Tampons excruciatingly painful? (Obviously TMI)!

[ifyouaskedmeonamonday]

Is that normal? I haven’t ever been able to use them before without enormous difficulty (I’m 30) . Couldn’t use applicator ones at all (couldn’t work the applicator for whatever stupid reason) . Diagnosed with vaginismus a long time ago, never had it treated - was told it would improve by itself if I pushed past it . I can’t have eg smears though without strong pain relief and sedation .

Planned to go for a swim this afternoon so figured I’d be better using one and seeing how I got on - ie push past the pain - ouch, I was in agony . I managed to go for the swim but if I coughed or sat wrongly got a shooting pain and constant burning . Felt like I constantly had to grip onto it with pelvic floor muscles . Taking it out even worse, felt like I was going to pull out my insides with it .

I’ve got the GP on Monday and plan to mention this but is it maybe just normal? I feel stupid for not being able to do something most other women but maybe my vagina just isn’t meant to be used ?!

"Diagnosed with vaginismus a long time ago, never had it treated - was told it would improve by itself if I pushed past it ."

Who told you that? I hope the GP you see on Monday is better.
Order some dilators from Amazon unless your GP can source you some for free.
Definitely sounds like vaginismus to me and the dilators are the first step to treating it.

@Gwenhwyfar

"Diagnosed with vaginismus a long time ago, never had it treated - was told it would improve by itself if I pushed past it ."

Who told you that? I hope the GP you see on Monday is better.
Order some dilators from Amazon unless your GP can source you some for free.
Definitely sounds like vaginismus to me and the dilators are the first step to treating it.

It was the gynaecologist - they did provide dilators but they were solid plastic things and the lubricant gave me horrendous thrush so been a bit scared of trying again . The dilators used to be horrendously sore too, had to take cocodamol after as they caused period like pain . I’m a bit desperate for something to improve it though, would probably try anything to be honest .

I’ve never used tampons. I’ve never found them to be comfortable. Maybe I’ve not put them in deep enough. Have always used sanitary towels and very recently period pants, which I massively prefer.

I have endometriosis and get painful periods. I found that switching to a reusable cup massively improved my pain levels.

Vaginismus doesn't improve by itself, what idiot told you that!

The dilators do work but you may need to start literally with a Q-tip and work up incredibly slowly. Also do masses and masses of pelvic floor exercises.

@ThePontiacBandit

I have endometriosis and get painful periods. I found that switching to a reusable cup massively improved my pain levels.

They thought I had that tbh, I’ve got adhesions on my ovaries/colon that they couldn’t explain . Wonder if that’s why it’s so painful . It’s a pain deep inside as well as burning on the outside . The last time I had a smear without sedation I told GP that breaking my foot was less painful - it was, smear I would liken to the pain of having an impacted wisdom tooth removed . GP clearly thought I was mental but it is horrendously painful.

I’ll look up dilators online, probably better off if I can find a softer/more flexible set than the ones the NHS provide !

They are uncomfortable if they aren't in properly!

There’s a range of lubricants called Yes I think that are supposed to be good.

Of course it's not normal, but you've got vaginismus so that's why it hurts. You need to get that treated.

I can't use tampons since having my 2 children. I used them every month before that for years with no problem. Didn't use them in between child 1 and child 2 because periods didn't come back for a while and then I got pregnant again quickly. Tried again a few times since having child 2 and it's unbearable. I can feel it dig into me if I sit down, when I would hardly have noticed it was there before. Makes me wonder what on earth has happened down there!

@Ugzbugz

They are uncomfortable if they aren't in properly!

It could be that - that I’m just doing it wrong! Although I’m not sure how many ways there are to do it . Have thought about a cup but worried about spending a lot of money on something I maybe wouldn’t be able to use .

I’ll definitely mention it to the GP on Monday and see what she thinks, if there’s anything she can suggest to help . It can’t be that I’ve just to put up with it .

"It could be that - that I’m just doing it wrong!"

But you also find smears very painful so it's not likely that. Applicators help you get the tampon into the right place, but you can't use these either so it sounds more like it's the vaginismus.