Tampax and general tamon questions

[onesimpleplan.livejournal.com]

Hi VPer's!  Two questions/observations today:

1. I'm just wondering if anyone else has noticed the subtle change in tampax tampons.  I have been a tampax girl since I started my period, and would love to continue being one, except my last pack that I bought (about 3 months ago) SUCKED.  It's like they don't actually absorb the blood, but just let it hang out around the surface until I change it.  Sometimes they even leak (I know I'm using the correct size - regulars, because while I was on HBC I had a pretty light flow).  I hate the new "skirt", because it doesn't stop any leakage, and I'm beginning to think that the whole tampon is being made of (or at least covered in) this plastic-feeling cloth.  Just an observation, and I'm wondering if anyone else had noticed the crappy change as well.  You fail, tampax, you fail.
2. Another thing I've noticed lately is that the bottom portion of my tampon seems to be really wet.  I think it's pee, but from everything I've ever heard, that's really not possible.  Except when this happens during the day, the bottom is wet and YELLOW, because I take a daily multi that turns my pee a bright yellow (just a side effect - I'm drinking plenty of water!).  The string is pretty dry, otherwise I'd think that maybe the string is absorbing pee and traveling by some weird sense of osmosis to the tampon.  I have no other explanation for this, unless the tampon could be stimulating my g-spot and causing me to leak a little?  Although (through experimenting) my boyfriend and I have determined that when stimulated, the liquid comes from my urethra, and not my vagina.  So I hope you can get a grasp on my utter confusion here.
Come to think of it, I first noticed the wet tampon thing around the same time I bought my new box of tampax.  Could this be related?  Are there any other brands I should try?  I'm thinking about getting a cup, but I think I would have a problem using it, because I'm overweight.  Any suggestions or thoughts?

Comments

[xenylamine.livejournal.com]

I stopped using Tampax years ago because, even with the plastic applicators, they HURT going in. I don't have that issue with Playtex. And Playtex doesn't leak, either.

The Instead softcup (http://www.softcup.com/) things are pretty cool, and disposable. I'm overweight, too, and I don't have a problem with them. :)

[dial-zero.livejournal.com]

I've been using a cup for 6+ years, but when I forgot it on a vacation recently, I used OB applicator-less tampons. They were actually way better than the ones I used to use before I started with the cup. They didn't leak on me, which is a problem I used to have CONSTANTLY.

[onesimpleplan.livejournal.com]

I've always wondered about those - how easy are they to insert?

[karmagoesdown.livejournal.com]

i have a feeling they are fairly easy to insert if you are okay with using your hands. Applicators were always sort of an invention to keep us from having to touch ourselves the way I saw it.

[melisjesus.livejournal.com]

Personally, I think OB tampons are much easier to insert than the ones in tubing.

Less packaging, usually a bit cheaper, easier to put in, smaller and more discreet - if I ever need to use a tampon, OB are the ones I go for.

[darkserena.livejournal.com]

I prefer OB as well. I have MUCH less leaking, they are easier to carry around as they don't have the huge applicator, you get more in a box, etc etc.

To OP - I find them easy to insert, and actually I find them a LOT more comfortable! The tampon itself is shorter than Tampax or other applicator-brands, and expand more width-wise. I tend to feel other brands, and can't feel a thing when I use OBs.

[shewomannadya.livejournal.com]

Yea I'm not a fan of the skirt. Just fyi tampon companies, I do have feeling in my vaginal entrance. Dry tampon material does not feel good chafing against it. I do think it's easier to get pee on too. Whoever says you can't pee on a tampon really means you can't pee *through* a tampon unless you have some rare physical variation. That is a good point to make, as many people in our society are woefully undereducated about female genitalia. (I didn't know I had a urethra unconnected to my vagina til i was 12 years old). However, it's completely dismissive of the problem. There are plenty of women out there who will tell you they have peed on their tampons. It's not some weird thing.

