LymeNet Flash: Question for Woman Only...

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Posted by Lymied (Member # 6704) on :

If you are a man you had fair warning

So, fellow female Lyme sufferers...Is it safe to use Tampons? I just worry with Toxic Shock Syndrome that when I am not on antibiotic therapy taking a break that there is a greater chance of TSS...or is TSS caused by a specific kind of bacteria and not lyme...that must be it since there are many different bacteria.

Anyway, I want to start using Tampons again and just needed some info.

Thanks!

Posted by minoucat (Member # 5175) on :

There's a nice, unbiased writeup about it at http://kidshealth.org/teen/sexual_health/girls/tss.html

Basically, TSS is a common staph infection gone wrong. I haven't heard of it being associated with anything other than staph, but hey, what do I know.

Tampon technology has improved, as has info about safer usage (change frequently, don't use the superabsorbant kind).

I'm always a little more concerned about these types of infections in us Lymies, because of our immune system problems. Might be a good question for your doc -- do Lymie women who use tampons get more infections? (there are problems other than TSS, like yeast).

So I guess the answer is, sanitary napkins are always (Always, geddit?) safest, but you should read the info, talk to the doc, and make your own decisions from there.

Posted by TheCrimeOfLyme (Member # 4019) on :

I dont think wearing tampons has anything to do with lyme, or could affect it. Then again, I have found wheaties in my cheerios, so I could be wrong.

On a personal note, Im not a tampon wearing kinda girl, so I'd really have no knowledge of this to begin with.

Posted by Lymied (Member # 6704) on :

Thanks you two - I am not a tampon wearing kind of girl either - I figure if it is flowing out why stop it up...sorry for the image.

I am just going to be taking a class in Massage Therapy and well at this point have no choice...;(

I am going to use the all natural cotton kind because I think a lot of the others are filled with bleach and other stuff that just isn't good for us.

Thanks for weighing in here - and for the article - Anyone else have info too?

Posted by okie lyme (Member # 7130) on :

Don't have to deal with this any more thak God~~

but I do notice the "cheapie" panti liners I use, in case I ~~uh~~~ cough or laugh!

seem to give me a bit of a rash. There's some at General Dollar that come in a blue box for 1.00 that are fine it seems. bleached material like coffee filters maybe?? I do use the unbleached filters either

[This message has been edited by okie lyme (edited 11 April 2005).]

Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :

I don't have that problem anymore thanks to lyme....but when I did, I used tampons exclusively. [Had Lyme the whole time....never a problem with TSS]

How can you stand NOT to use tampons? Yeacch!

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oops!
Lymetutu

Posted by JillF (Member # 5553) on :

Same here.

Could not live w/out being able to use tampons.

I have not had a problem yet. Probably have had Lyme for more than 5 yrs now...

Posted by achey (Member # 6284) on :

I've used tampons since my second cycle...a long time ago. I've had LD since abt that time too, or longer.

No problems with tampons. I do prefer that unbleached cotton ones. I do have problems with any femine hygiene products that have bleaches, deodorant, or other fragerances.....And those pads with that plasticy sort of dri-weave stuff.

Posted by Lymied (Member # 6704) on :

Thanks for all of your replies. I will use them without paranoia that I am going to get sick.

I wear them when I am working out, etc... but otherwise when I wear them I feel abdominal discomfort more readily and just feel like things aren't quite right. So I usually use them back and forth with pads. And yes, Yuck! but I know a lot of people with endometriosis and wonder if it isn't attributable to the use of tampons...

Thanks!

Posted by burnbitter (Member # 7088) on :

quote:
Originally posted by okie lyme:
Don't have to deal with this any more thak God~~
but I do notice the "cheapie" panti liners I use, in case I ~~uh~~~ cough or laugh!
seem to give me a bit of a rash.

Are you allergic to latex? most of those things have latex either in them or in the adhesive.

Posted by Mo (Member # 2863) on :

I wore them for years till my late 20's, and then got into a "let it flow out" mindset when I became more alternative minded..a holistic practitioner made sense explaining the why's to me..
that came before Lyme, so having nothing to do with Lyme..
I feel like the 'period' is more cleansing that way. Personal preference.
It seemed to make a difference in my case.

With Lyme, I guess I feel the more open pathways there are, the better.

[This message has been edited by Mo (edited 11 April 2005).]

Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Lymied:
....but I know a lot of people with endometriosis and wonder if it isn't attributable to the use of tampons...

You know what I think? I think endometriosis is caused by Lyme. Just my opinion. I had a severe case of it and have had Lyme since I was a child.

My severely painful periods began when I was about 19 and continued until my hysterectomy at age 39.

LYME.......just my humble opinion

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oops!
Lymetutu

Posted by okie lyme (Member # 7130) on :

Are you allergic to latex? most of those things have latex either in them or in the adhesive

hhhmmm~~~~
not that I know of, but who knows!!!
Having gloves on my hands doesn't seem to bother, but then I don't need them for hours at a time!! lololo
Good idea to check out though! Thanks!

Posted by Aniek (Member # 5374) on :

Why wouldn't endometriosis be caused by Lyme? I mean in some people at least. It causes joint pain, muscle pain, tendon pain, nerve pain, etc.

Posted by Lymied (Member # 6704) on :

Thank you all for your answers...and yes, I am starting to think endometriosis could be caused by lyme too. I have a friend up in MASS with really bad endometriosis. Interesting that some of you chimed in and feel that it could be caused by lyme.

I also met a woman recently that I think my have lyme and coinfections. She has a ton of chronic illnesses and I just have a premonition.

Anyway, thanks again. I wore the tampons this week and it was not a problem and a relief on many levels.

Posted by Robin61 (Member # 5470) on :

Mo, i agree with your holistic practioner and while i am an ex endometriosis sufferer i am now getting it back again not sure if it is lyme related or not. But my ob said if you have endo not to wear tampons and there is a chemical in them called dioxin that is linked to endo and also the back flow from tampons can cause it as well. I only wear them now if i am going for a workout class and afterwards they are back out. Gross i know but it has helped not wearing them, Robin in Houston