WEBVTT - Nothings off Limits - Personal Care (Ep4) 0:00:03.990 --> 0:00:08.190 Nothing's off limits, things off limits. Bringing together experts and 0:00:08.190 --> 0:00:11.520 people with lived experience to discuss the topics we love 0:00:11.520 --> 0:00:15.000 to avoid, but absolutely need to talk about me with 0:00:15.000 --> 0:00:19.200 the support of Vision Australia and the NDIS information linkages 0:00:19.200 --> 0:00:22.020 and capacity building grants, including grants. 0:00:25.310 --> 0:00:30.050 Hello, and welcome to this fourth episode of Nothing's Off Limits. 0:00:30.080 --> 0:00:33.019 My name is Tess and together with my co-host Polly. 0:00:33.200 --> 0:00:36.020 We're continuing to delve into some of those topics which 0:00:36.020 --> 0:00:41.479 you might normally consider off limits, including body image and appearance, relationships, 0:00:41.479 --> 0:00:45.650 dating and identity, and much more. We'll be exploring them 0:00:45.650 --> 0:00:49.099 openly and honestly through the specific lens of blindness and 0:00:49.100 --> 0:00:51.229 low vision with the help of expert guests. 0:00:51.470 --> 0:00:54.950 Tess, I think regardless of age or experience, you know, 0:00:54.950 --> 0:00:58.610 the whole thing around menstruation is a real challenge. Do 0:00:58.610 --> 0:01:01.580 you think the challenge is greater for people with a disability? 0:01:01.820 --> 0:01:05.330 Look, I can really only speak to my personal experience, 0:01:05.330 --> 0:01:07.970 but I remember even being, you know, in my mid 0:01:07.970 --> 0:01:10.790 to late 20s and finding it very daunting having to 0:01:10.790 --> 0:01:13.940 go into the supermarket, my local supermarket that was mainly 0:01:13.940 --> 0:01:16.700 run run by men and having to ask them if 0:01:16.700 --> 0:01:18.590 I had any pads, you know I did. I felt it. 0:01:18.590 --> 0:01:20.060 You know, if I had a terrible stigma around, I 0:01:20.060 --> 0:01:22.160 couldn't just go and have a browse and then pay 0:01:22.160 --> 0:01:24.470 for them. I ended up actually having to get friends 0:01:24.470 --> 0:01:26.509 to go in for me because the embarrassment got too much. 0:01:26.510 --> 0:01:28.190 So I do think there are a whole lot of 0:01:28.190 --> 0:01:30.710 challenges which we'll talk about in this episode 0:01:30.860 --> 0:01:33.410 and to help us address some of those challenges. We 0:01:33.410 --> 0:01:36.380 have a line up of great guests, all coming with 0:01:36.380 --> 0:01:39.679 a wealth of insights on this topic. But first, we 0:01:39.680 --> 0:01:42.890 asked you how you manage your personal care and any 0:01:42.890 --> 0:01:45.260 difficulties that you've come up against, and we've got some 0:01:45.260 --> 0:01:46.789 really interesting answers. 0:01:46.910 --> 0:01:56.750 Nothing's off limits. With Tess and Polly Polly, personal hygiene 0:01:56.750 --> 0:01:59.600 is a very personal thing. But when it comes to hygiene, 0:01:59.720 --> 0:02:01.640 what do you think we should be talking about as 0:02:01.640 --> 0:02:02.240 a community 0:02:02.870 --> 0:02:05.750 in the current climate is why it was such a 0:02:05.750 --> 0:02:08.130 surprise for everyone to start washing your hands after you 0:02:08.130 --> 0:02:11.329 went to the toilet at befuddles me that the conversation 0:02:11.330 --> 0:02:13.579 we have to have with the community, there's just creepy. 0:02:13.590 --> 0:02:16.310 I can't believe that we had the produce marketing materials 0:02:16.310 --> 0:02:17.660 to remind people to wash their hands. 