[SAFESPACE] Woman Thread - All Things Women. Period.

[meridian]

Magic Wand ftw?

Pretty much.

[Роберт]

Copay for my birth control is $30 .

Is that legal?

I thought preventative care had to be no additional cost these days. Well, in the U.S. and most European countries, anyway.

[PictureSarah]

It's legal for the moment. Newly issued insurance plans beginning on or after August 1, 2012 must cover all Food and Drug Administration-approved contraceptives at no cost. Newly issued plans created before August 2012 have one full plan year to comply with the new law. My insurance plan went into effect on 01/01/2012, so I'm guessing that the free birth control won't kick in until November, which is when the open enrollment period for my insurance provider happens.

[Роберт]

It's legal for the moment. Newly issued insurance plans beginning on or after August 1, 2012 must cover all Food and Drug Administration-approved contraceptives at no cost. Newly issued plans created before August 2012 have one full plan year to comply with the new law. My insurance plan went into effect on 01/01/2012, so I'm guessing that the free birth control won't kick in until November, which is when the open enrollment period for my insurance provider happens.

Ah... I'm sorry. My company must have voluntarily made the switch earlier than it had too.

[eaglewings51]

Re: Pirate.

I think that corset could be very piratey. I'm pretty sure I've seen pictures of female pirates wearing what look like corsets over the top of their blouses. If you search "female pirate" on google images, pretty much all the results have a corset-type top or, at least, something laced up that looks sort of like a corset.

eg:

Spoiler:

I think if you wore it with either a loose flowy peasant type blouse underneath with leggings and boots. Or with a long loose skirt and boots, I think it would look very much like a pirate.

[doogly]

I think this image of piracy has a lot more to do with Disney* than with piracy though. I'd go more flowy than corsety.

Mary Read and Anne Bonney, fuck yeah.

*or that extremely entertaining high budget porn, simply known as Pirates. Good shit.

[sophyturtle]

I don't know if you have seen this yet, but there is this website with bodies. I like it. It is just pictures of bodies. Of real people.
I admit, I just signed up and put up 3 pictures. I am like that.

[cephalopod9]

Copay for my birth control is $30 .

Daang, mine's $19 (which my parent's cover), and I'm already pissed at folks scoffing at the cost of hormonal birth control.

Also, I had my ultrasound, but I haven't got the results back yet. It think it was easier than the last one I had. I remember having to drink more water*, and it taking longer. This time I also got to look at the screen, which I probably wasn't supposed to do, because now I want to google what things are supposed to look like. It was kind of neat seeing her label stuff.
I had the external kind of ultrasound, but my doctor also signed me up for the transvaginal kind. The technician didn't think it was necessary, so I didn't have it done. I think I could have handled it alright, but it didn't look like a fun thing to do. (I'm kind of wondering how many vagina's are 10 inches deep, that this is the standard size of the instrument).
I've had a pap-smear, which wasn't bad, although uncomfortable, and the annoying part was when the doctor got impatient with me for flinching.

*oh yeah, I remember it was 8 cups, instead of the 6 it was this time, because I was thinking I had to drink a full day's worth of water in about half an hour and that was a bother. Then I got sent out to drink another cup of water even though I was ready to pee myself.

[semicharmed]

Copay for my birth control is $30 .

Daang, mine's $19 (which my parent's cover), and I'm already pissed at folks scoffing at the cost of hormonal birth control.

Mine was $10/month back in 2008/2009 for the Nuvaring, but also on my dad's excellent stage govm't insurance. And then a relationship ended at the same time the co-pay jumped to $15/month and so I decided it wasn't worth it.

*oh yeah, I remember it was 8 cups, instead of the 6 it was this time, because I was thinking I had to drink a full day's worth of water in about half an hour and that was a bother. Then I got sent out to drink another cup of water even though I was ready to pee myself.

I almost peed on the table the last time I had an ultrasound; the tech had a student/trainee with her, and I was instructed to drink water beforehand, and then she pressed the wand on my bladder. I don't think I've ever run to the bathroom as quickly when she was done.

[Angua]

If you don't do it with a full bladder, you can't really see anything. The bladder helps push the uterus up (or is it intestines out of the way)? Either way, it makes things a lot easier. At the doctor's office we generally had the patients drink a 750ml bottle of water before they went in for it.

Also, I don't think I've ever had an ultrasound where they didn't let you look at the screen.

