vaginapagina | Working in the heat during my period- without tampons.

The hands of the menstruation gods are heavy upon you.

Okay, so here is the deal.

I'm Sarah, 15, and I am due for my period sometime soon (not sure quite when, but soon). The problem is that I am going on a trip to New Orleans this Friday, for almost 10 days. I do not wear tampons (can't get them to feel good and fit properly). The bus ride from Indiana will take us a couple of days, which will be brutal if I'm on the P then. It would be just as bad or worse if I was heavy during the trip. We will be working for fourish hours each day just tearing down and gutting houses, and then after a shower we will be playing with some of the kids from the housing projects. The group that went last year told us that our clothes will be completely drenched in sweat by about a half hour of work. I have heavy bleeding and horrible horrible cramps, as well as INTENSE fatigue. I know that stress can mess with your period, and I have a lot of stuff weighing on me right now, but stress hasn't made much of a difference in the past.

My quandry- I need to either make this baby happen right now so I can have it handled before the trip, or I must fight it hard to make it bearable and as out-of-the-way as possible. Taking Midol will help, except that there are no bathrooms on sight, and I think Midol makes me pee more than I already do. What about herbs? What can I do right now that will help me later on? Can I induce my period?

And, one more thing. I am a very sweaty person (I am going to go to my doc about this- it is not normal, deodorant isn't very effective for me- I've tried everything). I know that everyone will be sweaty during the work time, but when we first tour New Orleans, and when we are just hanging out, is there anything I can do now or then that will help me to sweat less or smell better?

Please help. This is a post constructed poorly and out of haste, but I think this trip will be miserable unless some of you have some helpful things to tell me. I cannot express enough gratitude to those of you who will respond. Your fellow female needs some help.