White Scrubs and That "Time of the Month".

[Shookclays]

Does any ladies here have to wear white or light scrubs? How do you deal with your cycle and possibly spotting? I have a heavy period, depending on what I take and eat, & im scared of spotting. I'm a first semester student and we have to wear white throughout the entire program. Also I do not wear tampons, only pads and I change them every hour.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Moved to Scrubs and Gear

[NurseLauraM]

I have also taken ibuprofen to reduce menstrual bleeding. I believe it has to do with the role NSAIDs have in reducing prostaglandins. Prostaglandins cause vasodilation, so inhibiting/reducing them leads to vasoconstriction in the endometrial capillaries, which in turn reduces bleeding. This vasoconstrictive effect is also why NSAIDs are not recommended to people with uncontrolled hypertension.

Although ibuprofen worked well to reduce my bleeding it also caused GI upset. Additionally, it became quite tedious and expensive because you have to take a lot for it to work (I was advised to do 800 milligrams 3-4 times a day). Eventually I stopped doing this and started skipping my periods with continuous oral contraceptives. I love it! And my boyfriend doesn't mind either. Sorry, TMI?

Another thing you mentioned was that you are concerned about wearing tampons because you are a virgin. I just want to share that I started using tampons when I first got my period (and was a virgin) and it didn't hurt, or hurt very minimally. Just start with the regular, or even junior size tampons with a backup method (depends, period underwear, pads, etc.). Eventually you can work your way up to super if you need (plenty of virgins use super).

Best of luck! Oh and also... white scrubs? Who comes up with these ideas?!

[lebelesprit_]

This was a concern of mine but what Ive done in the past was use a tampon AND a pad and just check myself every hour.

[applesxoranges, BSN, RN]

You could try a menstrual cup. They supposedly last for 12 hours but you can change them sooner like 6 hours. I would dedicate a small bottle to rinse them out. Then have a panty liner in your underwear for break through bleeding. But I recommend getting used to them first before relying soley on them since you need to learn to insert them and to take them out.

I used tampons prior to being sexually active. I always bleed through them though.

[LunaTunaPineapple]

Tampon (Super) + Panty Liner + Spandex . Never had an issue with this combo. My discomfort with Tampons usually occurred due to insertion at a bad angle, but you learn quick after a few times.

[Icooka4u]

Women accept a lot with no negotiation or push back. With the field of nursing being female dominated, a majority request for a dark colored bottom should be granted. Many women have heavy periods/fibroids making white bottoms an impractical request that puts us at risk for embarrassing accidents.

I wonder if any nursing class has ever collectively asked or petitioned for a change of white uniform pants?

Sidebar: I once turned down a nursing job at a small old fashion LTC facility in the 90s that required all nursed to where all white uniforms. The fact that they also requested you to wear your nursing hat should've been warning.

[applesxoranges, BSN, RN]

Women accept a lot with no negotiation or push back. With the field of nursing being female dominated, a majority request for a dark colored bottom should be granted. Many women have heavy periods/fibroids making white bottoms an impractical request that puts us at risk for embarrassing accidents.

I wonder if any nursing class has ever collectively asked or petitioned for a change of white uniform pants?

Sidebar: I once turned down a nursing job at a small old fashion LTC facility in the 90s that required all nursed to where all white uniforms. The fact that they also requested you to wear your nursing hat should've been warning.

Ours did manage to get them to change it. It went from white tops to black bottoms. They did get the scrub tops changed to these ugly zip up tops that I think were supposed to be chef tops but they switched back to button down tops. The tops were kind of cool since they had red and black (school colors) around the sleeves with the school patch on them. They still made us wear dorky white shoes

[Icooka4u]

Speaking from personal experience and having friends that also have fibroid issues, we will always be at risk for accidents, unless we're running to the bathroom for personal hygiene every 35-45mins. Menstrual flow for us is like hemorrhaging. I've tried the the Merina (IUD), and twice it spontaneously expelled itself. Maybe a Diva Cup (menstrual cup), and the new Always MAXI Pads Extra Heavy Overnight with Flexi Wings that have that bigger wider back part wrapped in light purple...