Possible

[dyvinesweetness]

It seems every cycle I have a Toxic Shock Syndrome scare. Not because I'm keeping them in too long, but because ever since I heard of TSS I have lived in fear of getting it. I also constantly live in fear that I will either forget that I have a tampon inside of myself or that I will get one "lost" up there and need surgery or a rescue squad or

Comments

[dyvinesweetness]

What's crazy is I don't usually need a pad in addition to the tampon, but I will almost always wear one as well or maybe a pantyliner. Clearly tampons are the source of significant menstrual related anxiety for me, yet they can be so convenient that I can't stop using them. I switch it up from pads to tampons (with pads used mostly). The invention of the "ultrathin" and "overnight" have changed my life.

[richirch2]

LOL @ tagging this "i have no concept of tmi".

[lovelylind]

I get scared, too. Apparently, if you use Diva Cups, there is no risk of TSS. However, I couldn't find them ANYWHERE (after they said it's everywhere)... but I found some in Whole Foods. $35, which is not bad, but.... I just don't have it right now.

Either way, I feel your pain. My period is heavy enough to not let me forget I have one in because I need to change it frequently. At least the first two days.

[dyvinesweetness]

You know, Diva Cups prolly work very well and I know my fears are largely unsubstantiated, but i am frightened of that thing. lol I mean, I'm extremely curious so I would likely try it at least just to see. But in my mind I will have a major spill issue that it.

[donthurrycurry]

I'm scared to try it too! And not because of spills, just the presence of something so round... just in there.

You'd think squeezing out a 13 1/2 inch head and 16 inch shoulderswould totally change that worry, huh?

[forwhataim]

I have a Diva and a Lunette. It's not that deep. But I did spill it in my bathroom once when I was sleepy or whatever. And it's more difficult to get the hang of than a tampon, but I don't think about it once it's in, unlike a tampon.

[i_dreamed_i_was]

ZOMG, when I was a teenager, Dr. Mom (she was working in the ER at the time, so, YK) scared me half to death about TSS so that I must have thought 1 in 5 women gets it or something! I didn't use tampons for at least 4-5 years d/t my fear, and warned all my friends not to wear them overnight, etc.

[dyvinesweetness]

lol Similar story here. I learned about TSS in health education class in junior high. I was already battling the "you can't be a virgin and use tampons/it'll break your hymen" myth. So hearing that just added it on. lol I didn't start using them until late high school or college.

[kittylarock]

See, I think that whole "virgin/hymen" myth is what finally made me WANT to start using tampons in high school. I was just like fuck these pure precious princess broads. It's just a vag!!! Not some secret sacred thing that you need the power of Christian love to unlock. I just remember this siddity bitch I called a friend back then (mostly because we were in all the same classes together) telling another girl "It's just so big to put up there! I can't even imagine the real thing going inside!" And I was just like *roll eyes* stop with the demure act 'cause you know you stay cravin' the dick! Which is fine, but you know, at that age girls are apparently not allowed to acknowledge we have a "down there," let alone acknowledge that we are sexual. And if we do we're sluts.

[dyvinesweetness]

I wished I'd had that kind of reaction. I was too worried about the pain. And that just connects to other madness surrounding women's bodies and misinformation. Everything connecting to hymen breaking and "losing virginity" was always presented to me as some horribly painful experience. Which is partially why I viewed "losing my virginity" as something I wanted to just get over with.

[donthurrycurry]

[hippie alert]

Would you ever try something like a Diva Cup?
[/hippie]

I used to be super paranoid about TSS from like, age 12 to 21. I used to read the pamphlet EVERY month and just be super anxious about it. I feel your fear. Do you use a major ultra super max obsorbency? The best way to ease that fear is to take your absorbency down a notch (then make a mess once or twice and quickly get over you fear, LOL).

[dyvinesweetness]

I mean, despite my fear I still use them. So it's not that bad. It's more like the idea in the back of my mind. And that feeling of "oh shit, did I take that last tampon out?!"

Like typing about it right now evokes a fear that one is stuck up there, but I haven't even used tampons this cycle yet!! lol Like I fear one I used from LAST cycle might, maybe, possibly still be stuck up there and I never took it out. It's beyond irrational. It's just plain ridiculous. Luckily because I recognize how foolish it is I don't really stress it or get really anxious.

Now that you guys keep mentioning the diva cup, I think i want to try it this cycle. I might stop by Whole Foods and see if they have it there. I will definitely make an entry about it!