Long haul flight - disposable pants?

[Deliberatenamechange1]

Hi - I have a (very) long haul flight tomorrow night and am in the middle of my period. Also tend to have quite heavy periods. I really can’t face having to change multiple tampons or pads in some awful airplane loo. Has anyone tried wearing disposable pants in a similar situation and, if so, how long did you go without changing them?

In particular, Always now have Tenalady-style disposable pants specifically for periods (www.amazon.co.uk/Always-Overnight-Disposable-Underwear-Leakproof/dp/B08VCJS1MX) but just need some reassurance they won’t leak and I’m not being gross!

I would buy night time heavy flow pads and change each time you go to the loo. Changing a pad is easier than the alternatives.

Don't mess about with moon cups if you aren't used to them.

Period pants are great but if you haven't used them before you might not trust them and they would be more difficult to change.

I do use an incontinence pad for flights as they absorb far more but the kind you can replace if needed. (Lidl ones) the pants would be hard to change.

I've flown v long haul on many occasions and I'm not long returned from looking after an elderly relative who needed incontinence pads. I'd recommend you buy Tena Night pads, which can absorb a good half a pint of liquid and are spectacularly long: come almost up the navel and up around the bum. Not Tena pants: Tena night pads. Purple packet. If you were to wear period pants, a tampon and one of the Tena pads, I'm pretty sure you'd be bombproof.

I would far rather change a tampon or a pad in an aeroplane loo than remove clothing. Remember, even if you take your shoes off while you're sitting down, put them back on to go to the loo...

Pad in tena pants not stuck on. Taking the tena pants off in the tiny loo will require you to remove your shoes. Tena pants definitely work well. I was having really heavy flow while also sick with covid and could sleep all day safely.

I find incontinence pads hold a lot without the added worry of leaks and a pesky moving pad. If you are not bothered about that I would go for them.

Just to clarify, the idea of pants (rather than pads) is that they hold more (given some of them are made for full on incontinence), so I wouldn’t need to change them until I land and get to my hotel. Hence no need to faff with tampons or pads in some gross, wee covered airplane toilet.

For those who recommended disposable pants, do you have a go-to brand (either period specific or incontinence ones)?

I can't think of anything worse!

To be fair I have never tried the period ones. I find they are overpriced and so I buy either Tena or Aldi’s own brand at a fraction of the cost. It holds a lot but it’s bulkier than Tena

Are you ok with ibuprofen op? My gp told me that it will reduce flow....I opted for transexemic acid instead which has been amazing but it might be worth taking ibuprofen starting now.

I empty mine once in 24 hours, usually, sometimes twice. They come in different sizes so you can get a big one if you need (not necessarily mooncup brand, I have something else).

What are you planning to wear on the plane? If you're going to be trousers or a skirt with tights, you're going to have trouble changing Tena pants on a plane. You'll have to take your shoes off, your trousers or tights off and the pants off. If you're planning to travel in a skirt and bare legs on a long haul flight, I wouldn't. The temperature goes up and down and you could find it pretty chilly.

Much easier to use a Tena night time incontinence pad with a sticky back firmly in place in your usual knickers or period knickers.

Not sure you'd want to have tranexemic acid in your system on a long haul flight as it makes your blood clot more efficiently. Ibuprofen on the other hand is supposed to make periods lighter but is a blood thinner. I'm not a medic but have just been through a period of horrific fibroid bleeding..

OP I have the full proof list:

Ibroprofen as often as you're allowed.
Heavy flow period pants
A night time pad
Super flow tampon.

When tampon is full you have the pad or insert another tampon.

Good luck.

Oh yes - towel to sit on and dark trousers not your nicest summer dress like me!!!! Horrendous flood all over the dress and seat!!

Also I find it worse when sitting for long periods and all floods out so just make sure you stretch your legs.

I would love to do that, I've tried cups and discs and everything but I also have to empty every 2/3 hours

Also - on changing Tena type pants in the plane - don't you just rip them down the side seam? They're paper aren't they or the always ones are. So you could layer up with two pairs and take the inside ones off by ripping side seams mid flight leaving you the pristine outside pair for the rest of the way. No need to undress in the plane loo.

I cannot use tampons or a moon cup therefore, I need to use the pants at times due to bladder issues and during my period if travelling. I prefer the Always brand, I find them more comfortable. Another tip is to use some talc before wearing them. Have some sudocrem also as due to the plastic you can feel uncomfortable if you have not been able to change.

Period pants should work. Ibuprofen can reduce flow but airplanes tend to make it heavier…

Can't open the link, but I HIGHLU recommend the tena disposable full brief incontinence knickers, if it's that you're talking about. You want incontinence products not period products, because they are designed to hold a lot more liquid.

I had horrendous bleeds with an ovarian cyst, and somebody on a support Facebook group recommended these. Absolutely life changing! No worries about leaks overnight or while out and about at work, I would 100% wear one on a long haul flight.

If you have period pants you can wear them over the top of one of these for the extra reassurance of their waterproof layer, but they've literally never leaked on me, which says something.

Drink a ginger shot a day and take ibuprofen too, both can help lessen heavy bleeds.

(I use Tena brand)

Please don't use talc in your groin area unless it's a product that doesn't actually contain any talc (and even then...). Doing this is linked with ovarian cancer.

God just change pads/tampons in the toilet on the plane.... There's enough room, it's not worse than any other public toilets, and you can just wash your hands etc. You're going to be in a filthy airport, sitting in a chair that's been sat on by dozens of people, surrounded by dozens of people sniffing, coughing, touching seats/handles etc, so just use the toilet, it will be fine.

Why make it difficult?

This disposable pants are for urine/incontinence not blood products.

You can do this but 100% you won't need a second pair of tena layerd up (and it will feel too bulky to be comfortable). At my heaviest menhorragic bleed days I only got through 2 in 24 hours and could have gotten away with just the one if I needed to.

What I did do for a bit of extra absorbancy capacity when out and about (not needed in hindsight but for reassurance) was to use a sanitary towel inside the incontinence knickers. Then you can change that (several times if you want) and you've still got all of the capacity of the knickers.

These ones OP. You often get free coupons through the door for them. The problem with pads is they can leak via the wings.

tena silhouette pants noir

I'm not sure what point you're making.

And somebody with extensive experience, I can tell your that products designed for incontinence absorb much more than products designed for periods. And that this is a Very Good Thing when you're bleeding extremely heavily.