Warning: This post is mostly about “lady parts” and “lady problems.” If the words vagina, menstruation, bleeding, tampon, pad, and/or urinary tract infection or any variation of the previous words offend you, it would be wise on your part to cease reading the following post.
I had always loved that Renee over at Womanist Musings posted monthly about getting her period. I think these posts were especially important and made an impact on the people who had the opportunity to read them because she combined sarcasm with common sense, that she was a crazy, dangerous menstruating woman–a jab men so very often can’t help themselves but to take. She also assured those who were reading that when a woman menstruates her vagina is not unclean; it is not vulgar, nor is it disgusting; it is merely a bodily function that is completely normal. I am willing to bet that every single woman who has hit puberty has been asked if she was PMSing if she had the audacity to speak her mind. So I had always loved these posts and although I haven’t seen one in quite a few months from her, you should really sift through the archives if you hadn’t yet had a chance to read one.
I had always toyed with the idea of either writing my own monthly period posts on here or guest posting over at Womanist Musings every once in a while with one, but by the time I had remembered that I wanted to do this every month, it was usually by the end of my period and it isn’t necessarily newsworthy to me anymore. Until this month. Oh, this month is interesting in Holly’s world of menstruation.
I woke up with cramps on the morning of October 26th and started bleeding shortly thereafter. While I like to use reusable cotton and fleece pads because they are extremely environmentally-friendly and also a great deal healthier for women than disposables, I didn’t have any readily available because that’s just how it is when you live in an apartment building without a washer, yet there is a dryer available–weird, but anyway, I broke into my backup disposable products. When I go with disposables, I’ll opt for a tampon over a pad, but I never use a tampon the first day of my period because my cramps are so intense that it ends up causing me even more abdominal pain, so I put a pad on and went on my merry way like I do every other month. That night I felt fine so after taking a relaxing bath, I put a tampon in. Again, I went on my merry way.
About an hour later and I noticed something was wrong. Very, very unpleasantly wrong. So I take the tampon out, go to the bathroom and the burning! The intense burning sensation that came absolutely out of nowhere that I could not understand for the life of me. It was as if I just decided to pour an entire gallon of hot sauce in there just to see what would happen. That’s the kind of burning we are talking about here. The hottest hot sauce in existence was obviously coursing itself through my vagina and the evil, evil tampon is what caused it! So now we’re two days into my period time and it has only gotten worse. I’ve had my fair share of urinary tract infections but usually they just disappear after a few days of downing as much cranberry juice and Alka Seltzer my body can hold. So my very first ‘Hey everyone, I have my period and it’s completely normal’ post is more of a ‘Hey everyone, I have my period and oh yeah, I feel like I have to pee every 36 seconds!’ Because yeah, we didn’t even get to the urgency part of this yet. The urgency to pee is so strong that by the time I flush the toilet, pull my pants up, walk downstairs and sit down at the computer, I have to turn around and go right back up the steps and into the bathroom again so my bladder can empty about a half a teaspoon of urine and then feel the agonizing burning of the fire of a thousand suns…in my vagina. In fact, when you have a urinary tract infection, there is not much more to your daily routine than constantly running to the bathroom to expel a half teaspoon of urine per every 20 minutes you sit there thinking that there must be more inside of you that needs to come out, but to no avail. When this happens, it seems you can be more efficient if you just took your laptop into the bathroom with you so you don’t have to keep running there while in the middle of doing whatever it is you’re doing, so that is exactly what I have done…and I think I am the most productive while sitting on the toilet, laptop on lap, waiting for the urgency and the burning to subside.
You can 
You know, I've been using a Divacuo since 2005 and I can't say enough positive things about it. Here is their website although there are other varieties available like MoonCup: http://www.divacup.com/
It is really easy to use and has saved me so much money long term. I just keep it in my purse and whenever that time of the month happens, I have it handy and don't ever have to worry about leakage and that.
Definitely something you might want to look in to.
God Holly, soooo sorry! That is the worst. Similar thing kept happening to me until I started using Instead (you've probably heard Angela Shelton rave about Instead). Yeah, perhaps give that or DivaCup a try–maybe it'll help.
Hope this all ends for you soon–that's the worst!
Happy healing thoughts!
Yeah, I saw videos of Angela raving about Instead. I actually gave it a try–I had a box of a few months supply here and I could never figure out how to get them in! I felt like a contortionist or something and whenever I looked up how to do it right people would say that it would get easier the longer you used them and it never did so I gave up!