0:02:18.180 --> 0:02:20.330 Well, I guess over the last 12 months, washing hands 0:02:20.330 --> 0:02:22.880 has been front and center. But I guess there are 0:02:22.880 --> 0:02:25.970 other things such as oral hygiene, which can also help 0:02:25.970 --> 0:02:29.870 with things like chocolate and just things like body odor 0:02:29.870 --> 0:02:32.180 and having the ability to be able to have a 0:02:32.180 --> 0:02:34.550 regular shower. I think the issues are pretty much the 0:02:34.550 --> 0:02:37.100 same when it comes to hygiene because I guess we're 0:02:37.100 --> 0:02:39.470 going to listen pat or probably got a heightened sense 0:02:39.470 --> 0:02:41.900 of smell. So there's any bad body I do. I 0:02:41.900 --> 0:02:44.180 can probably pick it up, maybe more than others. And 0:02:44.180 --> 0:02:46.100 from a personal point of view, I can I can 0:02:46.100 --> 0:02:47.150 smell themselves as well. 0:02:50.330 --> 0:02:54.380 It's more challenging because the meter and a half roll, etc. 0:02:54.380 --> 0:02:58.280 is difficult for us to navigate. And quite frankly, it's 0:02:58.280 --> 0:03:02.030 something that as much as you can try and accommodate it, 0:03:02.030 --> 0:03:05.390 you can't really. It's challenging when you, for example, have 0:03:05.389 --> 0:03:06.920 to queue up in a bank and they make you 0:03:06.919 --> 0:03:10.250 sit down using the sanitizers, being able to find it 0:03:10.250 --> 0:03:13.450 in some instances, or making sure you carry around the 0:03:13.460 --> 0:03:14.870 issues of wearing masks. 0:03:15.260 --> 0:03:20.480 Accessible shaving equipment for men. More accessible was that men 0:03:20.480 --> 0:03:22.609 who are blind or have low vision can shave. 0:03:23.060 --> 0:03:25.820 I think we should be talking about women's health as 0:03:25.820 --> 0:03:29.299 a community. I also think we should be talking about 0:03:29.720 --> 0:03:30.649 sexual activity. 0:03:31.990 --> 0:03:35.080 When you're in the blind community, seeing you don't have 0:03:35.080 --> 0:03:37.720 that sense of seeing, but you do have other senses 0:03:37.720 --> 0:03:41.350 that you use. So to me, smell is always really important. 0:03:41.350 --> 0:03:45.190 So the importance of deodorants, perfumes, those sorts of things 0:03:45.340 --> 0:03:48.570 that can also be a great identifier for in this community. 0:03:48.590 --> 0:03:51.790 People know you often play a scent being conscious of 0:03:51.790 --> 0:03:54.730 what other people might see in terms of hygiene and 0:03:54.730 --> 0:03:56.260 how you need to take care of that and make 0:03:56.260 --> 0:04:00.580 sure you know your hair is shiny, your fingernails are clean. 0:04:00.610 --> 0:04:03.460 We need to be conscious of what other people are saying, 0:04:03.460 --> 0:04:04.450 even if we're not seeing it. 0:04:04.630 --> 0:04:07.540 Personal hygiene. This is a tricky one to say, but 0:04:07.540 --> 0:04:08.770 I have noticed in 0:04:08.770 --> 0:04:12.370 my blind, low vision community there are some people that 0:04:12.370 --> 0:04:15.130 have challenges with this, and I think it can often 0:04:15.130 --> 0:04:19.929 be politically incorrect to say something to them about it. 0:04:19.930 --> 0:04:22.240 But I really think it's important to give you have 0:04:22.240 --> 0:04:23.200 no vision. 0:04:23.200 --> 0:04:25.870 Then there's lots of stuff going on that you may 0:04:25.870 --> 0:04:26.110 not 0:04:26.110 --> 0:04:29.740 be aware of unless you and if someone just pointed 0:04:29.740 --> 0:04:30.339 out to you. 0:04:32.120 --> 0:04:35.510 You're listening to nothing's off limits. We're tense and poorly. 0:04:35.570 --> 0:04:37.909 Produced by Vision Australia radio. 