BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

Nice title. Forgive me for not attempting to read beyond that! :p

do any other women just feel like their legs do not work on certain days of their periods? Yes, although for me that improved in my 30s. In my late teens and 20s especially at the beginning of my period my legs would drag and my hands would drop things in a sudden painless spasm. I am curious about the Diva cup. Natural sponges are awesome and comfortable but you have to be able to clean your hands. They hold an amazing amount of fluid and you can just use dental floss to add a string (not the mint kind - ouch!).

Re: saddles for long distance. If anything could get me off my 'bents, it might be one of these. Warning: the video is a little creepy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wX52DTAUg0 http://www.selleanatomica.com/

Excellent! I'm curious about the Diva cup as well--I've heard reports of leakage, but maybe it just takes practice? I get that heavy legs feeling as well--for me it's all tied up with cramps, etc...which seem to be helped by a good ride IF I can drag myself out with the help of Ibuprofen.

Bicycle Times had a pretty thorough review of the GoGirl a while back. I sent this to Stef last week. http://www.bicycletimesmag.com/content/review-gogirl-female-assistant

I first heard about menstrual cups in 2006, when a pair of young women drove a tuk-tuk (3-wheeled vehicle) from Bangkok Thailand to Brighton UK, a 10,000-mile journey through the wilds of Laos, China, Kazakhstan, Russia, Poland, Germany, France, and eventually home to England [first post on their blog]. One of the pair used the UK equivalent, brand name Mooncup, and swore by it. I'm amazed that, even though male, I did not know these existed until I was in my late 40s. To this day, I have not found one on a drugstore shelf. I routinely find 120 different barcodes for menstrual products in a Target or Giant Eagle, but not a Diva or equivalent. To read their testimonials, it sounds like if they were better known and understood, they might help women deal with getting around by bike on heavy flow days. So, while I'm male, I do have a wife of 28 years and a 19yo daughter, and do take out the garbage, so it's not like I have zero experience with monthly cycles. It's just that I don't have them myself. Whatever that's worth.

I use the Keeper! It's like the Diva Cup. For me, I do find that it leaks a little so I use light-day pads with it. I don't often go on long rides, which is good because the pads would be an unacceptable option... know-what-I-mean? Ouch. If anyone has any question about using the Keeper day-to-day (not necessarily for long rides), let me know! Also, YES to the slow legs thing, and feeling slow in general during "ragtime."

I haven't read a word of this thread yet. I've only seen the title, realized instantly what this thread was, and proceeded to laugh nearly to the point of incontinence. Thank you, stefb, I needed that.

A couple of "Ragtime Girl" recordings on YouTube for you. One, a barbershop quartet from 1988; the other, the original, extremely scratchy Len Spencer cylinder recording from 1899. (You might want to skip forward to about 0:40.)

I dig the posts, Stu, but this is what comes to mind when I read the title of this thread: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRnX4quv5W4

Jay, that is what I had in mind when I made the title.

http://youtu.be/H0ePMb7um9E or this.

Stef, the alien from Spaceballs was totally what I thought of too. My $0.02 is this: I had lots of problems with horrible cramps, heavy periods, legs not working, every single month. Then I got an IUD in October and it's been basically awesome. So for those of you looking for a long term, non-pill BC option, the Mirena makes periods basically go completely away. It rocks. And I usually got side effects from the BC pills, but those have gone away so far.

I use this. http://www.softcup.com It's like a diva cup but disposable. I use one per cycle, tossing at the end of the month. That way there are less plastic dealies in the trash but I get a fresh one each time. If you don't like digging your fingers in your vag, pulling out a blood-filled cup, trying to dump it in the toilet without making a huge mess, and shoving it back up there, this is not a good choice for you. I have no shame so I don't mind washing my bloody fingers in the sink -- at least I am washing my hands which is more than I can say for most people! Here's what sucks about being female. Need to sign up for a big event months in advance: it's time to play bloody mess roulette. Pull the trigger on that registration and see if I bleed when race day comes. I have an IUD and my flow is like Mon after a torrential rain. The softcups mostly hold it all except on heavy days I have to get up in the middle of the night or there will be an Exxon-Valdeze level accident. Also: I hope more women start using lantiseptic so more than just me and Stef look like we just tried to suffocate a mime by sitting on his face after we've been riding for a while.

