LADIES deal with that time of the month in eco friendly style!

[Mermaid Sirena]

@draggersprez ziplock?

Aniar I have a few thoughts I'll PM you

[-Annwyn-]

i hav e question about the reusable fabric pads. since they say you're supposed to soak in cold water, what if im at school and have to change my pad, what do i do with it? i really want to try this out but i dont really know what i should do with the used pads if im not at home to soak in cold water.

For my heavier days I use the maxi style reusable pads and I find they will last me the 8-hour shift that I am at work. If I was worried that it wouldn't, I would take an extra one with me, fold up the used one (they fold up really nicely and are normally lined with anti-leak material PUL that is in the pads themselves ) and put it into a little cloth pouch that suppliers usually stock. Could be just me, but I find using 1-2 heavy cloth pads on my heaviest days gets me through just fine.

[Mermaid Jewel]

Heh so I read something about "western" medicines not working...there's this Chinese remedy my mom learned of drinking 'rice wine' to flush it all out and help with cramps...but I'm not sure if it's the same kind of rice wine you buy since my mom makes it. It's super sweet (I can't stand the taste though, it tastes sickly sweet to me. But I know adults and children that like the taste so...) but I don't know if that's how regular rice wine tastes.

[blenny]

[NerineArcticMermaid]

So....
In case I missed reading that...was there an natural version to the tampon? I jsut cant stand feeling my T.o.M. So as nice as the reusable pads are ....I cant see ueingthem.. so was there a natural version for tampons? Ill have to check local stores.. but I luckily with the pill only get 4 a year! yeah! so far no ill effects as I see my girly doc on regular basis...Im at risk for ovarian cancer due to coming in contact with High risk HPV. But Ive had 4 clear paps so one more and I should be in clear

If your not familiar with HPV you need to be... its something all women are at risk of coming in contact with.

[Princess Kae-Leah]

Can you get HPV, Nerine, if you never have sex, ever? I'm asexual, and I plan on dying a virgin. Should I still get the vaccine? If not, I guess then it's not really true that ALL women are at risk, huh?

[taom]

Most usually a person contracts HPV from sex but they are still doing research about other ways of contracting the disease. Some studies tentatively suggest contact with public toilet seats can result in HPV though they aren't certain about that. I will only ever have sex with one person and neither of us have HPV but we still both got vaccinated just in case.So basically you are at very low risk of catching HPV but it's always a good idea to be safe rather than sorry.

[SireniaSolaris]

Here is another remedy for cramps:

Take a mug of hot water, and stir 3-4 cinnamon sticks in to create a kind of cinnamon tea.
Add natural, brown sugar to tase.

This simple, yummy tea works miracles! I have a condition where my periods are really really really painful. Basically there is a build up of scar tissue in my uterus, and so every time I get a period, the scar tissue pulls at my insides, essentially making it feel like my uterus is being torn out. The first day of my period I would always have to just stay in a fetal position because of how much pain I was in. My bf's mother has a HUGE amount of natural remedies from her home country, Venezuela. This tea is what she would always make to relieve cramps and gut pain. It works!! I have never missed a day of work since trying this



Now on the note of these eco-friendly alternatives to disposable pads/tampons: The diva cup looks interesting and the most economical choice, but it looks like it would be prone to spills and like, splashing inside and stuff D:

That's just what I envisioned when I saw it, so it's probably just me being paranoid and weird (cuz I, too, have always been kinda grossed out with the TOM).

[AniaR]

SirenaSolaris, I believe I have the same condition, I have one that effects my bladder in the same way- and people with it usually develop endotrimiosis. I have been having a horrible time trying to get it diagnosed and treated. I usually dont even get the horrible pain til it's practically done! But it's enough to make me vomit bile simply because of the pain, and it's not in normal places Ive been trying to find as many natural remedies as I can because pain killers are not working and keep burning my stomach lining making it worse.

[Mermaid Lorelei]

Have any of you tried progesterone before? It is a natural hormone replacement used to keep you from cramping as much, getting as severe of migraines, and it can help to even out mood swings. I find it works incredibly well on my cramps, which are insane every other cycle.

[AniaR]

I did for 4 months. It worked wonders BUT I gained 10lbs very fast and my weight was still going up. I got severe acne all over my body then I stopped getting periods all together and just started spotting every day- right around my birthday. lol It is the #1 treatment for endotrimiosis

What really worries me is both that illness and the other one I have affect fertility. But here in Canada waiting to see a specialist can take 6-12 months sometimes longer. Just to see the gyno about endo took 6 months and she refused to test me because they have to put you to sleep! Im like grr lady I dont care test me! and now Im all worried about my ability to have babies. Im not planning to anytime soon, but you know its always in the back of my mind Our health care can be amazing, but the wait is horrible.

[Mermaid Sirena]

I would rather have to wait a while then go into a hospital that gives you an IV and an ultra sound to check your insides, then charges $5,000 and tries to kick you out the door before even addressing the original reason you came in. -.-

[Winged Mermaid]

Also Clary Sage essential oil is great for cramps! I've heard some awesome stories about that! Few drops of that right on the skin over the painful areas, or just all over the uterus area. You can use a few drops of carrier oil (I like grape seed oil- no allergies and super great for your skin) to help it spread further. Also you can use a hot compress to help drive it in better and faster.
Just remember that when you put essential oils ON your body, you are putting it IN your body, so get the highest grade you can, or that you can afford. Side note- doTERRA essential oils are currently the purest on the market backed by multiple tests for each batch of oils. They're the only essential oils, at this point, that you can safely ingest. But I understand being off put by the price, but there's a reason for the price. Anyhow! If I run into any more natural remedies (I'm in classes for that) I'll post them here!

