Sunday, May 08, 2005
Size matters
At my gynecologist appointment last month, I asked if it would be possible to get a diaphragm. She said sure; we could do a fitting right away. There are, apparently, 5 standard sizes for diaphragms, and to fit you for one, they start with the middle size and work up or down from there. So she started by trying to fit me with the M. Then the S. Then the XS. Turns out my cervix is so small, no diaphragm will fit me. But, she assured me, this will not affect my fertility. (Like it's my fertility that worries me about having a small cervix, not the 5-letter L word.)
To add injury to insult, well, let's just say that having a pap smear as well as three succesive attempted insertions of overlarge diaphragms can leave one with a somewhat uncomfortable sensation for the rest of one's day.
This blog's discussion of menstrual cups is certainly interesting, but I fear that it may prove purely academic for folks like myself. I added the links people suggested to the sidebar, by the way.
To add injury to insult, well, let's just say that having a pap smear as well as three succesive attempted insertions of overlarge diaphragms can leave one with a somewhat uncomfortable sensation for the rest of one's day.
This blog's discussion of menstrual cups is certainly interesting, but I fear that it may prove purely academic for folks like myself. I added the links people suggested to the sidebar, by the way.
Tuesday, May 03, 2005
If my mother ever reads this post, I'm a dead woman
My grandmother had a really impressive collection of costume jewelry. It felt like she had a beaded necklace, pin, and set of earrings for every outfit she ever owned, not to mention all of the secret society jewelry she accrued, both as a member of Eastern Star, etc., and as the wife of a 33rd degree Mason, Shriner, member of the Rotary, etc. This collection was divided up among four granddaughters. Her two daughters in law might also have some. My sister and I both have a mason jar full of beaded necklaces, enough pins to fill a shadow box, and a whole bag of other jewelry.
One of the necklaces in my collection is spectacular. It's two strands, with big huge round beads in the middle. Many shades of cream, rose, and pale mauve. Gold spacers, and big wacky beads of gold, cream, white, and black.
I've been wanting to wear it forever, but wanted to have a jeweler inspect the string first, because it is half a century old. I also meant to take some digital photos first, in case it needed to be restrung, so it could be returned to its exact arrangement.
This morning, on an impulse, I wore the necklace. I've gotten many compliments, and I was pleased that the necklace didn't overwhelm me with the aroma of Avon's Skin So Soft once it warmed up on my body, as happened to me the last time I wore one of the necklaces.
A few minutes ago, one of the strings broke. And as I listened to my grandmother's beads bouncing off the floor, rolling under my desk, and getting stuck in the cracks between floorboards, I remembered that I never did take that photo.
On the plus side, the string has black stains where the spacer beads went, so I can at least extrapolate the pattern based on the size of the unstained spaces. Also, a mechanical pencil with the lead pushed out about an inch makes a great tool for fishing tiny beads out of a keyboard. And, as a coworker pointed out, at least it broke in my office, and not on the subway or the sidewalk.
One of the necklaces in my collection is spectacular. It's two strands, with big huge round beads in the middle. Many shades of cream, rose, and pale mauve. Gold spacers, and big wacky beads of gold, cream, white, and black.
I've been wanting to wear it forever, but wanted to have a jeweler inspect the string first, because it is half a century old. I also meant to take some digital photos first, in case it needed to be restrung, so it could be returned to its exact arrangement.
This morning, on an impulse, I wore the necklace. I've gotten many compliments, and I was pleased that the necklace didn't overwhelm me with the aroma of Avon's Skin So Soft once it warmed up on my body, as happened to me the last time I wore one of the necklaces.
A few minutes ago, one of the strings broke. And as I listened to my grandmother's beads bouncing off the floor, rolling under my desk, and getting stuck in the cracks between floorboards, I remembered that I never did take that photo.
On the plus side, the string has black stains where the spacer beads went, so I can at least extrapolate the pattern based on the size of the unstained spaces. Also, a mechanical pencil with the lead pushed out about an inch makes a great tool for fishing tiny beads out of a keyboard. And, as a coworker pointed out, at least it broke in my office, and not on the subway or the sidewalk.
Cloth pads
I just thought this deserved its own thread. "S" wrote:
So, S, are you talking about something like Luna pads?
Hello!
I'm wondering if you are going to post any information on cloth menstual pads.
I went to my OB-GYN because every time I got my period, my vulva would become really irritated. He told me that I was probably allergic to my pads and that it's actually pretty common.
Once I started using cloth menstral pads, all that went away. And they are so much more comfortable.
Thanks!
So, S, are you talking about something like Luna pads?
