Umm, tampons 101 -- I know nothing, help?
Aug. 29th, 2013 03:26 am![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png)
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
I'm very embarrassed to be asking these questions, because most people learn this stuff when they're 12, and I'm 23. But tampons have never ever been a part of my life so I feel like I'm completely clueless.
I had severe vulvodynia for years, so when I got my first period tampons were a no-no. I tried them repeatedly every now and then but my vulvodynia was untreated for a long time because no doctor would believe me so I was always far too sore. I am finally almost completely cured of vulvodynia. The medication I take has eradicated all of my pain, and I want to try tampons again. Inserting them is no longer the problem, my problem is I just don't understand anything about how to use them.
For example, do you have to wear a liner with them? Do they really catch all of the blood? How do you know when to change them? With pads I am used to the horrible feeling of a rush of blood pouring out of me and I know that's when I need to run to the bathroom. But if a tampon is in there, that feeling surely won't be present. How then do I know that it's soaked and needs changing? Is there any chance of a major leak?
Also, how do you know which to buy in terms of how heavy your flow is? Mine is pretty heavy on days one and two. Which strength should I need? My vulvodynia is not 100% gone and I also have some mild vaginismus issues so I need to stick with the smallest size available. Are there tampons that are very small but extra absorbant? Or are the smallest ones always weak?
Which brands are best? I don't want anything scented or sprinkled with stupid added nonsense that will irritate me down there. Can you sleep with them in? How many can you use per day? How many days in a row can you use them? How long can you keep one inside you before it has to be removed? Once the time limit is up and you have to remove one, can you put another in right away or do you have to wait a while?
Just, tampons are a mystery to me, I haven't a clue.
I had severe vulvodynia for years, so when I got my first period tampons were a no-no. I tried them repeatedly every now and then but my vulvodynia was untreated for a long time because no doctor would believe me so I was always far too sore. I am finally almost completely cured of vulvodynia. The medication I take has eradicated all of my pain, and I want to try tampons again. Inserting them is no longer the problem, my problem is I just don't understand anything about how to use them.
For example, do you have to wear a liner with them? Do they really catch all of the blood? How do you know when to change them? With pads I am used to the horrible feeling of a rush of blood pouring out of me and I know that's when I need to run to the bathroom. But if a tampon is in there, that feeling surely won't be present. How then do I know that it's soaked and needs changing? Is there any chance of a major leak?
Also, how do you know which to buy in terms of how heavy your flow is? Mine is pretty heavy on days one and two. Which strength should I need? My vulvodynia is not 100% gone and I also have some mild vaginismus issues so I need to stick with the smallest size available. Are there tampons that are very small but extra absorbant? Or are the smallest ones always weak?
Which brands are best? I don't want anything scented or sprinkled with stupid added nonsense that will irritate me down there. Can you sleep with them in? How many can you use per day? How many days in a row can you use them? How long can you keep one inside you before it has to be removed? Once the time limit is up and you have to remove one, can you put another in right away or do you have to wait a while?
Just, tampons are a mystery to me, I haven't a clue.