[suffer-cait]

mine is $10, but i used to know a girl whose BC was 45$

[semicharmed]

If you don't do it with a full bladder, you can't really see anything. The bladder helps push the uterus up (or is it intestines out of the way)? Either way, it makes things a lot easier. At the doctor's office we generally had the patients drink a 750ml bottle of water before they went in for it.

Yeah, I know the first bit, it's just really hard to remember when you're laying on the table, pants unbuttoned/pushed down, panties scrunched down and your bladder is screaming 'neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed to peeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee' and the tech is pressing the wand into your full bladder.

Although, I have to say, weirdest ultrasound I've ever had was the one they did of my head. Same jelly, same wand but ON MY HEAD. It was like they were checking me for head-babies. Instead of for malformed vessels/spasms in my head and neck.

[cephalopod9]

I also understood the reasoning for it, but had to drink twice as much water as that (6 cups is about 1.4 liters, and 8 cups about 1.9).

Oh dang, it is some period times!
I am unsatisfied with the information google is able to bring me on dealing with sever menstrual cramps. Herbal tea, exercise, and heating pads are all reasonable suggestion that are mostly at least kind of helpful. But "think happy thoughts and don't eat any of the foods that are enjoyable" does not feel proportionate to the amount of pain I am feeling. (so far, it's only bad in spells, and I let myself get a smidge dehydrated, which makes everything worse, but that's better now.)
I can't find much on what kind of exercise is good either, except for unhelpfully vague things like "yoga and stretching". Squatting down and deep breaths help, I don't know if that's "exercise".

Also, can they be easy exercises? Because I would much rather stay in bed and read awesome tumblrs. (the navigation arrows aren't working for me, but if you add /page/# to the end of the url, you can get to the older pages)

[Angua]

I vaguely remember a pamphlet we got in highschool that suggest standing against the wall (sort of leaning on your forearms) and thrusting your hips at it (ideally every day) to help strengthen the muscles somehow. The idea was that as your uterus doesn't do anything for the rest of the month, when it actually has to do some exercise, it freaks out. We certainly laughed at the pictures demonstrating it, as it was a small class and we were all lucky enough not to get bad cramps. I don't know if it's actually medically sound though.

My obs/gyn book (sadly, it's one of those thin ones, so just has highlights) also suggests starting NSAID pain killers just prior to when Shark Week starts, if Shark Week is regular enough to do that (obviously you don't want to build up a resistance by starting too early).
Obviously go to a doctor if it is too bad and if possible.

[eaglewings51]

I don't get bad cramps usually but for the first 24 to 36 hours, I have a discomfort in my lower abdomen that is annoying more then painful. So maybe this advice won't help you.

If I'm sitting, after about ten minutes, it starts to be uncomfortable so I stand up and am fine for about ten minutes in that position and then have to sit again so the discomfort will go away. This just keeps the muscles moving so I'm not too long in one position. I also find stretching like you're doing the limbo works well. Also bending over as if to touch your toes (you don't need to go all the way to the floor). Anything that just stretches and/or flexes my lower abdomen area seems to work well for me.

I had an ultrasound on my breast once because I had a lump that I was getting checked out. For that, you don't have to drink water because it won't do any good. I was expecting it to be cold but it was actually really warm gel.

[cephalopod9]

There is an extent to which just moving around will help, and bending my back backwards also feels good.

My obs/gyn book (sadly, it's one of those thin ones, so just has highlights) also suggests starting NSAID pain killers just prior to when Shark Week starts, if Shark Week is regular enough to do that (obviously you don't want to build up a resistance by starting too early).
Obviously go to a doctor if it is too bad and if possible.

I sort of did that this time, I had some low level cramping
the day before things got started, and started on the ibuprofen then. 400-600mg doses of that got me through most of day 1, but an hour or two ago the cramps started cutting through, and I also took a benadryl tablet because I don't think the two have interactions and I felt like being sleepy. There's only a few moments here and there where I'm still feeling it.
Might resort to the vicodin I got left from my wisdom tooth extraction.

standing against the wall (sort of leaning on your forearms) and thrusting your hips at it (ideally every day) to help strengthen the muscles somehow.

Is this facing towards, or away from the wall? Because the leaining-sort-of-push-ups exercise worked a little bit.

Also, I have an appointment at a women's health center in about 3 weeks. So I will be seeing a doctor about this stuff.

[Angua]

You face towards the wall, and thrust your hips forwards.

[PAstrychef]

Then you take a jump to the left and a step to the right.

