I am having a terrible time with my period and work

[Whengcame]

Basically I only have a small window of opportunity to go to the toilet and change my pad and I don't get that, that's it. I will often be wearing the same pad from morning time til night time. Often my work keeps me late too so it can be 8 or 9 or 10 at night by the time I am free instead of a 6 finish time. So often it's the one pad from the time I get up in the morning to nighttime. I have to wear maternity pads.

I am trying so hard with trying to change to a menstrual cup. I know gener3tgey can be 12 hours but if I wear one with a pad, I should get maybe 14 or 15 or 16 hours from the set up. I understand the folds but it's just not going in for me.

I'm having a bad time. I got ready this morning. I went to the toilet at 2 but there was some bit h banging on the door so I wasn't even allowed a few minto do my business and change. By the time I went to the toilet again at 7pm the pad was soaked through.

I hate my fucking life and now. Why is it so hard to allow someone a few minutes in a day. This is happening so many times.

[Thestagshead]

What do you mean a crackpot hanging off your arm? Please tell me you are not referring to a patient?

[Mol1628]

@MuggleMe

Surely once you're in the cubicle you stay til you're sorted even if someone's banging theyre not going to open it and haul you out? Anyway, what about period pants with your pad?

That’s what I don’t get. How are they stopping people?

[MuggleMe]

Surely once you're in the cubicle you stay til you're sorted even if someone's banging theyre not going to open it and haul you out? Anyway, what about period pants with your pad?

[RestlessMillennial]

Where's Jason when we need him eh? Lol

[tonightelmowillrise]

@Whengcame

A pee is fine. You go to the toilet, drop your pants and go. It's over within a minute.

With a period, you have to walk to the locker room and get a pad from your bag, and fuck me if that's allowed. That's far too much time. Never mind if you are a dripper and you drip period blood onto the toilet seat and floor, fuck me if I'm allowed time to wipe up the stall.

A pee is fine, anything more than a pee and it's literally go fuck yourself.

right. put a pad in your pocket or bra. changing a pad takes no longer than the time it takes to pee so…

[L1ttledrummergirl]

No. Stop op. Periods are the least of your work problems.
Ny advice, join a union, read up on your rights, especially with regard to uninterrupted breaks, and read your contract. Make a stand and take your entitlement. If interrupted then start your break again, just tell the person interrupting you how long you have left and ask if they are sure they want your break to be stopped as you will be restarting when you've finished the job.

Your employer is taking the piss.

[Mol1628]

@30hourschildcare

I literally couldn't cope with this. I get diarrhea with my periods too 🤦‍♀️

Me too. But I refer to it as ‘period poo’. Lovely isn’t it.

[30hourschildcare]

I literally couldn't cope with this. I get diarrhea with my periods too 🤦‍♀️

[keeprunning55]

If you can’t change jobs/go to the loo etc, I suggest wearing period pants. They’re blooming fantastic. I recommend m and s.

[cansu]

My son has had carers taking care of him for years. They have plenty of time to go to the loo and have breaks. There are loads of care jobs. You need to find a new one.

[Mol1628]

I think it’s in your hands to get this sorted. Don’t just let it happen to you. Advocate for your needs.

I’d persevere with the cup anyway, but there are different brands to try. I like the saalt cup.

[LondonLovie]

I'm probably being naive to your situation - but i would shout out "I'm on my period and I'm changing my sanitary towel, give me a minute". However, would that literally get your fired?

Otherwise when I have needed extra long protection for things in the passed, I wear a nighttime towel, with a super tampon. If you had the towel on with period pants you'd get: tampon 4 hours, then towel 4 hours and then period pants underneath 4 hours. So you'd get you 12 hours of protection.

But seriously it's in humane you can't just change your towel when you need!

[Munchyseeds2]

I'm assuming that you are not uk based??
Sorry if I'm wrong
I would just take the time I need to do what I have to do to be honest

[Chloefairydust]

I work in the care sector, and this is not normal or acceptable. You need to speak to your manager ASAP, you are legally entitled to a break on your shift. Probably 2 breaks if it’s 12 hour shifts. If your not even allowed to use the toilet on your break, look for another job. I assure you this is not the norm, even in the care sector.

Plus it’s really bad for your health, you could get UTI’s from not being allowed to use the toilet during your shift. Please do not accept this! I actually feel angry for you.

[rosael56]

@Whengcame

I only have a small window of opportunity to go to the toilet in the middle of my day but it has to be quick, if I don't get it, that's it. I will be allowed to go to the toilet, but likely I will have a crackpot hanging off my arm and no peace or privacy to do my business.

I'm trying really hard to figure out where you work that you have a "crackpot" hanging off your arm?!!

Can you use tampons? Put in a tampon and a pad at beginning of day, halfway through the day whip the tampon out and use the pad for the rest of the day. That's what I would do. Or as someone else said, put a spare pad in your pocket.

[AsterixInEngland]

I’d say period pants are the answer there.

And changing job :(:(

[naomi81]

Urm I would be talking to my manager about this, surely in this day and age this shouldn't be happening 🤨 they should be ashamed of themselves!

[FranklySonImTheGaffer]

OP can you clarify the kind of setting you work in? Care home?
Why can't you leave at the end of your shift? What would happen if you literally got to 6pm, said bye and went home?
Also, who is knocking on the door if you take more than a minute?

You know it's not ok that you aren't able to change your pad. If a cup isn't working for you, that's fine. Your workplace shouldn't be making that your only option.

If I were you, I would look at the options of talking to the boss / HR and clearly stating the issue as a first step.
If that fails, if you can get yourself signed off, do that and raise the issue when you come back. And look for another job!

[erikbloodaxe]

Put spare pads in the front of your pants or in your bra and wear period pants for extra protection.
Don't come out of the toilet until you have sorted yourself out. Ignore the banging on the door.

[chopc]

No way should you put up with this. Take this to management and if you don't get anywhere take it even higher (depending on if there is a higher) and if necessary to the press. This is AWFUL.

You should not tolerate this

[ShaneTwane]

Who is banging on the door?!

If its staff threaten to throw your mooncup in their face if they ever do it again.

If its a resident ignore them until you are done.

Report it, keep a document of it every time it happens. Contact cqc.

I used to do 12 hour shifts in a care home, under staffed busy af and i was still in fairness allowed to use the toilet for as long as necessary.

[GrowOneStrawberry]

I wouldn't give a toss. Someone could bang the door all they want. Id not be staying in a wet pad, probably smelling for no one!

[WaveyHair]

@Whengcame

I'm trying hard to get used to a cup but I am finding it impossible to insert. I understand the folds. It's not solid enough to insert. I really need to get a hold of this and do it again or get signed out of work.

Try different folds but choose a time when you are not under pressure. I got the hang of it and love mine but there is a learning curve! I rinse mine in water to help it slide in.

Another tip is that you can practice without been on your period if that helps.

putacupinit.com/ has tips and ideas

[MrsMontyD]

If you don't have a union and don't feel able to complain directly about your working conditions your options are to hand in your notice or call CQC and whistleblow anonymous.

Can you have a pad in your pocket or tucked into the back of your knickers (old clubbing trick) ?? I would personally let them bang (residents presumably) until I was done.

[JustAJokeLikeOnTopGear]

Aside from the bigger problem of terrible working practices, period pants would help. You wear the same pair all day so no need to visit your locker for supplies or do any changes at all.

Modi body are apparently the best but my cheeky wipes ones work great for me.