something new.

Before entering this community I had no idea there was ANYTHING else out there besides pads, and tampons. seriously.

Now I have learned about the keeper, and sea sponge.
Haa you gotta love that! ;o)

[bonniebon.livejournal.com]

a lady from the keeper company told me in an e-mail that theres a general beleif (though unproven) that tampons restrict your flow, causing it to last longer and be more crampy (I always had more cramps with tampons that with anything else).
Before I got my keeper I prefered pads because it felt more comfortable to let the blood come out of me than to feel like I was all plugged up.
And no, your not gross for being curious about your blood! When I empty my keeper I like to look at the blood and admire all the pretty rich red/purple colours! With the keeper (and with pads to some extent too) you get to see how the colour/consistency of the blood changes too, I find that mine starts of a rich red wine colour, and ends up a more dull browny red, and more watery.

[missjessyjessy.livejournal.com]

right right....in the beginning right before you get your period.....do you spot with dark dark colors?....sometimes even brown....or am I..*gasp*.....abnormal?

[bonniebon.livejournal.com]

yeah, its usually brown when its starts, until the flow gets going. Its brown at the end too when it trails off. With the keeper this is less apparent than with pads (compared to a white pad, that light-day bleeding can easily look brown, but inside a keeper it looks like a dull brownish red).

[missjessyjessy.livejournal.com]

alright i got ya!

[isolt.livejournal.com]

Those are the same pads that I used to use before I switched to tampons.

I agree with you about the bleeding feeling grounding. PMS can make me pretty crazy; weirdly, when I bleed, it feels like the crazy si draining out of my head.

I do feel a bit plugged up with a tampon in, but I use them for a couple reasons: for about 1/2 my period, my bleeding is so light that I don't need to use anything, and even during my heavier days I can usually alternate between tampons and nothing, though I try to wear black underwear.

also, my bf and I frequently have sex during my period, since it doesn't bother either one of us, but it's impossible for me to feel sexy while wearing a pad.

[urania.livejournal.com]

I far prefer pads... it just takes me too many tries to get a tampon in comfortably. I'm sure that's an error in technique but *shrug* pads are much easier, specially when the tissue down there is tender.

(obligatory pedantic note) the scares about tampons being toxic are more myth than truth according to several brief research forays i've done; certainly not widely accepted as medical truth. nothing wrong with being careful but don't scare yourself unnecessarily (/pedantic note)

[kaypoisson.livejournal.com]

beh, i've never liked pads at all. I used them in junior high and it was horrible. even the over-night sized ones got leaky on me...but i was and still am a sporty ish gal..pads + running + biking = no good..so i LOVE tampons to death....

i always get these weird wedgies if i wear pads, and tampons r just like...heaven for me...i have no problem getting them in or out and they're just spiffy. i like the 'clogged' feeling cuz i feel happy that there wont be a big red spot when i get up from my seat...cuz that has happened before with a pad *weep*...

go tampons! hehe

[therealocelot.livejournal.com]

I prefer tampons. Pads tend to irritate me and feel yucky. I was quite a bit less happy with tampons before I discovered OB, though. The tampax ones just didn't work right for me.

I tend to use tampons during the day and pads at night. That gives me a chance to flow freely and not feel as dried up.

I've tried the instead cup also, and when it's working properly, I prefer that. Unfortunatly, it doesn't seem to want to work properly very often.

[vampodrama.livejournal.com]

I dislike the pads as well. There's something extremely yucky about the feeling of something sitting in my pants. I'd much rather have something sitting up my cunt, even though, I have to wear mini sized tampons because it's impossible to get something bigger inside me. hehe.

[tenderbloodrose.livejournal.com]

I like tampons better. Pads are okay though. I only use them for overnight. My brands are Tampax for tampons and Stayfree Ultrathins for pads.