This sounds like mine. Although I don’t get the little pause, and restart.
I used to have those nice normal 5 dayers with an even flow untill my last pregnancy. Afterward, I have 1 day when it starts that I don’t need to worry about overflo, then on the second, sometimes 3rd day “Blamo!” Out comes the black sweat pants and stay out of my way when I’m heading for the bathroom. Hell, I don’t even go out of the house on those days. By day 4ish I’m back to spotting and not worring.
I’m 38 and been getting night sweats, I relish them though they may be a pain in the ass because I know it’s just the first signal that I’m going to get rid of this curse soon. WooooHoooo!
I’m almost 51, and up until this year my periods had been pretty regular. They’ve started to stutter a little (going 2 months in between periods, etc.) but I’m not having any other menopausal symptoms (so far.)
So count your blessings (for certain values of blessings. )
I didn’t get my period until relatively late (14). Except for the first time, when I used a pad because it was all I had, it’s been tampons for me.
I started out with Tampax, because I found that using the applicator made things easier. But I always had a leak problem–you know, the center bit where there’s the string never expands much. My mom kept telling me to use o.b. (this was before they made tampons with an applicator). I’ve never been one to be grossed out about my anatomy, so I tried it and was hooked. Plus, I swam in high school, and there’s no way we’d let a girl with her period get into the pool without a tampon. For those of you having difficulty removing your tampon, especially on low flow days, try putting some KY (or other sterile, water-based luricant) on the tampon before inserting it. If you use a water-soluble lube, you shouldn’t have problems with it not absorbing blood.
I tried Instead once my sophomore year of college. I must not have put it in correctly, because I had a huge leak problem (through my jean shorts). I was with a group of people from my dorm floor, outside, having a “getting to know you” chat, so I couldn’t readily get up and adjust. That kind of put me off of it, but maybe I’ll try again some other time.
Another Always (with wings) girl checking in. I started getting my period at (gulp) 9, so I used pads at first. Tried tampons as few times (including at summer camp with helpful coaching, LOL) but the plastic applicators felt icky going in, and the cardboard kind of hurt on my lighter days. Plus, I felt paranoid about leakage, and would always end up wearing a pad as well. Then I figured, well, if I’m gonna wear a pad I might as well just wear a pad.
Ever since Always Ultra-thin w/ Wings came out on the market I’ve been quite the loyal follower… even bought them in Bulgaria once and my conversation about them with the pharmacist certainly strained my Russian skills to the max! She wanted to know if they worked, and were worth the money, and better than the (pretty ok) local brand. “Yes they are expensive but I like them best.” LOL.
In case you’'re curious, Always is “v’segda” in Russian and “vinagi” in Bulgarian.
A couple of years ago my mom tried one (it was an emergency, she was a Tampax girl) and was amazed at how thin and absorbent they were, how different from the pads of her youth.
OK, I have to ask for some TMI here…Those non-applicator OBs. How specifically do you use it? I’d imagine you’d have to wash before and after. Must be odd in public, no? Especially if you have long fingernails…
I’m glad I’m not the only one who ruins underwear. I thought maybe I was a moron.
Anyway, I only use pads. Tried a tampon once, for the first time about a month ago after six years of pad wearing, and hated it. Got too paranoid about leaks and worrying about it getting stuck in there. When it comes to period products, I am quite conservative and stick with what I know best.
I’m a tampon girl. I’d like to say I always have been, but the first few years were pad years when I was just a spring chick. Mom used Tampax, so I used Tampax once I finally made the switch. I have tried OB, Playtex, Kotex…I’m not very brand loyal, as someone else mentioned before, - whatever is on sale.
This Keeper thing sound vaguely interesting, if slightly urky. I just don’t know if I could manage it.
I’ll take this opportunity to sympathize with my fellow ‘heavy flow’ sufferers. It’s the pits. Super Absorbancy is an ogsend. Even after having three children, it STILL heavy. I mean, come one…haven’t I used up all the extra lining by now? Sheesh.
FB
My periods vary wildly, from “gushers” to “dribblers” (gross, I know, sorry).
And I use just about every different type of product that’s out on the market.
I love Playtex plastic applicator deodorant tampons, all sizes, but especially Super Plus. Hands down, I will take a tampon when the flow is really heavy.
For backup overnight and on heavy days, Always thin pads. Sometimes I will wear just a pad around the house because it’s easier to keep track of how heavy the flow is. I don’t wear them out because of odor issues.
I have a Keeper, but I can only use it on moderate flow days. On heavy flow days, it leaks. On light flow days, it’s too uncomfortable to insert. I will especially use this if I’m sticking close to home (because emptying and cleaning it in public facilities can just be a hassle).
I wear Instead on moderate to light flow days and love it. I reuse them by cleaning them as I do the Keeper and have never had any kind of hygiene problem. I like the menstrual cups because I worry about the environment and balance that concern with my need for convenience.
