Girls, how do you cope? (time of the month)

heartbreak_star

I could never go back to pads after using tampons - weirdly enough I used to get worse cramps when I used pads - not looking forward to having to use pads post-colposcopy! Also I am pretty sporty and never found a pad that measures up to tampons with regards to this.

OP, I do feel for you and think you need this checked out properly. I used to have bad periods - prescribed codeine, dihydrocodeine etc - but the thing that helped most was shoving myself to go for a walk or do a yoga DVD. The exercise really helped, as did the "mind over matter" feeling. (Plus at the time I was being paid hourly...no worky, no money, so I had to get better ASAP to work!)

I haven't had a period in about 6 years due to contraception. I can highly recommend this

Good luck getting pain-free!

HBS x

thehappybutterfly

I've always been confused by the question "are your periods heavy?". I don't know. One person's heavy might be perfectly normal to someone else. It's not like you could measure it out and present your figures to your GP. And how to measure length if period - from when you first start showing physical signs or from when you actually start bleeding. My physical signs can start and end 3 or 4 days either side of the bleeding.

They say this all comes naturally to women - no it doesn't. I'm 44 and still confused!

lostinrates

heartbreak_star wrote: »

I could never go back to pads after using tampons - weirdly enough I used to get worse cramps when I used pads - not looking forward to having to use pads post-colposcopy! Also I am pretty sporty and never found a pad that measures up to tampons with regards to this.

OP, I do feel for you and think you need this checked out properly. I used to have bad periods - prescribed codeine, dihydrocodeine etc - but the thing that helped most was shoving myself to go for a walk or do a yoga DVD. The exercise really helped, as did the "mind over matter" feeling. (Plus at the time I was being paid hourly...no worky, no money, so I had to get better ASAP to work!)

I haven't had a period in about 6 years due to contraception. I can highly recommend this

Good luck getting pain-free!

HBS x

The thing is different tampons suit different people. I used to use plates which expanded in a different way to tampax, and were much better for me...but cannot find them now.

I used to be sporty too, and competed horses a lot and did dance. While pads aren't nice to see they are better than a lot of leakage through white breeches.

Pechow

Yeah, I was never able to use tampons, so always used pads and didn't really think about it much. I knew most people used tampons, but they didn't work for me, so had to put up with feeling like I was wearing a nappy. Then I got a menstrual cup and haven't looked back, it's so much better than either option.

I don't understand why some people refuse to try one because of the reason "it's gross", it's far less so than a pad or soaked wad of cotton. There's no scent, for most people it eliminates the risk of leaking, no risk of TSS, the cup is 100% sterile, no worrying about disposal, you can even go swimming with one in... and of course, no more paying for feminine hygiene products. What's not to like

Obviously there are still some people for which a cup won't work, but otherwise I'd recommend them above and beyond the other options any day. Except for being able to stop periods altogether, of course!

edeneve

Well can totally sympathise with you op....today is second day of period and in agony, constantly flooding having to wear 2 super pads and a super plus tampon and still leaking. Had to get up and change clothes twice in the night due to flooding, had a shower this morning and blood all over the floor just stepping out the shower.

I've lived with this sine 12, had so many embaressing accidents its ridiculous, flooding at work meaning having to leave and change clothes, getting in and out of cars causing me to flood leaving stains to car seats etc.

Its so bad i now try not to go out for at least first few days of period. Luckily i'm self employed so work isnt too much of an issue.

My mood swings are awful, about 5 days before i can feel it coming on, tearful, withdrawn, depressed, my patience dissapears and i feel joyless, it really is like a personality change. I also put on a visible amount of weight and go up a dress size.

I hate periods, I've had 7 children and would rather be pregnant anyday than have a period.

tea_lover

Pechow wrote: »

I don't understand why some people refuse to try one because of the reason "it's gross",

I agree that it doesn't make much sense but I have to admit that the thought of it does seem pretty grim to me - and I've had IVF so there's not much that hasn't been up there already.

Pechow

Can you explain why, though?

tea_lover

Pechow wrote: »

Can you explain why, though?

I'm not saying any of these things make sense, or are even true, this is just my own (probably warped lol) view:
- a lot of toilets don't have a sink in the room with them (certainly none do where I work), which doesn't seem too hygienic.
- I wouldn't feel at all secure unless I had a pad as well.
- I'd be worried about it getting stuck or moving somewhere it shouldn't!
- with applicator tampons there's never a point where my hands are in contact with blood, I don't think that would be the case with a cup.
- it looks uncomfortable! Like you'd be able to feel it all the time and would have to sit down carefully :rotfl:.

Like I say, probably all rubbish but I definitely won't be trying one anytime soon.

claire16c

edeneve wrote: »

Well can totally sympathise with you op....today is second day of period and in agony, constantly flooding having to wear 2 super pads and a super plus tampon and still leaking. Had to get up and change clothes twice in the night due to flooding, had a shower this morning and blood all over the floor just stepping out the shower.

I've lived with this sine 12, had so many embaressing accidents its ridiculous, flooding at work meaning having to leave and change clothes, getting in and out of cars causing me to flood leaving stains to car seats etc.

Its so bad i now try not to go out for at least first few days of period. Luckily i'm self employed so work isnt too much of an issue.

My mood swings are awful, about 5 days before i can feel it coming on, tearful, withdrawn, depressed, my patience dissapears and i feel joyless, it really is like a personality change. I also put on a visible amount of weight and go up a dress size.

I hate periods, I've had 7 children and would rather be pregnant anyday than have a period.

If you've completed your family could you not use contraceptives or get surgery to stop this?

My friends mum used to have horrendous periods so got a hysterectomy.

HeadAboveWater

tea lover: I'm assuming you're talking about the cup? If so I'll answer. If it's about something else then just say so and I'll shut up!! :rotfl:

tea_lover wrote: »

- a lot of toilets don't have a sink in the room with them (certainly none do where I work), which doesn't seem too hygienic.

Can keep it in for up to 12 hours I think. I empty/wash/reinsert before work in the morning and don't have to think about it til later in the evening. Don't need a sink when I'm out and about. 'No strings attached' to worry about when using the toilet in between times either

tea_lover wrote: »

- I wouldn't feel at all secure unless I had a pad as well.

Haven't bought pads in years. Would wear a liner, but I do that whether I've my period or not.

tea_lover wrote: »

- I'd be worried about it getting stuck or moving somewhere it shouldn't!

No chance. Nowhere for it to go.

tea_lover wrote: »

- with applicator tampons there's never a point where my hands are in contact with blood, I don't think that would be the case with a cup.

Fair point. But it is miniscule, if any. Besides that, the overall hygiene (and environmental!) (and financial!) benefits far outweigh tampons.
Like I think I said already, the first time I used it, I was a bit funny about it. But from then on I was hooked!!

tea_lover wrote: »

- it looks uncomfortable! Like you'd be able to feel it all the time and would have to sit down carefully :rotfl:.

Absolutely not. I've only been using mine a few months and I've actually forgotten I've had a period!!