Oh and stefb, the best saddle in my opinion is the Terry Butterfly. But here's the bad news. The lantiseptic leaches through my chamois and gets stuck in the saddle hole. I was riding with these triathletes who had been giddily pissing on their bikes for 110 miles and when we stopped and I scooped out the crud they were like "eeeeeeewwwww".

I use the Keeper cup, too. It leaks a little on heavier days (though sometimes I feel like if I get it in just right maybe that is less) but I tend to just let it while I'm riding and put a cloth pad down when I'm not. I guess I've managed to avoid taking long rides on the worst bleeding day(s). I do feel more tired sometimes, but it feels a little random/a little aspirin or whatever tends to fix it. I'm thinking about getting an IUD (copper) and am a little nervous it will make this mess harder to manage.

I think the co-op stocks one or two brands of these cups in more than one size. The shape/size/angle of your cervix probably affects the leak factor. Fibroids (a whole 'nother fun topic I will probably opt to leave off this board -- feel free to PM on it though) can have a big impact on flow & other things. I'm going to try one finally!

I am making an appt with my gyne to talk about the Merina. I can't take these periods anymore.

I use the softcup too, and it's pretty great. there's occasional slight leakage, but not even enough to notice until I use the bathroom. The worst is when I'm broke and only have pads, and the material covering it just tears up my skin when I bike :(

Never heard of the softcup, etc. Never had major issues with leg strength during periods. The only change I've seen is that cramping is MUCH less with age and also with a major diet change. When I eat more meat/sugar/wheat cramps are worse. More fruit/veggies/raw food, cramps almost go away. I'm sure it's a very individual thing, but for me there has been a definite connection between diet and menstrual pain FWIW.

Ok, finally a thread to end my lurking. Sorry I disappeared, just took a break and found I had nothing to say when I came back... until now ;) I started using the Keeper (from EEFC, they have both sizes [pre- and post-child birth]) when I went to West Africa (yeah, all those awkward conversations? try having them in a foreign language you don't speak so great, with a whole family, and having it shared liberally around the village... turns out it's taboo where I was to talk about this, but I wasn't taking any chances explaining any "supplies"). Saw no reason to switch when I came back. I supplement with reusable cotton liners (from EEFC). When I got the Mirena IUD - though I was leaning heavily towards the copper one (I hate hormones). Didn't get the copper one because it turns out it WILL make any unpleasantries worse (very little chance of "no change"). Decided to give non-dispersed hormones a chance, and have enjoyed no side effects (unlike the pill) as well. Note: having it "installed" is about as pleasant as getting hit by a car, and I had to take time off work to recover. If you can, have someone else drive you (at least home). Apparently having been through childbirth makes it easier, I did not have that advantage. Hell of a come back post, but I never was graceful.

Ah thanks for the advice. I want a hysterectomy but no one will do that on someone as young as I am in the absence of some sort of bad pathology.

I learned about Essure from here. "This is a coil inserted into your Fallopian tubes. It’s a less invasive procedure than tubal ligation so they may be more inclined to it. it is just as effective as tubal ligation, although you have to wait 3 months and have a check up to use it by itself." I'm going to assume that, like any procedure, it will affect your ability to be active and move around for a while.

In case no one has heard of them before, 2 interesting books on women's health, by women's health collectives are Our Bodies Ourselves and New View of a Woman's Body. I like anecdotes to go along with data & these books have em. I like that both of these books take into consideration the social context and emotional aspects of health, illness, fertility & aging. The drawings in NVWB are revolutionary.

Erica, I was doing my ob/gyn rotation when the Essure procedure was newish. That is good for preventing pregnancy, but it doesn't stop the periods as far as I know.

There is a farily straightforward, reversable way to stop your periods with the pill. IIRC, there is no additional side effects compared with regular BC pills. Talk to your physician about it. Disclaimer, I'm not a doctor, although I played one as a child.

I wish I could take hormonal BC but due to a little death scare in my 20s wherein a neurosurgeon told me I had 6 weeks to live I cannot. I have the copper-T long term IUD. That f'er is NEVER coming out. Nothing is ever leaving my cervix by force ever again.

side note, the way the conversation bubbles are set up in the new forum it looks like my avatar is talking out of its ass.