[AniaR]

so I picked up my pills, theyre made by the same group you ladies shared but not the same kind. It's actaea racemosa http://www.homeopathy-remedies.co.uk...-racemosa.html apparently really good for cramps as well as other issues. Just popped my first 5 lol (gotta take 5 3X a day!) but they're tiny. Reallllly hoping they help.

[Mermaid Lorelei]

That's some interesting info Winged. I might have to look into some of those. And I definitely promote heating pads! They are so wonderful for cramps.

I hope your new medication helps Raina!

[SireniaSolaris]

That is actually what I have, Raina. Just didn't post the name cuz I wasn't sure too many would know what endometriosis is. I'm skeptical about the fertility claims somewhat. My family members who did reproduce only had one child each, and my cousin lost her entire reproductive system before she could have a kid. For me, doctors said it would be very hard to have kids - I only get about 3-4 periods a year, and they expected I would have to get my reproductive system removed by age 25. Now I'm thinking it will probably be closer to age 30. But in spite of their claims, I've had two pregnancies - in SPITE of taking birth control! My first was a miscarriage, and my second is my now 16 month old daughter, Melodia. So... it's still veeery possible to have kids, even with full blown endometriosis.

I agree with Sirena - they rob you here, in the states, in the health care industry - often times without even correcting a problem. My dad is actually waiting to go to Canada to get an operation because it's just so much better to wait and have a good job done, than trust a lot of the jokes working here. You should see my c-section scar! It looks like those horror movie scars the murder survivors have D: It's horrible.

@ Lorelei: I'll be honest, I am not a fan of taking hormones. Anything that is not your own, can really throw off your levels. In my opinion, experience, and observation, I think hormone therapy (including progesterone pills), is a lot like many western medicines - while it can alleviate some things (like cramps), it often causes other issues (in my case, it actually CAUSED mood swings, many experience weight gain, while it clears up some people's acne, it can also cause acne in others, etc.). Your chance of getting blood clots also skyrockets.

The only "hormone treatment" I would actually advocate for is following giving birth. For most women, it takes TWO YEARS to get your hormones and bodily nutrients back to their "normal" levels. I expedited this, getting back to normal within a few months. See, a LOT of your hormones and nutrients get stored in your placenta. There is a reason animals, in nature, eat their placentas after giving birth - it really helps them regain much of their strength and stamina. In my case, I had mine encapsulated - a certified placenta encapsulator cleaned it, cut it into pieces, dehydrated it, ground it into powder, mixed that with a couple of other powdered herbs with good women's health benefits, and put this mixture into veggie capsules. Then you have it just like any vitamin or suppliment, keeping it refridgerated or frozen. For your first two weeks after giving birth, you take one pill 3X a day, then the next couple of weeks 2X a day, then once a day for the next couple of weeks, then just one as needed, if you have any episodes where you start to feel overemotional or something. Wonderful thing!! The lady who did mine also dehydrated the umbilical cord into the shape of a heart. So I have it in one of those sheer, tiny bags as a keep sake.

[AniaR]

yeah Im not sure if I have full blown endo, like I said, I tried to get checked for it and the doc wouldnt :/ but I have this spot about 8 inches above my navel, that feels like it's contracting just toward the end of my period. The cycle is only 3 days and isnt even that heavy- and I do get it regularly. But the pain in that one spot is unbearable and thats not a normal place for cramps! When I took progesterone it stopped completely. but the other side effects were too much so I had to stop. The interesting thing is I always had manageable cycles so long as I took ibuprofine, until I took the pill and then stopped after just shy of 2 years. That's when all hell in my body broke loose. The pain I have now is something else, nothing stops it.

I did try those new pills, I think they took the edge off... but not quite still enough. Just relieved to be through another month lol

[Nyx]

This simple, yummy tea works miracles! I have a condition where my periods are really really really painful. Basically there is a build up of scar tissue in my uterus, and so every time I get a period, the scar tissue pulls at my insides, essentially making it feel like my uterus is being torn out. The first day of my period I would always have to just stay in a fetal position because of how much pain I was in. My bf's mother has a HUGE amount of natural remedies from her home country, Venezuela. This tea is what she would always make to relieve cramps and gut pain. It works!! I have never missed a day of work since trying this .

I'm from Venezuela and I have seen my mom and grandmother use this before. Not for t.o.m, but for when they aren't feeling good. It works wonders, I still have to try this for myself though, thanks for sharing that lil' bit of info!

[Amethyst]

I'm the same as @Mermaid Aqua, I've never gone swimming at that T.O.M. Tampons creep me out lol I'll definatly be on the look out for the alternative products you've mentioned, anything to help the planet

[Mermaid Miel]

Myy cloth Pads arrived in the mail today
I did a bit of searching at Etsy because the LunaPads seemed a bit pricey and I wanted just to buy one to try out. I eventually bought three, plus two pantyliners. Igot them from TheCrazyElephant shop. They were just kinda cute, you know?

I do occasionally go swimming with tampons. My First period came the day Before my Birthday Party at a local waterslide park.. sucks you know? I was determined to go so I wore Tampons... even though they are kinda painful. I will definetely buy the Diva Cup when I next get paid... it sounds a lot less painful and easier to swim with.