OK, I've done a board search and couldn't find an answer. I hate to ask this question, but honestly, this has not ever come up for me. And I really need advice.
Being a 43 year old woman, my menstrual cycle can be a teensy bit unpredictable -- but I can count on a couple of days a month in which I need to have ready access to a bathroom every couple of hours or else I need to change clothes. Up to this point in my life, I have managed to a) not wear white pants and b) have pretty ready access to facilities.
So... tomorrow is my first actual day with a patient. Our uniforms are white (why on earth, I have no idea, did someone think it was prudent to stick woman in white pants...). And lucky me, it's that time.
How do others handle this? Our instructors haven't said a word (about much, actually) and we won't get instruction about how to handle breaks (if even there will be any), etc., until pre-conference. And I sort of need a plan before then.
And (possibly TMI): I wear a tampon and a maxi, and still I find myself having emergencies. My gynecologist knows this and doesn't have any concern. I take iron for anemia. I begged her to take my uterus (because I'm finished using it) but she said no. I'm even considering incontinence underwear. ANY advice would be much appreciated.
Specializes in A little of this & a little of that.
:yeahthat:
This is a big problem even when past graduation. Clinicals, you usually can get a bathroom break when needed. Spandex is your friend. The Tena incontinent pads hold more than regular pads. If using regular pads definitely use the "extra-long" for better coverage. Never tried the new "cups" but did use my diaphragm that way years ago. Seems like it would work.
Go to another GYN. There are many correctable causes for this condition. I had adenomyosis which I found out after switching doc's. First doc said it was normal peri-menopause bleeding irregularity. I also had a lot of paing which doc #1 poo-pooed. BTW, doc#1 was a female and #2 was a male. Female docs don't always have more sympathy.
Specializes in Critical Care, Clinical Documentation Specialist.
I've heard the cups are messy when trying to take them out. I have never tried them. They scare me.
They are a little messy but nothing a nurse can't handle. You just pull it out, dump it in the toilet and if you are in a bathroom with a sink next to it, just rinse it and place it back in, and do a final wipe to make sure you get any drops. If there is no sink, you can either take along a bottle of water or use tissue. I never use the tissue because they get dry and tend to make the cup 'stick' when putting back in, so I always make sure its wet when reinserted. You should try it and see, it may be something you always wondered how you lived without it. PS I like the Diva cup better, I have used both.
I just wanted to add, Tampax has a new tampon "size" out called Ultra. It is for flows heavier than the Super Plus. I haven't tried it yet, but I'm going to next time.
I'm not sure what my problem is, but on day's 2 or 3, I can bleed through a Super Plus within 2 minutes of putting it in. Maybe TMI , but I get really large blood clots as well.
I've had 3 c-sections and I attribute my contraction failing uterus to the 3 pregnancies. I will be talking to my Doc at my next appt.
So anyway... now that ya'll know my medical history... I've feared this problem too. We have white pants as well. Just not a good thing for me.
They are a little messy but nothing a nurse can't handle. You just pull it out, dump it in the toilet and if you are in a bathroom with a sink next to it, just rinse it and place it back in, and do a final wipe to make sure you get any drops. If there is no sink, you can either take along a bottle of water or use tissue. I never use the tissue because they get dry and tend to make the cup 'stick' when putting back in, so I always make sure its wet when reinserted. You should try it and see, it may be something you always wondered how you lived without it. PS I like the Diva cup better, I have used both.
I just looked up the Diva cups. I was reading over the instructions of how you put them in and noticed that in the tiny illustration that the cup looked like it was not really placed far into the body like a tampon. Is that right? Can't you feel it if it isn't pushed up farther?
