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Use of tampons when overweight



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Hi ladies! I have a question! I never had anyone to ask this before so I am happy to have this app and the powder room for women only.

I am wondering if anyone else has trouble using tampons while overweight? I haven't been able to use them for a very long time because I can't get it in and I can't bend the right way to do it cuz it hurts. I also have to use two pads at a time or I leak all over. Does anyone else have this problem? Does it get better with weight loss? Thanks!

Stacie

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I am 270 pounds and with so much of my weight in my belly, yes, it is hard to reach and insert a tampon. I struggle along as best as I can because I really don't like to use pads. When I was 60 pounds lighter I noticed that tampons were easier to insert and they didn't seem to fall out as often when I used the bathroom. As far as leaks go, I haven't been lucky enough to find a tampon that doesn't leak even a little bit. I wear a panitliner as a backup on the heaviest days of my period. Hope tho helps.

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Yes my experience is it does get easier. When you can't fit it in the right place it causes discomfort and can fall out. I didn't like using them much but now that I'm 82 lbs lighter they are my first choice. I also realized during my last period that I don't need to buy the long pads anymore! Woo hoo!

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let me add to my fellow posters and in total agreement.. easier to insert when not as much belly/thigh in the way

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Yes! When I was heavier inserting a tampon was awful. I could never insert it far enough, and it hurt. It does get much easier as you lose! As for flow. I had actually stopped having a period. When I had surgery I had not had a period for probably a year, and actually did not get a period until I was about 7 months out from surgery. When I was having a period before surgery it was light, and only lasted about 3 days. Now I flood like crazy and last about a week. I'm hoping it's because my body is adjusting to the weight loss, and the fact I hadn't had a period for a year and half!

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I'm a pear shape so my advice may not help much..but anyways I first started using tampons about 3 years ago when I was about 25 lbs lighter (i'm probably somewhere in the 240s now but i'm not sure..still haven't weighed myself since the year started). My "first time" lol was with U by Kotex because a friend told me they were easy(and painless) to apply. The applicator helped tons, and like you I leak all over the place with pads, so I love Kotex tampons because I don't have that leak problem anymore.

As for the flow..from what I remember in school, estrogen is stored in fat so when you lose weight it will mess with your menstrual cycle. As someone who has lost the same 40-60 lbs pretty much every year for the past 6 years, I can attest to this fact.

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Thanks so much everyone! I really appreciate all the posts on this topic.

I am going to try the u tampons by Kotex! Thanks for that advice.

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Nursekimberly: I'm gonna get the Kotex u today and try them. What kind of an applicator do these have? Plastic or cardboard and do you just push it up like the other ones? I really want to use tampons as I am so sick of pads but I tried again this morning and I can't do it! I can't push the applicator up cuz of my weight. It's so frusterating! Thanks so much!

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I use Lil-lets applicator.. Far superior to Tampax and others, because they expand width-wise, not length wise. Crucial for my PCOS self and the horrendous heavy periods I used to have. Very few leaks with their Super-super-plus...

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Nursekimberly: I'm gonna get the Kotex u today and try them. What kind of an applicator do these have? Plastic or cardboard and do you just push it up like the other ones? I really want to use tampons as I am so sick of pads but I tried again this morning and I can't do it! I can't push the applicator up cuz of my weight. It's so frusterating! Thanks so much!

It is plastic. I used a paper applicator once a few months ago and I struggled getting it in place with it, ugh.

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Nursekimberly it worked!! Success! Lol! If anyone else is having this problem, get U by Kotex. I haven't been able to wear a tampon for a long time and now I can! :)

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Congrats lol! I've tried to use other brands here and there but u by kotex is the absolute best one in my opinion :)

Ive never seen the U by kotex..I better get some of these..Im pcos-er too...

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Nursekimberly: I'm gonna get the Kotex u today and try them. What kind of an applicator do these have? Plastic or cardboard and do you just push it up like the other ones? I really want to use tampons as I am so sick of pads but I tried again this morning and I can't do it! I can't push the applicator up cuz of my weight. It's so frusterating! Thanks so much!

PLASTIC!!!! The cardboard applicators stick to damp skin...feels like ripping off a bandaid IN your vagina!

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