WAYYYYY TMI....you've been warned!

[denverprincess]

Okay here goes

With provera, I get really big, thick, nasty clots. I mean, when I sit on the toilet...they plop in the water. I know, I know....gross. Is it safe to use tampons with all of these clots? I havent cause I've been afraid that the tampon will keen them in there, but pads kinda get on my nerves. What do you all think?

[shenacat]

The clots will just come out when you pull out the tampon. Just don't use tampons at night and they will come out then or when you get up in the morning. (You're not supposed to use tampons at night anyway!)

[katiwren]

shenacat,

Why aren't you meant to use tampons at night? I've never heard that before, so I'm curious. (Especially since I usually do)

--KT

[Pattyannruss]

You have a higher chance to develope toxic shock.(With tampons)

I could never use tampons at all.
I would double over in pain.
Plus I had all those wonderful clots all my life.

So on the few occasions I 'tried' to use one, I had problems with them coming out.(not all the way, just slipping a bit)

[simone]

Katiwren--

I used to work for Tampax so here's their "official" answer:

Tampons have been approved for use up to 8 hours, so you can wear them overnight, as long as it's not more than 8 hours. Ideally, you should change your tampon every 4 to 6 hours and always use the lowest absorbency suitable for your needs, according to the changes in your flow. This reduces your risk of contracting TSS (Toxic Shock Syndrome). About 1/2 of TSS cases are caused by tampon use. The rest are caused by other types of infections, and it can affect anyone (not just menstruating women).

Voila,
Simone

[katiwren]

OK. I'm not gonna stress about it then. I always wake up at least once and have to pee when I've got AF, and I change it then, so I never wear one more than 6 hours at the most. I've been using them since I was 11, so I don't think I'll stop now.

Maybe that's not a totally logical answer, but it's a risk I'm willing to take. I use the lowest absorbancy level I can find unless AF flow is very heavy--then I move up a level. I never use them longer than 6 hours at the longest and I am so much more comfortable with them. I hate the feeling when I use a pad.

About the clots (the original point of this thread), I would think that as long as you change the tampon quite frequently, the clots should just come out then.

--KT

[happytoknow]

Just wanted to put my 2 cents in. I pass really large clots as well sometimes and I use tampons. Never had a problem. I also use them when I sleep. Always have.

[Darcae]

I have always had the big clots.......it is gross.....but it happens. LOL

When I was 14 I developed TSS from using tampons. Wearing them for too long increases your chances. However gross a pad feels, it's so much cleaner and safer to be honest.

I use the overnights even during the day........they are thick, but wear Jeans.....it's so much better not to have to worry about the tampon filling up and spilling over PLUS the clotting.......it's just messy and difficult.

[shenacat]

The thing is with tampons is not only are you not supposed to use them for longer than 8 hours at a time but you need to give yourself time to "rest" in there at least once a day without a tampon.... I use nighttime for that... no tampon at night. I know that TSS is rare (toxic shock syndrome) but it does happen to a fair amount of women and I don't want to risk it just to keep stuff plugged up at night.

[saffrhon]

I know this thread is about the clots, sorry denverprincess, I don't have an answer for you.
Just wanted to add another 2 cents about TSS. This is from a leaflet I have from my tampons.
" Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) is a rare but serious illness that may cause death. It is caused by a toxin (a kind of biological poison) which is produced by a type of bacteria (Staphylococcus aureaus). Tampons do not carry the bacteria, however tampon use has been associated with an increased risk of TSS. ...TSS is most common in young women who use tampons during their periods. ...If the toxin is produced in the vagina, or a wound, and absorbed from there into the bloodstream, a person who is not resistant to the toxin may become ill. ...Early symptoms may begin suddenly and are similar to the flu."
They recommend changing your tampon 3-6 times a day depending on flow, and using an absorbency that is suited to flow. I agree with Shenacat & Darcae, I think pads are worth considering for overnight. There are some good night use pads available now.
Take care.

[Eponine]

Or, you could try the Keeper, a menstrual cup designed to catch instead of absorb the flow. It can be worn without any risk of TSS, and it woudn't block the clots, it would just catch them and hold them til you rinsed it out.

www.eco-logique.com

[katiwren]

My "normal" AF is only about 3 1/2 days long, so I don't think I'm taking a huge risk, especially since I usually do change my tampon at least every 4 hours and use the lowest absorbancy available.

If I routinely had very heavy or long AF, then I'd probably reconsider.

Shenacat,

How long of a "rest" do you need? And why?

--KT

[bbecca]

I know the original post was about clots but since the Keeper was mentioned, I have a question!

I developed TSS when I was about 19 and became very sick in a matter of minutes it seemed. The doctor said it was because I had not had af in months and the tampon was in a way restricting the flow causing the bacteria to grow quickly or something like that. Anyway, I've never worn a tampon since then and I really do hate pads. So my question is.......The Keeper has no risk of you developing TSS? I don't know anything about it, so is it safe for someone who has had TSS in the past?

Thanks,
Becky

[Eponine]

Becca, here is what the FAQ on the website says: "Is it safe? Has it been medically approved? What about toxic shock syndrome?

The Keeper has been on the market since 1986, and has not been linked to any negative health conditions. In 1998, it was tested for its relationship to TSS (toxic shock syndrome), and found to be a low-risk product. Unlike tampons, especially those made of polyester and designed for high absorbency, it does not absorb your flow and does not contain synthetic fibres; this means it provides an unlikely environment for the bacterium that causes TSS. We remind you, however, that proper washing and hygiene are still important. We suggest that you empty and clean your Keeper at least once every 12 hours. Be sure to wash your hands carefully before inserting or removing your Keeper. And if you have tested positive for the bacterium linked to TSS, we recommend checking with your health care provider before using any internal menstrual product. Toxic shock syndrome is not yet a thing of the past, for women or men."

[simone]

Tampon manufacturers recommend alternating between pads and tampons in order to reduce the risk of TSS. The reasoning is that if you do wind up with some of the bacteria that causes TSS in your vagina, it will come out with your flow. Simply removing your tampon may not be enough to remove the bacteria that may have accumulated.

However, the risk of TSS is extremely low. I'm sorry for those of you who have suffered for it. I worked for Tampax (Canada) for 2 years, and in that whole time, my department never received any consumer contacts from women actually affected by TSS (that I know of). One thing that most people don't know is that the bacteria that causes TSS is actually harmless in most people -- they have antibodies for it. The people who are affected by TSS lack these antibodies for some reason. Even so, if you lack the antibodies, you are still not guaranteed to get TSS from tampon use.

I would say (my opinion) that changing the tampon every 4 hours should be enough, with a break overnight (or even every other night), or even baths to help purge any bacteria built up. It is an extremely serious problem but also one that involves common sense. From what I learned in my job, TSS is associated with PROLONGED tampon use (more than 8 hours, high absorbency levels, forgotten tampons, tampons used consistently throughout entire period).

I hope that clears things up a bit.