Most nurses understand. My cycle has no regularity to it, so I wore some type of pad every single time I wore white pants just in case. I also can be really heavy, and one day at school (we had to wear our uniforms if we had lab that day) I bled through my pants despite the super tampon being in for less than two hours. I texted a friend to come help me out in the bathroom, rinsed them pretty well in the sink (there was a handicap stall with a sink, thankfully) and borrowed a sweatshirt to tie around my waist while I drove off to buy new pants. I kept a spare pair in my car from then on - that's a good idea, to keep a set in your car or in your bag. A friend had it happen in clinical. The hospital kept green scrubs on hand for use in the OR, L&D, etc., and her preceptor went and got her a pair. Our CI came around and asked her why she wasn't in uniform, but she didn't get in trouble when she explained. Now that I'm an RN, my scrub pants are black, dark brown, and navy...whoever thought a majority female profession should be ever forced to wear white pants has serious mental issues. I spent so many hours worrying about my pants throughout school, when I should have been focused on patient care. I will never again wear white pants in my lifetime.
Talk to your doc again, or find a new one. I was on Depo for a long time, and had no periods at all, but the down side is you have spotting for the first few months until it really kicks in. I only went off of it because we are planning on getting pregnant now that I'm our of school, and it takes up to 18 months to get your fertility back. Too bad you couldn't find a medical/surgical solution before school started - now you won't be able to miss any days to recuperate.
I have two suggestions for you, as I have the exact same problem.
I started taking birth control pills for this very reason and I just take them straight through on my sugar pills and have Aunt Flo visit on a long weekend or a school break.
The other product that I wished I had found 10 years ago is a product called Instead. They sell them at Walmart. It is a disposable, cervical cap and they last much longer than regular tampons (they allow me to sleep through the night...which was impossible before). You just can be squeamish about touching your own body.
They are very, very messy b/c when you take them out...everything comes out so you will need to be near a sink. However, they are a Godsend b/c they last so long.
Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.
Yes, those cups were very helpful back in the day.......they saved my dignity more than once when I was going through super-plus tampons PLUS napkins PLUS incontinence briefs.
I am SO glad I don't deal with any of that anymore---it's been 2 1/2 years since my last period, and even I'm surprised at how quickly I've forgotten how miserable I was!
Yes, those cups were very helpful back in the day.......they saved my dignity more than once when I was going through super-plus tampons PLUS napkins PLUS incontinence briefs.
I am SO glad I don't deal with any of that anymore---it's been 2 1/2 years since my last period, and even I'm surprised at how quickly I've forgotten how miserable I was!
So, really heavy bleeding is a fairly common thing. I always feel like I am the only one out there buying the Ultra tampons and changing them often. i really wish the Loestrin pill kept working for me, my flow was so light. Not anymore. Now I am on some pill I have never even heard of.
I totally feel your pain. 2 weeks ago was my 1st clinical experience and why in the world did it wait until the day before my very first clinical to come. I was scared that I was going to have an accident. Talk about embarrassing. I would think your instructor would let you go every so often. I mean if you got to go you got to go. Just who in the world said it was good for us to wear white anyways, sucks. Not to mention I have to pay these outrageous prices for my uniforms for where the school says. Like I said, I feel your pain. I totally hate that time of the month.
Up to this point in my life, I have managed to a) not wear white pants and b) have pretty ready access to facilities.
You just pull it out, dump it in the toilet and if you are in a bathroom with a sink next to it, just rinse it and place it back in, and do a final wipe to make sure you get any drops. If there is no sink, you can either take along a bottle of water or use tissue. I never use the tissue because they get dry and tend to make the cup 'stick' when putting back in, so I always make sure its wet when reinserted. You should try it and see, it may be something you always wondered how you lived without it. PS I like the Diva cup better, I have used both.
Thornbird
373 Posts
:yeahthat:
This is a big problem even when past graduation. Clinicals, you usually can get a bathroom break when needed. Spandex is your friend. The Tena incontinent pads hold more than regular pads. If using regular pads definitely use the "extra-long" for better coverage. Never tried the new "cups" but did use my diaphragm that way years ago. Seems like it would work.
Go to another GYN. There are many correctable causes for this condition. I had adenomyosis which I found out after switching doc's. First doc said it was normal peri-menopause bleeding irregularity. I also had a lot of paing which doc #1 poo-pooed. BTW, doc#1 was a female and #2 was a male. Female docs don't always have more sympathy.