Tee hee, a chicken with a talking butt.

Sometimes my bc, paired with my antidepressants make me feel like I just don't want to be active at all, and it keeps me from riding. I took the bus home every day last week. Anyone have tips to get out of that funk?

^are you getting these from the same Dr or different Drs? I'm one of those knuckleheads that avoids most medications at all costs, even when it might be a good idea to take them, so I can't give firsthand advice. I have had many friends report VERY different results with both of these potent meds so it might be worth trying a different combo? One friend was on BC that made her cry all the time and she switched meds or doses or something and was totally fine. I'd want to work with someone who had a lot of experience with how they mix together in the body. Hormones are serious business. Also, in the winter if I don't get enough daylight or exercise it is bad mood city...

Mick, if one was to take only the hormonal birth control pills and throw away the sugar pills and start a new pack, in theory, periods should stop they don't with me. I assume that is what you are getting at. I hope hormonal IUDS don't make me bleed all of the time like the pills did.

Erica, I get very potent emotional side effects from most BC pills. I'm not currently on an antidepressant, so I can't say how they mix. But let's see...the first pill I went on made it so I couldn't get out of bed and cried all of the time. The second one made me tired and bloaty. The third one killed my sex drive. The fourth one made me cranky, killed my sex drive, and made my migraines ten times worse. That about when I decided to give the IUD a try. Even though the one I have does use hormones, the amount is way lower than in a pill. So far I'm still a little cranky but the other symptoms are gone. All of that is to say that I would recommend trying other pills or options if you don't feel like they're serving you well.

Well, I'm pretty sure I need a new PCP, because in addition to the feeling I get that she doesn't respect me because of my weight, she told me that it's simply not possible for the two meds to interact badly under any circumstances. (She is at Bloomfield medical, I got the bc from a nurse practitioner at the midwife center). They used to interact pretty badly, but it's gotten a little better. I just don't ever want to exercise, and things that already make me cry now make me cry harder.

Erica, drop that doc pronto. Technically, perhaps she's using the word "interact" differently than you are, but two medications can cause compounding side effects, which is what you and I mean when we say "interact". In the strictest chemical sense, perhaps their compounds are not chemically interacting with each other inside your body, but if she can't understand what you mean, and you don't feel like you are being respected, you don't need that hassle. I'd give you a recommendation for mine, but I admit I never replaced mine when she switched specialties. It also seems pretty straightforward that depression is one common side effect of most BC pills, and anti-depressants are designed to treat depression, so paying close, respectful attention to a patient who takes both and complains of not feeling up to her normal everyday activities (also a symptom of depression) just makes sense to me. But I am not a doctor, so perhaps I am missing something here. Personally, I found that the only way to keep the "meh, I'm not up to it"s at bay is to force myself, as miserable as it feels, to go and sweat for 45 minutes to an hour. The worse I feel, the longer I have to sweat to get rid of it, and I just keep going until my body feels like my own again - and sometimes it doesn't. So the next day I get up and do it again. Eventually it gets better. This may be blasphemy, but don't forget you don't have to rely on a bike commute to get some exercise in. The best form of exercise is the one you actually do. Maybe right now that's not biking to work (in the weather lately, I can't blame you!). That's ok. Do what you can until you feel up to bike commuting again.

Ok, this thread is way beyond the amount of info I want to know, but when it comes to birth control don’t forget the guy. If a guy won’t wear a condom so you don’t have to put your body through hormonal stress something is wrong with the relationship. I will admit that wearing a condom takes away a little, but if it’s to make your partner not have to experience BC side effects it shouldn’t be such a big deal. And it helps protect from STD’s for you single ladies. And for those very rare accidents where the condom breaks there is always the emergency pill. Relationships involve TWO people & respect from both should not be an option. Just say’n.

I've actually refused to get on the pill or anything else for partly this reason: That everyone says women taking control of birth control is empowering never felt quite right to me. I mean, yes, it is good to be able to control it for yourself, but I don't think I want to sleep with someone who isn't willing to think about/offer birth control as well, or is unprepared or otherwise is unwilling to use a condom. It always sounded a little like something a guy would say, like look how in charge you are now that I don't have to think about wearing a condom and we don't have to stop and think before we do this to not risk making babies! We're free. I have begun to calm down on this, sort of. Having been in a relationship long enough at times to consider that this is not efficient, I realize that it is not, for long term. But as a single person, it seems ok.