0:04:38.150 --> 0:04:41.990 I'd now like to introduce Ms. Schmidt. Emma May is 0:04:41.990 --> 0:04:45.380 blind and is a music teacher living in Melbourne. She 0:04:45.380 --> 0:04:48.440 has written a book called The Blind Girl's Guide to 0:04:48.440 --> 0:04:51.920 Puberty and is here to tell us all about this MMI. 0:04:51.950 --> 0:04:52.940 Thanks for being here. 0:04:53.000 --> 0:04:55.159 Thanks, Jeff. Thanks for having me. What made you 0:04:55.160 --> 0:04:58.279 decide to write a book about puberty? 0:04:58.310 --> 0:05:01.370 Well, when I was a teenager and sort of late 0:05:01.370 --> 0:05:05.210 primary school pre-teen teenage years, we we covered a lot 0:05:05.210 --> 0:05:09.650 of things at Camp Sloane camp support skills. They would 0:05:09.650 --> 0:05:13.000 talk about social skills and talk about self advocacy. I'd 0:05:13.010 --> 0:05:15.289 even talk about presentation a little bit, but no one 0:05:15.290 --> 0:05:20.000 really talked about puberty and grooming and things. And I 0:05:20.000 --> 0:05:22.430 found that pretty odd because I would have thought it 0:05:22.430 --> 0:05:27.830 was quite important, especially for blind girls, and my family 0:05:27.830 --> 0:05:30.380 was quite open about a lot of it. But at 0:05:30.380 --> 0:05:32.450 the same time, I just didn't know what it really 0:05:32.540 --> 0:05:34.820 would feel like. So, for instance, of the period, I 0:05:34.820 --> 0:05:36.950 sort of set off, what if I'm out and there's 0:05:36.950 --> 0:05:40.099 just this kind of eruption of blood everywhere. And, you know, 0:05:40.100 --> 0:05:42.500 I thought I was going to be pretty messy and 0:05:42.800 --> 0:05:45.440 everyone else at school got to look at pictures and 0:05:45.440 --> 0:05:47.360 we didn't get any pictures. Sometimes I do a kind 0:05:47.360 --> 0:05:51.020 of 2D representation, but it didn't really help, and I 0:05:51.020 --> 0:05:53.870 was always a little bit curious about female anatomy and stuff, 0:05:53.870 --> 0:05:55.580 so I wanted to know what it looked like. And 0:05:55.580 --> 0:05:57.890 so I kind of realized that it wasn't just me 0:05:57.890 --> 0:06:00.470 that didn't quite know what was going on. So I thought, Well, 0:06:00.589 --> 0:06:03.530 why don't I brought a few ideas as to what 0:06:03.529 --> 0:06:06.440 things feel like, how things work? And it's really not 0:06:06.440 --> 0:06:09.380 that bad because no one else seems to be talking 0:06:09.380 --> 0:06:11.150 about this, of course. 0:06:11.150 --> 0:06:13.620 And I've been to those blind cats myself, and you 0:06:13.620 --> 0:06:15.590 were absolutely right. It didn't get mentioned. It is not 0:06:15.589 --> 0:06:18.049 a fun time. If you're a pre-teen, is it? You know, 0:06:18.200 --> 0:06:20.150 all these changes are happening into your body 0:06:20.270 --> 0:06:22.279 and you feel like all your school friends get to know. 0:06:22.640 --> 0:06:25.580 Of course. Of course. You know, I have a vivid 0:06:25.580 --> 0:06:28.940 memory of being 16 and my my best friend teaching 0:06:28.940 --> 0:06:31.460 me teaching me how to use iPad. So you just 0:06:31.460 --> 0:06:33.950 didn't get that education unless you got it through friends 0:06:33.950 --> 0:06:37.430 and through talking about, is this wonderful book of yours? 