Bad habits and how to break them...

Beyond the daily liners—which already have their own dedicated thread (so I’ll leave those alone)—I have some other bad habits I just can't seem to shake. One of them is sleeping with tampons🙄. Because my periods are so heavy, I should really be getting up multiple times a night to change a pad, which is just not happening😁. To avoid waking up with my husband (and occasionally the kids if they wander into my room) feeling like we're all swimming in blood, I just use a tampon (XL) plus a pad and try to make it until morning.

I know using tampons overnight isn't ideal, but I simply don't have the energy to give them up, even at night. While I was on maternity leave, I switched entirely to cotton pads—no tampons at all—and I even tried cutting out the daily liners. But as soon as I went back to work, I fell right back into my old routine.

Do you have any habits you know aren't great, but you just can't seem to quit? How do you deal with them?😁.

I’ve actually stopped sleeping with a tampon in, mostly because I’m just constantly worried about Toxic Shock Syndrome. A few times now, I’ve had these weird moments where I start feeling dizzy or my legs just go weak... and then, strangely enough, the feeling vanishes as soon as I take the tampon out. I honestly can't tell if it's all just in my head or if those were actual warning signs of TSS. Maybe I'm just overthinking it, I don't know.
I wouldn't say I have any majorly unhealthy habits, really. Though, I guess I might be a bit obsessive about washing my hands, and throughout the summer, I end up showering way more than necessary—sometimes just using lukewarm water without even using soap. Is that considered a habit? Or am I just being extra? I guess we'll see.

I don't really have any habits like the ones you listed, 😬 For instance, I’ll say it again: wearing tampons overnight? No way. A pad stays on the outside, which is much better.
My only "bad habit"—if you can even call it that—is using a liner during ovulation. There's just no chance I'm heading out to the mall, to campus, or anywhere else feeling like something is sticking to me... 😍

Here's a tip for those nights when your flow is heavy: try putting on a heavy-duty overnight pad right before bed. Wear some loose panties—we all have those "period panties" at home specifically for sleeping, right? 🙂 If you have an old pair of oversized boxers, throw them on over the underwear to keep everything secure. I know being too compressed isn't great, but give it a shot; it works for me.
Also, during those days, I try to limit my sleep to about 7 hours so nothing has a chance to leak... I manage to power through on much less sleep than usual, even though I'm a total sleep lover by nature. Usually, I need a solid 10 hours. :P

Are we talking about some kind of super-absorbent, mega-overnight pads now? 😁
I mean, seriously, how much could you possibly be leaking if those heavy-duty, extra-long overnight ones aren't doing the job? 😕

mistydrifter55 said:So, we're talking about "extreme-duty" overnight pads now? 😁
I find it hard to believe you're dealing with enough flow that even those heavy-duty, extra-long overnight ones can't handle it.😕

I don't quite get it either—having to change a pad multiple times while you're actually lying down sounds exhausting.
Personally, my flow seems to taper off once I finally settle in for the night.😕 🤷

The first two or three days are always a total bloodbath for me. Back when I was a teenager, I used to wear overnight pads and they worked perfectly. Nowadays? There is zero chance I'm sleeping in those. For a while, my little one was waking up four or five times a night, so I used to switch products mid-sleep. Now, I just can't face it—the kid sleeps much better now, but I get so exhausted during the day that I just want a peaceful night's sleep without the hassle. I'm currently in the process of getting prescribed birth control, so I'm hoping that finally puts an end to this cycle.

Yes, I am inclined to agree that you will handle that situation with remarkable composure.

As for everything else—I simply could not bring myself to sleep with a tampon, for a multitude of reasons. I absolutely loathed Always; their overnight varieties, which they claim stretch from "belly button to backside," were constantly absorbing everything. I made a point of securing them with the tightest underwear possible, but even then, the back end of the 🙂 would eventually disintegrate, so now I just opt for short cotton shorts.
Before I started on the pill, getting out of bed was an ordeal; taking two Advil on an empty stomach before bed might actually allow me to sleep until morning, and when I did finally rise, I had to move with extreme caution—just bracing myself with my hands and practically rolling onto the floor to sprint toward the bathroom. I usually laid a towel underneath me just to mitigate the mess.
The issue arose a few times when I woke up too late, stood up, and everything just ran down my legs. It was disgusting.

My only suggestion would be to try it and perhaps learn to tolerate a stained towel... though I truly cannot say. Mirena sounds like your best bet for now.

There are also those period panties with a plastic liner on the outside that really help keep everything held together—maybe you could give those a shot while you wait for Mirena to kick in.