My boss, an old and wise anesthesiologist, says "There is no such thing as a clean drug." Every drug has side effects. Every drug with interact wtih some other substance in some circumstances. Between her and me, we know a few things about drugs. Just saying.

+1 marko & Aryn!! I know the pill works really well for a lot of people but I always wondered why someone would take the risks and put their body on strong medicine 24/7 unless they were having really awesome sex 24/7. I like what Marko says about birth control being a shared responsibility. Some docs (mine at least) will give you a standing prescription for the "morning after" pill if it is a back up plan for condom breakage.. + HIV & hepatitis are no joking matter even though the treatments have come a long way. Other STDs are on the rise again, too

I have always taken birth control for endometriosis and to lighten up the flow.

It's also helped with my acne that I still annoyingly get. I'm not really saying it's a great thing, but it has its uses.

Just to weigh in on the gendered birth control... For long term solutions, as far as I know, men's are permanent and very expensive. (at least in Pittsburgh, like $5k+) IEDs, err, IUDs can be had for relatively nothing through Planned Parenthood .

A vasectomy can be reversed.

A vasectomy may be reversed, and the cost for that I think is around $30k/40k

I actually went on the pill for help with my awful painful heavy periods - not for the birth control part of it. So it's not always just going on a powerful drug for awesome sex, which is what a lot of conservative politicians would have us all believe.

(And even if it were, there's absolutely no problem with that)

Ack, I do not wish to be aligned with the conservative view on birth control. Just stating my own fears/logic which I know does not apply to others. I also know women who have taken BC for other health reasons and it has been helpful. I do not have the particular health issues that BC would help with so the only reason I would take it would be for its original purpose, and I feel that for me personally the hormones would be risky (I have other health issues that the hormones could possibly make much worse).

Gotcha, gotcha, it's OK. I just am sensitive to the idea that they are only for sex, since 2 of my last 3 health plans have covered them 0%, despite my well-documented health problems. You're totally right that they are a much stronger and potentially side effect laden drug than advertised.

I continue to have educational experiences* with and discussed many of these topics on the semi-private Velomuse women's facebook group. Its privacy is certainly one of the perks of our group for many women. Believe it or not, I've left some details out of my comments below as a consideration to readers that may find offense. Still, there is some benefit to sharing information on any level. Velomuse has done some planning for an active women's health summit with professional panelists and some spa treatment in Pittsburgh, but the date and location planning for the event has taken a back seat over the winter. Please come to our Feb 19th Board meeting at Venture Outdoors if you're interested in sharing ideas or just being part of the discussion. Here are some thoughts on my personal experiences, which are not the same as every other woman's: *Hormone-based Birth Control pills: almost killed me in 1995. If you read the fine print, gall-bladder disease is a potential complication. I had to have mine removed, permanently impacted my ability to eat certain foods and discretion with sexual partners. *Heavy or irregular periods: Didn't have a problem until I got the copper IUD surgically implanted. Can't use the Diva Cup as a result (potential suction displacing IUD). Recently, I've been tapering off ibuprofen for disabling cramps with raspberry leaf tea. I buy it in bulk, but even one tea bag produces immediate results. *IUD: The copper-based Paragard (hormone-free) wasn't anywhere close to free at Planned Parenthood, despite health insurance. Split the bill with my partner, which means a lot to me. *PH levels: I'm being kind with that description, but I've found that I can't apply creams or ointments on my skin before a ride, but maybe after a particularly long ride and I'm relaxing in loose clothing. For rides or any sweat-prone activity however, I only use synthetic shorts (no undies) with chamois cream directly on the chamois. Definitely have to wash bike shorts after every use with some baking soda type of detergent, as well. *Peeing in the woods: I try to use discretion, but avoid anywhere near a water source despite its ability to enhance the urge. Wiping is not always possible due to local foliage and whether horses have been on the trail. *Sex: Just learned this at a women's sexual health workshop: "Don't use saliva to replace lubrication." Duh? How did I miss that in sex ed in HS? It applies to both yours and your partner's saliva, including cleanup between foreplay and intercourse. I'm putting it in this comment because it can take you off the bike for a week or more.