[meridian]

I have officially given up on my nuvaring. I just couldn't jam that stupid thing into my dry vagina one more time today, after having to adjust it a number of times per day as it just would. not. stay. up. This will likely mess up my cycle, but I will just use this impetus to get an appointment for a mirena. Whee. Yay for having insurance.

[AnnaArmour]

Does anyone else feel like they're more prone to nosebleeds during shark week? Maybe it's just my imagination.

[cephalopod9]

I don't get many nose bleeds, but it's possible. There was at least one instance where I got a nose bleed during a period heavy enough to make me wonder at how there was enough blood still in my body to be coming out my nose...

Another question, what's the best way to deal with a stomach ache from taking a lot of ibuprofen(/NSAIDs)? I know I'm supposed to take 'em with food and water, and not take too many, but that's been less than perfect, and the period times have been kinda rough on my guts too.
I haven't found a way to pose this question to google that doesn't just get me "yes, NSAIDs can cause stomach pain".
I have some pepto tablets I've been taking, and I think I read something about ant-acids being a good idea.

[Plasmic-Turtle]

Does anyone else feel like they're more prone to nosebleeds during shark week? Maybe it's just my imagination.

Yes. Definitely. I get this too.

[Fractal_Tangent]

Thankfully my pill is free due to NHS being lovely. But I can totally sympathize with people who have to pay. My pill is like a godsend because I had the heaviest period and the worst cramps out of anyone I knew. The pill that I'm on has stopped my periods completely. It feels pretty annoying to know that many women have to pay for the luxury of not being in pain for however long every month.

I remember a female representative from a sanitary towel company coming to the all-girls school that I went to for secondary school and told us about periods and things and told us that:
1. It wouldn't be very heavy
2. It "might" be uncomfortable, for a little while and soaking in a bath would make everything go away.

I want to find this woman and tell her that I am at the very least, unhappy with her.

[PictureSarah]

As far as keeping ibuprofen and the like from hurting one's stomach - I usually try to drink a glass of milk with my Advil or Tylenol when I know I won't be taking one with food. The milk helps prevent the stomach pain by coating the lining of your stomach. I've heard that milk can cause your stomach to produce more acid as well, though, so if you're feeling heartburny already, it's probably a bad idea.

[Sprocket]

I woke up and did the whole, masturbate so I feel like getting out of bed thing, with a vibrator, and I started getting muscle contraction and stuff and it was enjoyable and then it sort of stopped at a high point, and my body wanted more and wanted to get back up there, but it was also over sensitive and deflated so I was sort of not going very hard on it, then I waited a bit and tried again for awhile and it was intense and fun but too intense to really get anywhere, so now that I'm done and showered and dressed my body would still like to cum and I get hit with these waves of exhaustion every so often like I'm coming down with something almost. I feel like my nerves are shot and I'm definitely kind of stressed and on edge feeling.

[flintlockpistols]

ugh, I'm almost finished with shark week. this month has literally been the worst when it comes to cramping and stuff.

what ticks me off, though, is that my mom won't let me take birth control to make Shark Week less yucky. She said something about it messing up my body, but w/ever. I'm just sick of bleeding on everything.

Any tips on perhaps persuading her into letting me take some form of bc? Or should I just wait until I move out and do whatever the hell I want?

[Fractal_Tangent]

Any specific reason? What specifically about messing up the body?

[Cassi]

How old are you and where do you live? I just went to the doctor myself when I wanted to go on the pill, but that's a lot easier with the NHS when I didn't have to worry about paying for anything (and also I was 18 and not that far off going to uni anyway, so probably a bit different).

Maybe try taking your mum with you to speak to a doctor though, and the three of you discuss your options?

[ShortChelsea]

RE: Birth control costs: Mine's free at my health department, but before I found the health department it was so expensive I couldn't pay for it. I hate it when people tell me about how affordable birth control is.

[cephalopod9]

I've been thinking about all the things a person can buy with $20 a month, like a gym membership, a weekly coffee drink, or a decent pair of shoes*. I also got kind of a suspicion that the same people who say it's really important ladies don't get any help paying for birth control, would also tell poor folks to cut back on the little things and penny pinch.

As far as keeping ibuprofen and the like from hurting one's stomach - I usually try to drink a glass of milk with my Advil or Tylenol when I know I won't be taking one with food. The milk helps prevent the stomach pain by coating the lining of your stomach. I've heard that milk can cause your stomach to produce more acid as well, though, so if you're feeling heartburny already, it's probably a bad idea.