Sometimes I just sleep in thongs, 🤷

It’s the same deal with tampons—I’ll wear one through the night, even if my flow isn't particularly heavy, because quite frankly, I can't stand pads; they feel absolutely intolerable to me. Since my first period back when I was about thirteen or fourteen, I've stuck strictly to tampons, whether it's during the day, at night, or whenever the situation calls for it...

On other nights when the flow is lighter, I’ll actually take the tampon out before heading to bed, and while I might feel "full" by the time morning rolls around, I just tense up my muscles and make a dash for the restroom, and I never end up with even a single drop on my underwear 🙂

I suspect most people here probably share these exact same struggles 😁

Elizabeth Jackson64 said:Like, using a pad during ovulation? No way am I heading out to meet friends, going to campus, or being anywhere if I feel like I've got something sticking to my underwear... 😍

I’m right there with you on this one.😍

I used to sleep without any underwear just so everything could "breathe" down there 😂 but I stopped doing that once I realized it wasn't actually doing anything for me

Plus, my OB-GYN gave me a pretty stern warning against using tampons.🙂

I was sleeping with a tampon in, and it just snapped on me. 😳

hiddenscout362 said:I used to go😍

I used to sleep without underwear so everything could just "breathe," but I stopped once I realized it wasn't really practical.😂

Plus, my OB-GYN was very strict about avoiding tampons.🙂

Right?👍

Sleeping without underwear is healthy—assuming you aren't on your period—just to let things breathe.

Personally, I wouldn't dream of sleeping with a tampon, especially if I end up drinking too much... You aren't supposed to wear them for more than 3-4 hours according to the instructions. They should be changed every 3 hours, so wearing one for 7 or 8 hours while you sleep is out of the question.😲
No way.

It's better to just wear underwear. Even if you layer up with boxers or use a towel like stormymaker24 suggested.😉

Wearing a tampon overnight—it’s just not great for you...
You didn't mention which brand you're using, so I can't really get a sense of what we're dealing with here.🤷

First off, I’ve been sleeping totally naked for years now. Doesn't matter if it's the middle of a heatwave or freezing outside—I love that feeling 😍
of soft blankets and sheets directly against my skin... plus that summer breeze feels so good 😁

Also, am I the only one who deals with nighttime leaks?🤷 When I'm on my period, I'll switch to wearing just cotton panties, mostly just as a backup in case anything hits the mattress. But honestly, when I wake up in the morning, my underwear is usually bone dry and clean; I don't even realize there was a leak until I head to the bathroom. Then I just hop in the shower and pop in a tampon. I'm strictly a tampon girl—pads or liners just aren't my thing, and I've never used them.

Honestly, it doesn't matter which pad I use; there's just too much blood. I feel like I should be changing my protection throughout the night—especially during those first three days—but I just can't bring myself to do it.

Anyway, I went in for some swabs yesterday. My plan is to get the Mirena IUD inserted during my next period, assuming everything goes smoothly and I don't deal with any side effects. Then, I'll finally have one less thing to worry about.🙂.

Really heavy bleeding can actually be tied to having low iron levels...
Have you had a chance to get your blood work done yet?
I honestly think getting a Mirena would be a total game-changer for you..☕

My daily sin—just constant waste... ugh, I've got way too much discharge and it’s honestly gross when my underwear feels damp and soaked😱

Elizabeth Jackson64 said:you aren't supposed to wear tampons (per the instructions) for even 3 or 4 hours, let alone 7 or 8 while you sleep😲

Look, I'm sorry, but that’s just plain wrong. Honestly, I’d be more than happy to scan the actual instructions on the box to show you exactly how long they're meant to be worn.

I don't really do tampons... I didn't even bother with them back when my flow was absolutely intense 😁 just pads. These days it's a bit lighter, so pads work fine for me... though, sure, on the second or third day it can get a little heavy, and then I just can't help myself—I'll throw on the tightest pair of underwear I own just to make sure everything stays in place.

But my real habit is washing "down there" way too many times a day, and honestly, I tend to overdo it quite often. Especially if I'm home for a while. I don't know, I guess it might have something to do with my headspace...

Daily pads are constantly 🙈
I just can't get enough help

When it comes to pads, I only stick with Victoria's Secret—that plastic feeling from Tampax honestly irritates me both mentally and physically
I used to have really heavy flows too, where I’d leak even in the middle of the night... so I’d end up wearing two overnight pads at once just to feel somewhat secure 🤣
And I'd tuck a big towel, folded in half, right underneath me
Since I always sleep on my side, it didn't leak all the time, but when it did, it was a total flood... so then I'd have to deal with the towel soaking everything up, and yeah, it was just a whole thing
As for tampons, I absolutely can't stand them. I'll buy a box every few years if I absolutely have to, but I really only use them if I'm at the beach—I'll pop one in, swim for a bit, and then rush straight home to take it out and switch back to a pad