I work next to prestogeorge in the strip, and they always make me a delicious ginger root, linden blossom, & raspberry leaf tea. I highly recommend it for cramps or other stomach-related ailments.

I didn't think about, or think to ask about, using keeper/diva cup with IUD. I guess it makes sense that you should not. More to think about before making a decision on that... (I requested an appointment with planned parenthood a month ago, any idea how long it tends to take to hear back from them?)

VM: Hormonal BC almost killed me too! I use a softcup with an copper IUD and have for years - no problems yet. Anecdotes aren't facts, just thought I'd throw my experience out there. Why not spit for lube? It's not my first choice but works in a pinch (so to speak).

Yes, I'd imagine quite a bit gets transferred in cunnilingus also There's probably some limited chance of some bacterial infection, so it's a matter of risk versus reward I also love how our conversations are still appearing on the front page of the BikePGH website

honestly, I just think that saliva makes a very poor lubricant. I'm sure there are other reasons, but I feel like that's enough.

*further reading has suggested that there may not actually be that much of a problem with using a menstrual cup with an IUD

@pinky it's vice versa :) Birth control is side effect. Most of usage, IIRC, is hormonal regulation.

ok, so am I the only one who started thinking of a singing cartoon frog upon reading the title of this thread?

Paul, you have to read the thread to find out an answer. :)

having skimmed the first post, i do believe i have had enough of the thread to not only get the gist of the topic, but to be aware that i don't really need to read anymore.

^Surely you're curious...where else are you going to learn about this stuff? I found the urethra thread very interesting. :) (And yes, I've had Michigan J. in my head for a week now. Love him.)

Why get so freaked out about normal bodily functions? It's not that big of a deal.

It doesnt freak me out, i jsut wish to show the proper respect & fear for its mysteries

after reading the urethra thread bleeding all over myself once/month didn't seem so bad!

So, I tried the Diva Cup. Very comfortable and no leaks but slightly trickier to remove than I expected. (not hard to do, just quite different than tampon removal) So, I'd recommend more than one practice run at home before taking it on the road for the first time.

yeah, I use the disposable version, and they say it might take several uses, possibly even several cycles to get the hang of it.

I'm a little confused here, I thought the whole point of the diva cup was that it's reusable, and hence, not going to be thrown into a landfill. A disposable version sounds like it defeats the purpose of the device, or am I missing something here (other than a uterus)?

For me, it's mostly that I rarely have the money to spend on a diva cup (I think they were about $40 last time I checked), so I'd rather spend $9 once every few months for a pack of disposable ones. You wear them for 12 hours, instead of the 4 they recommend for tampons, so there's less waste because you use fewer of them. also, if someone wasn't sure if they wanted to spend the $40 on a diva cup, they could try a box of the disposable ones as a trial. (Since everyone's body is different, it's very possible that some people might just not be able to wear menstrual cups at all)

Do any well endowed women have advice on how to prevent a sweat rash on the under side of my breasts? I've been riding a lot this week, and it's in full force, and it's pretty painful.

http://www.inter-dry.com/ is what we tell our patients to order to clear up any rash they may have under a pannis if we need the area to be rash-free before surgery. I hear it can be costly, but it works... Haven't read how well it works when someone is actively exercising.. My patients usually are unable to be very active before surgery. But I hear that baby powder may work under the boobs. I have no need for that, as I am as flat as a surfboard.

Well, back to the times when I was a hammer thrower... Almost all diskus thrower and shot put girls are very well endowed girls. And with 5-6 hours of excersize per day the only thing that works for them where sports bras. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ag4C0MFRnmE

If it's that painful, it sounds similar to a rash I get downstairs in the hot weather. If I remember correctly I think the doc said basically a surface yeast infection. Try an anti-fungal like Lotrimin or one of those things (look in the "jock itch" section), although over-the-counters are usually pretty lame. If it doesn't get better, see a doctor. I was prescribed Ketoconazol, it's like heaven.

yes they usually are a yeast type infection.

Today I tried some a&d (diaper rash cream that is also used to heal tattoos). the pain went away, but the rash is still there. I'm gonna try to keep using that and see if the rash subsides.