I love sea sponge tampons for light flow days at the beginning and end of my period. On light days, they never leak and are the most comfortable product ever. I disinfect them by soaking in water infused with tea tree oil and, again, I’ve never had a hygiene problem.
There’s an excellent website about this subject: The Museum of Menstruation. And it’s run by a GUY! :eek:
Sure, I’ll answer this one. I guess I never considered washing my hands before (unless they were obviously dirty). After typing that, I realize that I may sound like a filthy person, but think about it–how many people scrub the penis or fingers of their partners before having sex?
Once I remove the cellophane covering, I grab the string and swirl it around a bit, so the base becomes flared. Then I grasp it between my thumb and middle finger, and put my index finger in the flared end. Then in it goes, until I can’t feel it.
Except for the very first one, or if I haven’t changed in a while, I usually don’t get much on my index finger. If I do, I wipe it off with tp before exiting the stall. And then I wash my hands.
My fingernails rarely extend past the tips of my fingers, so it doesn’t seem to be a bit of a problem.
Tampax girl here. Leaks aren’t a problem for me, but I gather from this thread that my flow is pretty light, and I’m able to tell when I’m reaching the point of needing to change.
I’m really shocked at the number of women here who love the OB non-applicator tampons. Especially Super Absorbency. But I speak out of total ignorance-- I’ve never tried one and even now I’m not in the least tempted to.
I’ve noticed that in just about EVERY damn “convencience dispenser” at movie theaters, malls, bars, what-have-you, along with an array of candy-flavored condoms and rub-on tattoos, the only tampon (or indeed, menstruation-related product) available is a freakin’ Super Absorbency OB with no applicator. I’ve often wondered what brilliant marketing genius decided that the majority of women would choose that. Especially given that, if you’re buying a tampon in a public bathroom, you’re likely in a bit of an emergency situation. There are so many things wrong with that:
No applicator? No thank you. I’ve only ever used an applicatori, and the time to experiment without one is not squatting over a public toilet.
Super Absorbency. Holy shit. I never, ever need the Supers. I realize that lots of women do, but on average, your flow won’t likely be that heavy, and a lower absorbency could tide you over for a little while. Whereas, if you’re caught by surprise, and need a tampon quick, your flow won’t likely be heavy since your period’s just starting. And furthermore, the people most likely to be caught by surprise are those who haven’t been menstruating long. Like I said, I had no predictable pattern until I went on the Pill, and I didn’t figure out the warning signs for years. Anyway, Super Absorbency is just likely not appropriate for teens.
I look back at my 13-year-old self and know that if I was 13 now, out at the movies with my friends when Aunt Flo came for a surprise visit (and it was always a surprise until I went on the Pill), I’d choose densely layered toilet paper over trying to cram one of those things up my coochie.
I’ve often thought of writing some sort of letter to… someone. Whoever made the decision about what brand to carry in those convenience thingies. But now I read this thread, and see lots of women who prefer those things. Up is down! Black is white! I am at sea!
Beadalin, I’d rather they stock vending machines super than regular, just like I’d rather be caught out in the rain with an umbrella rather than a newspaper. Better to be safe than sorry.
Also, I’ve used vending machines not only when I was caught by surprise, but when also when I have forgotten to bring “supplies”. I think more women use higher absorbancy than lower absorbancy tampons.
After discovering the joys of tampons, I was happy to toss the pads in the garbage. Since then I’ve used Tampax regular (with the cardboard applicator) for years and years. While I had tried many different types of pads, I always found that I’d get ‘itchy’ down there when I used them, especially from that dry-weave stuff. It feels almost like a yeast infection was on it’s way yet it would end once my period ended. I still get that every so often during my period with tampons.
I recall trying OB (no-applicator) a few times and never managed to get the hang of inserting them correctly. Now that I’ve read they have ones that use applicators, I think I’ll give that a shot. As noted earlier by many, Tampax does tend to leak down the string and make a wee mess.
I don’t wear anything when I sleep though. I find that as long as the bathroom is my first stop in the morning, I’m safe.
I do now. Well, similar, anyway. From ages 13 to say 35-36 or so, my period could be counted on as follows: Days 1-2 Very Heavy. Day 3: Moderate to light. Day 4: Light, then over with. No exceptions, until my mid-30s. Then it mutated to this unpredictable and horrible scheme:
Day 1: Light OR VERY heavy
Day 2: Moderate OR VERY heavy
Day 3: VERY heavy.
Day 4: Moderate to nonexistent.
