New here

[bringonthemen.livejournal.com]

What a wonderful idea for a community.
Now, apologies if this has been asked before, as I am sure it has been. But I couldn't find any sort of FAQ, and my connection is just too slow to go through every post since the community started. So I shall risk possible annoyance and ask anyway.
After 10 years (I'm 22 now), I am really tired of using pads. I know, what took me so long, but I can be a very stubborn person - if it ain't broke don't fix it. But I'm tired of the diaper feeling and the mess. I bought my first box of tampons this afternoon.
What I want to know is, are there any special tips, tricks, warnings, or guidelines that aren't discussed on those not-very-descriptive booklets they stick in the box? I am going to use ones without applicators as I know I will prefer that. And I'm not a virgin and I'm not squeamish, etc. so I don't have any concerns about useage.
Really just wanted to know if anyone has any helpful advice. Thanks in advance...

Comments

[tree]

my advice would be don't use tampons.
there are other alternatives to pads: the keeper, sea sponges, instead.

[delicata77.livejournal.com]

Right on!
Go with the flow...

[kari.livejournal.com]

here (http://www.livejournal.com/talkread.bml?itemid=9248878), here, (http://www.livejournal.com/talkread.bml?itemid=10032492) and here (http://www.livejournal.com/talkread.bml?itemid=10409297) are a few posts and comments relating to your question. There are probably more if you care to look yourself... Not that I don't care to add in my own advice, just that there are a lot of different suggestions and perspectives represented here.
Good luck!

[bringonthemen.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Kari. That was exactly the sort of thing I was looking for, only as I said I have such a slow connection it is like pulling teeth to even pull up a comments page. There was no way I could mine through to find them. Thank you for giving me the nice, clean links.

[kari.livejournal.com]

No problem.

[the-marionette.livejournal.com]

I never realized that there were alternatives to disposable pads and tampons. You might want to check out this link www.keeper.com (www.keeper.com). It's for an alternative menstrual solution -- a menstrual cup. It looks intimidating but I actually love mine.

[melonaise.livejournal.com]

Hello! :) I ventured into the tampon world by accident, when I was caught without protection and had to use whatever my friend had handy. Well, she had o.b., and I've been a faithful user ever since! I had such trouble with the applicator types, way too much manual coordination required. ;) With non-applicators, as long as you aren't squeamish, it's much easier to put the tampon exactly where it's comfortable. Non-applicator tampons also seem to be better sewn/made somehow. Whenever I'm stuck using an applicator tampon, because I had to buy from the machine at work, I take the tampon out of its applicator and it's all loose and odd-- a real mess during removal, unlike o.b.

If you have trouble inserting because of dryness (like on the first day or last day of your period, or if you're "practicing" while not on your period), a little KY or similar lube used in moderation can really help.

Up until a couple months ago I've always been terrified of TSS, especially since a lot of my menstrual symptoms are the same as TSS symptoms. Then I learned that (as far as they can tell) all known cases of TSS (or STSS) involved people without antibodies for strep or staph. Well, I was born with staph antibodies from my mom, and I'm now a chronic strep carrier, so I've got plenty of antibodies to go around! I'm not careless with tampon use now, because I'm sure there are other less well-known infections than TSS, but I have a lot less anxiety than I used to.

[bringonthemen.livejournal.com]

Thanks for your reply. I just put one in for the first time about an hour ago. So far, so good. I do love not feeling all "wet" down there, and getting irritated inner thighs from chafing.

My only remaining question is, just how far up should the tampon go? (Using an OB non-applicator) The "until you don't feel it" description listed on the box isn't particularly helpful - I don't feel it right now, but the diagram makes it look like it is up pretty high - somehow when inserting it I didn't feel like I was getting it up quite as high as the picture.

Also, to those who seem against tampon use - thanks for your opinions on the alternatives. I might check into them once I get used to using anything internal in the first place. Until I had sex, I had never had anything inside me, so it is a little daunting to get used to even inserting something (not because of squeamishness or fear, just because of inexperience). I want to get used to tampons as an alternative to pads during the day (at night I will always go back to a pad - I'm sleeping and this way I feel like I'm "cleaning out"). Once I get the hang of the tampons, then perhaps I would check out other options.

...how far up....

[huntressdiana.livejournal.com]

I use O.B. as well, and like the other girl said, I've never used any other kind (unless I got caught without them).

As for how far up you place it. For me, I usually go until my index finger is all the way int...to anywhere between the 2nd and 3rd knuckle (the longest gap between your knuckles).

Most likely though, you'll just have to experiment and find what position is right for you. :)

Re: ...how far up....

[bringonthemen.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I would say I had mine in to about a little past my first knuckle on the index finger. I didn't feel like I could get it in past that, but it might just be a case of needing practice. As I said, I can't feel it, so I'm thinking it must be in right, but that damn drawing makes it look like it is floating in China somewhere!

Thanks for your advice!

Re: ...how far up....

[huntressdiana.livejournal.com]

This is probably TMI (too much info) but I insert them while sitting down. That standing up with one leg on a chair stuff isn't for me (My arms aren't that long. lol).

[melonaise.livejournal.com]

When they're not far up enough you can usually tell. There's a definite difference in sensations, one is uncomfortable and one isn't. If you don't feel pressure and don't feel like it's going to come out if you sneeze, it's probably just fine. ;)

[bringonthemen.livejournal.com]

ROFL - the sneezing - that was the first gauge I used! I had it in at first, and it felt okay, but I sneezed and it felt like it might be expelled if I sneezed any harder. I washed my hands and worked it in a little more, and now I didn't get that feeling when I sneezed. (Got chronic allergies so I don't have to wait too long for those to occur!)

thanks!!