[calibri~]

Hello. This is kind of embarrassing. I'm over 30 and have never used tampons. I've always used sanitary pads. The reason for this is that I don't have very heavy periods and I'm afraid of toxic shock...

My questions are:

How much do you need to be bleeding to warrant a tampon rather than a pad?
How do you know if they are ready to be changed?
Is it tricky to deal with them if you have long nails (I guess an applicator would be best?
What happens if you use one and then don't bleed that much?
How do you know that they won't leak?

The reason I'm wondering this (as I do every month) now that I'm off birth control and having a normal predictable cycle (Yay) it looks like I might be on my period when I go visiting somewhere that I expected to go swimming. ....

Help? PS no I'm not joking, I really don't know this stuff as my mum didn't use tampons.

[DreamP346]

40 and I can probably count on one hand how many times I've used a tampon. Hate those things. Sorry, I don't have answers to your questions.

[kira]

I use a tampon if I'm bleeding enough I'd need to use anything. They have some really light ones. When they need changed and the risk of leaking depends on you beyond the, don't leave them in forever or you risk toxic shock rule. Although people have found a tampon they left in at the end of last month when the next month starts and been fine so it's not really that common. You will have to learn how much you bleed in to the tampon and what level of bleeding risks you leaking before you will have time to change it. The type of tampon has a minor impact as certain shapes or widths might make it more or less likely for you to leak around it. The position you spend most of the day in even has an impact. If you lay down a lot like many are apt to do while having period pain it may all run down one side of the tampon instead of the whole thing soaking stuff up. Pretty much I guess when to remove one and then based off what it looks like determine when to remove the new one next time and if I need a backup pad.

Tampons without applicators are rather uncomfortable if you aren't bleeding a lot. They are very dry and rough. It can also be hard to get them in far enough and I think they are a little unsanitary to use in a public restroom where you might handle things after the risk of getting blood on your finger. There are some with a compacted applicator that you pull until it fits into place behind the tampoon and then push it back together again. That makes them easy to carry if you don't have a lot of space. Applicators are a lot more comfortable if you don't have enough blood/moisture and are easier to get a tampon in far enough.

[calibri~]

Thanks kira that was really helpful. I've bitten the bullet and am trying my first tampon right now! A tampax lite applicator one even though my flow is what I'd call medium...was easy enough to put in...now I have to figure out when I can take it out without scraping out my insides...the string feels a bit weird mind you, and I have the slight sensation that I have cotton wool inside me...I cannot believe how much anxiety / satisfaction is involved in this very basic triumph! Maybe I won't like them, but as long as I don't get tss on first use, I shouldn't be afraid to use one in an emergency situation!

PS using backup pad as I'm still not convinced about leaking...Ha!

Ok so how do you avoid peeing on the string then? Hold it out of the way? I never thought about that....

[calibri~]

Right, so (sorry for the updates maybe being tmi) after 3 hours I took the tampon out. It didn't hurt, not much resistance and I'd say based on the amount of 'colour' that I may have had another half hour to an hours worth of time I could have left it in before leakage was possible.

Question: does this sound like the right absorbency for me then?

I'll try again next month, maybe even twice (!!) but am immensely proud of myself for finally trying this and not dying (yet!) It felt much cleaner than pads but the anxiety was traumatic!

[TimelyRain]

Hi calibri. From what you said, I would say it was the correct absorbency. You are supposed to change tampons every 4 hours, and you should use pads when sleeping.

[calibri~]

Thanks timely rain, I wasn't sure if it was meant to be every 4 hours or at least every four hours, so like 2 hours or three is ok? ofc I wouldn't sleep with a tampon in As I can sleep 12 hours!

What I will say though is that if on my 'heavy' day I only need lite tampons, I feel really bad for women who need to use super ones! I get away with a painless, and easily managed time of the month now I'm off stupid progestin pills.

Ok another question! If you take a bath, shower or go swimming while wearing a tampon, does it swell up from the water and need taking out as soon as you get out?

Ooh also, if that is the case...if you use one and bleeding decides to get lighter, can you help things along for taking them out by having a bath, for example?

[calibri~]

DreamP...out of interest, why do you hate them So much?

[kira]

If you get a tampon in fully they do not absorb anything external but I am rather small and often the end doesn't quite squish inside all the way. Some brands are shorter than others so might solve that problem if you have it. If not then remove the tampon after you are done swimming and put a new one in. The water doesn't seem to get very far in to the tampon so it shouldn't do any harm. I don't wear one while showering. You can tuck the string just inside with it and it won't get pee on it and is often less irritating cause it doesn't get pulled somewhere. The tampon can't go anywhere so you should be able to just fetch the string with a finger when needed. Otherwise you can lift it off to the side while you pee.

8 hours is actually the maximum suggested time to leave a tampon in. I sleep with them.

[atskitty2]

Late arrival here...one thing I'll add, if you can feel it in place, it's probably not positioned just right. (you said something about it feeling like cotton wool inside).
They are like everything else in life, takes experience to know what you need. You'll come to know when it needs changed & be an expert at popping them in place & removing. You'll come to love them once you get over the anxiety. TSS is not so common, just be very clean in your handling of it, and in cleaning yourself well.
I have left them in place 12 hours before (not regularly), when I just couldn't get to a bathroom, and had no problem. 6-8 hrs was normal tho. I had typically light periods, and I'd use a teen size (sport size) or normal absorbency.
It is a much cleaner feeling isn't it? On long shifts at work, using those, with the cleansing wipes & I never feared a buildup or odor. I always felt very clean and that's a matter off your mind! No anxiety there!