Day 5: Those annoying dribbles you mention; I call them “the Day Five Surprise.” Uggh, I’ve added an extra day!! :mad:
Well, for those of you who are interested, I stopped at the CVS on the way home for work to “stock up” for the next couple of months (my period is due end of this week). I bought my usual box of 80 Mixed Tampax, plus a package of 14 WINGLESS pads to try for the overnight safety net. Kotex Overnight Maxis with Leak Lock, for those of you who are curious.
I get the disappearing-reappearing period, but at the beginning, not the end. I get a little spotting, then nothing for 8- 12 hours, then the period really begins. Kind of convenient, having an internal early-warning system, except that it doesn’t always do it.
I get the disappearing/reappearing thing for anywhere from one to three days before the main event arrives, and it’s REALLY annoying, because that first hint could either mean that it’ll start for real within hours, or I’ll end up wasting two or three pads since I don’t dare go without one when things are due to happen, since I don’t notice when it actually STARTS.
Ugh, what an annoyance. I’m going to go back on the pill just so I can avoid doing this so often.
I started using Instead last year, recommended by an earlier period thread on this board. I really like it…but then again I only have a light to moderate flow. I’ve never had any leakage from it. And another advantage is I can wear it during sex (I never wanted to have sex during my period because I feel icky during menstruating…all that sticky blood and gunk. But that’s just me. If you and your partner like sex during that time, more power to ya!), and my boyfriend can’t even tell that it’s in. It’s even more comfortable than a tampon to me.
But sex while wearing the Keeper?? I’ve seen pictures of that thingie, and it looks like the “handle” would poke a guy’s dick. OUCH!!!
I used to use Playtex tampons…that was my tampon of choice. When I used Tampax, they seemed too long for my vagina and I could feel them inside, and it was very uncomfortable.
And I’ll reiterate what most others have said: this is a very interesting thread! Glad I’m not the only one with these problems and curiosities about periods.
I’m also glad that I hit puberty when sticky pads were abundant. The belt thing sounds horrible…a lot of hoops to jump through during your period.
Also pads were very diaper-like to me, and I can relate to the “pubic hairs held hostage” comment. That is a certain kind of pain only women can know, eh gals? Even the skinniest pad now feels like a diaper, because I’m used to the free feeling of tampons and the Instead cups.
I started out with pads – the old-fashioned kind worn with a belt. Horrible things – they were most uncomfortable. The sticky-backed kind of pad came out a few years later and was a great improvement. I never used tampons as a young girl – by the time I was old enough to consider them (16 or so) the Toxic Shock scare had come about and my mother stopped buying them. So I carried on with pads until I joined the navy at age 20. Boot camp lasted 2 months, during which I had the standard two periods. Now, in my day (and maybe still) they had open-bay showers in bootcamp. I have (in keeping with the TMI theme) rather a heavy flow the first couple of days and didn’t want to be standing there, waiting for my turn at the communal shower, with blood arunnin’ down my leg… So, I switched to tampons. I continued to use tampons during my time in the navy because we wore white uniforms half of the year and I didn’t want to worry about leakage when I was working long hours. But, once I got out of the navy and became a housewife I switched back to pads, which I really prefer. I don’t like the wing-kind. I use the extra-long overnight kind (any brand, the longer the better) for the first two nights (to protect the sheets) and Kotex Curves the rest of the time.
Also, nobody’s mentioned period panties. Does anyone else have a special set of drawers for use during that time of the month? For years, whenever I bought new panties, I rotated the old ones into the ‘period panty’ position. However, I’ve been wearing thongs for a few years now, so that hasn’t been possible. About the same time I switched to thongs, my husband switched to boxer briefs and, believe it or not, I started using his old briefs as period panties. They work great – they are good and sturdy and really hold the pad in place. Unfortunately, my stash is wearing out and I can’t decide whether or not to just go ahead and buy myself some new men’s drawers or just buy some granny panties to use as period pants.
My advice is to just buy some red underwear–satin or cotton, your preference, for your period. My attitude has been, “if I leak, at least the stain won’t be too noticable.” Plus, something about red panties just makes you feel like a sexy mama.
I stick with black underwear, all the time. I can then ignore any potential period staining, although I get to observe my cooter bleaching on the crotch, which is like staining in reverse. I also prefer my ancient Jockey cotton bikinis as period panties.
I had the joy of taking an 8-hour flight yesterday during the third day of my period. Apart from pissing everyone off by getting up to change my tampon every two hours, I was paranoid I would bleed through to the seat and be horribly embarrassed at my final destination. Thankfully nothing untoward occurred, save for the contortions I had to go through to extract and insert in the airplane bathroom.
I practice major brand loyalty when buying tampons–strictly Tampax Super for me. Playtex tampons fail the leakage test. I used to flirt with OB, but I feel my fingers are too short to effectively lodge the tampon (I know this most likely isn’t the case; perhaps I just don’t feel secure enough being the applicator). I sometimes use a pantyliner if I’m gushing, but they tend to get all scrunched up and useless.
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