Ode To The Fucking Pad

[Spook]

Let me start off my saying that... I HATE PERIODS. I got my first one last night...and let me tell you, it was traumatizing. Not that I didn't know it would come or I wasn't prepared--I was. I had backups and shit in my purse, but still. When my sister got her period for the first time, her being 6 years older than me; I looked up to her and wanted to do anything that she did. So... I kept saying at about 8 years old I had my period. My mom and sister would play along. After I got about 12, I started dreading-- my sister could never swim because of it. This week, I had been talking unusually much about how much I loathed getting a period, and how I was glad I hadn't got one. Well I guess jinxing things is true, because 4 days later, I got one. It's a waste of my freaking time to change my own diaper every 2 hours. Yes, diaper. Pads feel like freaking diapers to me; and my mom won't let me wear tampons because of some "toxic shock syndrome" shit. Yes, periods are deadly now! So then she goes "I'm so happy for you." I think she's sarcastic, but she's genuine. Happy I get to suffer the rest of my life through diapers, blood, cramps, and money's worth of wasted underwear and white pants? When I got it; I almost cursed the ceiling. I got a cramp a week before; and let me tell you, it feels a little like you're dying inside. So, ode to my diaper...


Fuck you.


Sorry. That was a little vulgar for girls' puberty. But I feel cursed.

[Desuetude]

Hey i'm trying not to be harsh but your going to have to cope with it for basiclly the rest of your life so there is no point in dreading it, its part of what every single girl has to do, not just you. TSS is something that only happens if you wear tampons for the exeeded amount of time it says on the box, if you don't do that you should be fine. With cramps just have a hot bath or get a hot water bottle just try to relax. Yeah its a waste of money but what are you gonna do, we are all going through it.
I think after a while you should feel a little calmer and hopefully it will start not to be that much of a big deal. Just a warning that the first few years may be very irregular and it will take quite a while to calm down, just saying in case you didn't know and got a bit worried :)

[lydia.ann00]

they are a pain but you have to deal with it. I'm not sure about tss but I think if you change your tampon often its not very likely to happen. i don't use them at night

[sarahann95]

You're going to have to get use to it for the majority of your life. I started when I was 9, so I've gotten pretty use to it now. And as stated, at first they may be a little irregular, but eventually they'll become regular, and if they don't, taking birth control (with doctor consent) can help make it more regular.
Also, tell your mom how you feel about pads. And as stated, the only time when you are at risk for TSS is if the tampon is in there too long. You just need to change it regularly and I wouldn't exactly suggest sleeping with one in.
As for cramps, hot baths can help, obviously taking something like Ibruprophen can help, working out helps some people, and I think eating bananas can help (not too positive about the last one.)

[karnivore]

If your mom won't relent about the tampons you can talk to your doctor or a gynecologist about what they would recommend for you.

[Fiction]

If you're having to change them every 2 hours then you're probably not using a pad correct for your flow, so perhaps try buying ones for heavier flows? You should be able to wear them for around 4 hours.

My mum didn't let me wear tampons at first, I was about 14 when she let me start wearing them. Try and persaude your mum towards that idea, they are much much more comfortable.

As for the cramps, take painkillers. Hot water bottles and hot baths also help. I've been told that the cramps go as you get older, also if they are bad enough you can go to your doctor who will put you on the pill stopping the cramps.

It may seem like a lot now but you'll get used to it :P I've had mine 5 years and it seems like nothing now :)

[Ambrosia]

It may seem like a lot now but you'll get used to it :P I've had mine 5 years and it seems like nothing now :)

This is pretty much all that can be said. At first, it's horrible. You have to get used to it, and it probably won't come at the same time every month for the first year or so (Maybe less, maybe more). But once you get used to having a period it will seem like nothing at all, really. But it is more of a hassle when you have to wear pads. Once you can convince your mom to let you use tampons, or you have the money to buy them yourself, it will be a million times better. It's easier to forget you are even on your period (until you have to switch them) when you use a tampon. This way you can swim, run, do whatever it is that you were afraid you'd not be able to do.

A period is only thought of as the "curse" because it's a hassle. But at the same time, it's kind of a blessing. Now you're "officially" a woman. You can bare children (Oh god, please don't go get pregnant!), and all sorts of good stuff. I had a friend who, when she started hers, her mother and sister took her out to lunch as celebration for her becoming a "woman".

Heh, congrats? :P