[debart.livejournal.com]

Yaah, the new Tampax are miserable, though I had more issues with the old style ones. Used OB Tampons for years, then they got pricey and I just sucked it up and sent back to the Tampax. Never used the ones with plastic applicators as you can't flush those.

IF you're not getting wee on the string, chances are the yellow you're seeing is the water in your blood. The majority of blood cells will sort of soak up into the tampon and stick to one spot within it - they are cells and have size so they get caught in the tampon fibers, and the water keeps on soaking down. If you've ever seen a packed wound, you'll notice the same discoloration on bandages. The blood in one place and a sort of yellow ring on the packing margins.

The pee issue always drove me nuts, so I would tuck the string up tight towards the side and run it out the front of my crack.

Nothing grosser than a soaked string.

Deb.

[onesimpleplan.livejournal.com]

That's an interesting idea. The liquid in your blood is yellowish, so this could be the explanation. And I agree, it always feels dirtier if you have to pull on a soaked string!

[debart.livejournal.com]

For me it's even worse than that: I don't wear undies for the most part, so a soaked string hangs down and feels like you've wet yourself. (I really HATE being wet in the crotch at all, even sweat drives me bughouse..)

Buuuu...

Deb.

[x-transform-x.livejournal.com]

LOL I thought I peed out my vagina til I was older than that.

[jmnstars.livejournal.com]

I use a menstrual cup and I'm over weight. I find it easier and more comfortable to insert than a tampon...but it does take practice. It was hard to insert at first, but now a few months later, it's easy. Go to menstrual_cups for more information on menstrual cups.

[red-rage.livejournal.com]

This is my (fat) experience as well. I've been using a cup for about a year now, and will nevah go back to tampons (except in case of emergency).

[onesimpleplan.livejournal.com]

I hate playtex as well. They're smaller, seem to "fill" quicker, and I've never trusted those tiny little strings! I'm not above digging around in there if I have to, but I'd rather pull them out the way they were intended to come out!

[lilium-vitiate.livejournal.com]

So I just had to switch to tampax (way cheaper than other brands.) I don't know if I'm using the ones with the 'skirt' but I've noticed the pee thing, too. They also end up smelling WAY worse.

[onesimpleplan.livejournal.com]

I've noticed an increase in smell, but attributed it to the clots hanging out at the top and not being absorbed. Who knows. Boo tampax.

[onesimpleplan.livejournal.com]

I never really thought that it could be because my vag doesn't shut around the tampon. It's an interesting thought, and might have something more to do with an earlier post about constant discharge...thanks for making me think more into this!

[mamarymes.livejournal.com]

You're a lucky lady. We've been getting that kind of tampax where I live for over a year. The changes are what made me switch to the cup. I HATED the "new and improved" version and resented paying so much for them when I didn't even like them anymore. I'm a plus size person too, and haven't had any issues with cup use at all if it puts you at ease or helps you take that leap. I'll never go back to disposables again.

[zarahnator.livejournal.com]

I love my cup and would recommend one to anyone and everyone! I also used to get what appeared to be pee on my tampon, I always thought it was just normal. I used the new tampax when I forgot my cup, I hate them and that was the only brand I would ever use when I did use tampons.

[extraneousrooot.livejournal.com]

I used to use a cup (stopped when I expelled an IUD, not sure if it was related but not gonna find out with my second IUD) and I was 330 pounds at the time - I didn't have any difficulties with it!

[jaggednib.livejournal.com]

I fail to see what being overweight has to do with using a cup?
I've never been able to use tampons, even after I had children, but I love my cup!
I'm also overweight and have never had problems using my cup...

[onesimpleplan.livejournal.com]

Mostly because it's sometimes difficult for me to insert a tampon, because my "rolls" get in the way...sorry if TMI, but...that's where it came from!

[x-transform-x.livejournal.com]

This community's all about TMI. ;)