There are actually a lot of times when my stomach is not quite steady and I want to drink a whole bunch of milk. I've yet to figure out if that's reasonable or if it's a psychological thing.
Although, I was sort of looking more for things to do after the fact, in the event that I do mess up my stomach.
It's more for future reference though, because this period seems to be stopping at day 3**, and either I got better at stuffing myself with food at the appropriate times, or aspirin is just bothering me less at this time.

*or maybe more like a good pair of shoes in two months. I wear children's sizes so my estimates might be a little low, but I think there are still places that have wearable shoes for around $20, or at least on sale days...
**I screwed around with my dosing schedule just a little, to end it 3 days early last time

[flintlockpistols]

Any specific reason? What specifically about messing up the body?

I don't know, she won't say. I think she might not be comfortable with the idea of me taking it.

How old are you and where do you live? I just went to the doctor myself when I wanted to go on the pill, but that's a lot easier with the NHS when I didn't have to worry about paying for anything (and also I was 18 and not that far off going to uni anyway, so probably a bit different).

Maybe try taking your mum with you to speak to a doctor though, and the three of you discuss your options?

I'm 14 and in Kansas. I remember from sex ed that we can go to the doctor and get it without parental permission, but my mom'd find out and get upset. D:

Thanks, though!

[meridian]

Any specific reason? What specifically about messing up the body?

I don't know, she won't say. I think she might not be comfortable with the idea of me taking it.

How much research/literature have you presented your mother with? Sometimes, people can get hung up on rumors about things and will feel better about medications/treatments if they have proof and statistics.

As for it being harmful, introducing a chemical into your body to alter or correct your hormonal balance will have side effects. They are carefully studied and warnings are listed on websites, presented by doctors when giving a prescription, and often on the packaging itself. Warnings for the kind I use(d) include migraines and blood clotting, along with the potential for encouraging bladder and kidney infections. Some people are just plain allergic to it, too.

Yes, for the most part, these medications are safe. The USFDA regulates them to make sure these warnings are known, but also that the risk of these side effects are negligible enough for daily dosage. Doing the research and providing your mom with information on these side effects will also help you know what you should be watching for, should she allow you to take these prescriptions.

(edit to avoid double posting)

Spoiler:

Yay! Bleedings! I am on track for my double whammy annual checkup/IUD insertion on the 27th. Now if my vagina would stop being post-NuvaRing irritated, I will be a happy fey.

[Hofstadter'sLaw]

Frustrated! >_<

Been trying to find the perfect sports bra brand for the past year (I just wear sports bras as my regular bra). My old sports bras were too small (the band rides up in the back, if I try to straighten it the band rides up in the front) and the bands are stretched out enough to move and feel loose.

Finally found the perfect replacements and wore one today. Felt comfortable, and the band didn’t ride up my back and was snug enough to not move.

Got a weird feeling in my chest/throat though. (No pain. Not sure how to describe it. Feels similar to some virus I had last year that I needed an inhaler to take care of.) I took the bra off and put on an old one, and still have the weird feeling now (a few hours later).

Anyone else experience that before? I’m not sure if it happened because I suddenly started wearing a bra that was snug instead of too loose, and maybe it’s something that will go away as I get used to it. Or if it’s something else that just happened to occur the same day I wore the new bra.

[poxic]

I vote for coincidence. To do the science, wear an old bra tomorrow and see if anything changes. If you're still feeling virusy, it probably wasn't the bra.

[Angua]

And even if you're not feeling virusy, give it a couple of days, then try the sports one again.

[Angua]

I have a dark blue/black denim jacket. However, the only 'casual' trousers I have are blue jeans/ black jeans and some sweat pants (black, green and purple). I need something to wear with my jacket, because at the moment, nothing else seems to work (except possibly the black yoga pants, but then I don't have pockets).

Any advice?


Below is the jacket (from when I did just go with blue jeans because I couldn't be bothered). It looks less blackish in the picture than sitting in my room

Spoiler:

[Virtual_Aardvark]

Denim jackets are good with skirts and dresses usually?

[Angua]

I don't have any.... I guess I might have to get around to changing that.

[Shro]

Picture! For ideas.

from this article:
http://achiccritique.com/2010/09/resurr ... s-jackets/

[Angua]

Might try and find some trousers that would work them. I liked the look further down the page in the light brown trousers.