"Everyone should be allowed their dignity"

I was in Mimidi Park as a voluntary patient. I had my period and while on special were given tampons to use at will. As soon as I was taken off special the nurses decided that I was only to use pads even on telling them I had a trauma incident around using pads and I couldn't understand how the past 3 days I had used tampons without any issue. I was told there was no negotiation that I was to use pads or leave the hospital signing a form saying that anything I did harm wise was not their responsibility. I asked what the issue was with tampons, they said I could cut the strings and make a tourniquet that might kill me. Collecting tampons strings ewwwww seriously!!!. 

So I offered to cut the strings before use and they said no as the string goes all through them. As a woman I just wanted to use tampons, as I had for 3 days prior. Eventually I found a doctor who I felt wouldn't really give me the time of day and I asked him to reconsider the tampons. So humiliating in front of a whole office of people asking for my right as a woman. Then I sat for a few hours calling Peel Mental Health and spoke to a social worker, she was coming into peel so helped out. The nurse then, in my opinion rudely came to me and said I was prescribe tampons. I was only allow 2 every 4 hours and I said what if I bleed more. Them you will have to use a pad.

Then I had the loss of dignity and totally humiliated having to go to the office ask for a tampon and then bring back the used tampon each time to be inspected. Totally gross and so embarrassing. This lasted until I left the hospital. I felt so ashamed for having my period. Everyone knew - all the patients - as I had to have my door unlocked too, as I was locked out of my room. Only going there to do this exchange to place the used tampon in the bag and had to walk back through the ward to the busy office to find someone to take my used tampon.

I don't want anyone else to suffer this, I felt ashamed to be a woman.