I am very fortunate in that regard, as I have never had a UTI. I have had a few yeast infections, one very unpleasant bacterial infection (vaginitis), and abrasions on my vagina and vulva from giving birth to my daughter (pee felt like lava when it would hit those abrasions, I STILL remember that pain!), but no UTIs. Were you able to get some type of meds to help clear it up?
Really, many time we had good, some bad and burning at all. We should have to thing about the Good and Bad!
I have always thanked god for making me a male because I just cannot imagine the pain girls go through.
Ditto! Though being a guy simply isn't what it's cracked-up to be.
You may want to look into “Sea Pearls” http://www.jadeandpearl.com
They are natural sea sponges that are reusable and super easy to insert. I have used the DivaCup, Instead, etc and they have a definite learning curve. I also do not cramp like I do with a tampon or cup.
Best of luck to you… and your little friend
I am impressed with the content of the article. I have been trying this method and I have seen some real improvements. This method is very useful.
I am impressed with the content of the article. That's a good effort you have put on the network through your blog. I appriciate your work.
ooohhhh … the word vagina, menstruation and bleeding, my God …
women things blablabla … But it is a good post, always goog for men learn something more about women … hehehe
ooohhhh … the word vagina, menstruation and bleeding, my God …
women things blablabla … But it is a good post, always goog for men learn something more about women … hehehe
LoL! Personally I don't use tampons because yes, i believe they are “evil, evil” too. Pads make me feel a lot “safer”. =D
Nice post, catchy blog title.
be a girl should be hard, hehehe …
There's nothing like be a man, its more simply
I lIke this blog, keep blogging bro. Thanks for this information
Thanks for your post, I'm glad you're open to talking about stuff like this. I'm so sorry about what happened, that must have hurt so bad.
This once happened to me on a road trip. No bueno. :[ Feel better!
I know this is prob a weird question but Ive started laying in the tanning bed and my boobs got burnt the other day and it hurts really bad!!! Like this is the worst burnt feeling Ive ever had. So is it safer for me to cover them up with a towel or should I just let them burn and hope for the best?
Thanks for your post, I'm glad you're open to talking about stuff like this. I think that the information presented should be useful to many people a lot.
poor you! This once happened to me on a road trip
No, it you think that's what it is you should just go get some Prilosec OTC from Wal-Mart of CVS of whatever is open this late. It takes about 3 days to start working though. You could try some Tums for some instant relief.
yes its very good for the environment its not like fossil fuels even though it has been broken down for centuries, its completely harmless and makes a damn good fire!! use it!! its completely great.
I have read up and most say the same which realy dont answer my ?? is it good or bad. I am looking for alternative fuel other than gas which i thing is worse than burning turf. Thank you for your help.
Women suffer so much discomfort and pain monthly. I never used tampon I used the usual pad, easier to change whenever I go for a wash.
hmm good. i face some problem some time but next time not, i don't know why. doctor say its normal. may be. your blog is safe to me.
informative and interesting,great post!!
Its a great post…!!!
Thank god I've never had a UTI. Thanks for the post!
Love it!
I contain forever thanked spirit for creation me a guy for the reason that I just cannot picture the hurt girls go from side to side.
Love your post, nice~
wow… amazing post!!!
I had oral surgery to remove all my teeth. I went to the dentist and they put me under and started cutting out my teeth from the left side first and i started waking up so they stoped mid ways threw my mouth my left top and bottom. Well my tongue hurt then but only when i stuck it out to far but it stoped 4 days after my surgery. I went back to get the rest pulled and i got all them pulled and now its been 6 days and my tongue does not hurt when i stick it out all the way but if i move it a certain way it feels like the tip on the side i just got pulled like i just burned it real bad and someone said it might be were they put the stitches.
it is a good post, always goog for men learn something more about women
i really think that women are more priviliged than men, i love beeing a man, i admitted, but women also have positif thing
Yeah, I had also experienced that same thing. UTI is very irritating. You need to pee every 10minutes. With my experience, I pee every 10minutes, and I am really happy if I had fallen asleep because that's the time that I can't feel the pee sensation.
I've been into this situation and it's very annoying. I went to the doctor and gave some prescription and it went very well. Although the water therapy is a big factor of it.