0:06:37.670 --> 0:06:40.339 What areas does it cover? What a detail does it 0:06:40.339 --> 0:06:40.880 go into 0:06:41.029 --> 0:06:43.160 as little bit about me in that it has a 0:06:43.160 --> 0:06:47.840 verbal description of the female reproductive system, so it talks 0:06:47.839 --> 0:06:51.290 about the uterus being shaped like a pear, which we 0:06:51.290 --> 0:06:53.750 were told in school. But it's not that helpful to see. 0:06:53.750 --> 0:06:58.430 One thinks that the fallopian tubes and eggs sort of 0:06:58.430 --> 0:07:03.349 travel down to the uterus, fertilize a baby or release 0:07:03.350 --> 0:07:06.070 them when you have your period when it and. But 0:07:06.080 --> 0:07:08.390 it only goes into that little bit of detail because 0:07:08.390 --> 0:07:11.240 I say when you describe it, it's difficult. So what 0:07:11.240 --> 0:07:13.790 I then suggest is that you can you can access 0:07:13.790 --> 0:07:17.119 life dulls Vision Australia used to have them, actually. I 0:07:17.120 --> 0:07:20.410 think that's still the case, but they're very handy if 0:07:20.420 --> 0:07:22.910 you can get a 3D idea of what you look like. 0:07:23.330 --> 0:07:26.450 The other reason I did that was because male reproductive 0:07:26.450 --> 0:07:30.260 organs are external as a not. So it's, you know, 0:07:30.350 --> 0:07:32.700 if you want an idea of how everything works, it's 0:07:32.800 --> 0:07:34.820 it's a good way to look at it. And then 0:07:34.820 --> 0:07:37.850 I talk a bit about bras because putting a bra 0:07:37.850 --> 0:07:41.740 on when you are training bras is a little bit fiddly. 0:07:41.750 --> 0:07:42.400 It's terrifying. 0:07:42.410 --> 0:07:46.550 It's a little bit. So I have it again. I 0:07:46.550 --> 0:07:50.090 have a little verbal descriptions of how to actually do it. 0:07:50.180 --> 0:07:52.310 So I did that and took about what looks like 0:07:52.320 --> 0:07:55.040 and then had a little bit of that going for 0:07:55.040 --> 0:07:58.940 a fitting with a bra. Yes. Then we talk about 0:07:59.090 --> 0:08:01.430 the main sort of topic, I guess, with the book, 0:08:01.460 --> 0:08:04.850 which is menstruation and periods. So then I'm going to 0:08:04.850 --> 0:08:07.400 have to put on a pad right from the start. 0:08:07.410 --> 0:08:10.190 So how to open up the package and take it 0:08:10.190 --> 0:08:12.860 out unfolded and put it on, and they're going to 0:08:12.860 --> 0:08:15.710 have to put in a tampon because another thing came 0:08:15.710 --> 0:08:19.450 up quite a bit in the discussion is just recently 0:08:19.580 --> 0:08:21.739 with some friends, but even with me, it's just sort 0:08:21.740 --> 0:08:24.440 of odd. I just don't wear one. My friends had 0:08:24.440 --> 0:08:28.520 to help me at the beach. I just I just 0:08:28.520 --> 0:08:30.680 didn't want to do it. And actually, if you want 0:08:30.680 --> 0:08:32.540 to go swimming, you kind of need to. I thought, Well, 0:08:32.780 --> 0:08:34.790 why not describe how to do it? A lot of 0:08:34.790 --> 0:08:37.609 people do. It's just too hard. So I went into 0:08:38.179 --> 0:08:42.290 detail about how to insert one and then I go 0:08:42.290 --> 0:08:46.480 into sort of cleaning up after yourself. So taking, you know, 0:08:46.550 --> 0:08:49.220 taking the pad off like pipeline out and where to 0:08:49.220 --> 0:08:52.430 put the most public toilets have been next to the toilet. 0:08:52.640 --> 0:08:54.829 I wasn't sure if girls were aware of that, so 0:08:54.830 --> 0:08:56.750 I mentioned it and then I did a little bit 0:08:56.750 --> 0:08:59.120 at the end about soaking. If you get a bit 0:08:59.120 --> 0:09:01.370 on your knickers or your sheets and keep getting a 0:09:01.370 --> 0:09:03.080 little cleaning everything up, 0:09:03.350 --> 0:09:06.020 that's the book. Yes, it sounds like you said it 0:09:06.020 --> 0:09:09.170 was so many wonderful, so many wonderful details in the 0:09:09.170 --> 0:09:11.359 book about how to do things that you might not 0:09:11.360 --> 0:09:13.850 have thought you were able to do, which are, I 0:09:13.850 --> 0:09:15.920 think it's a book that I would have loved to 0:09:15.920 --> 0:09:18.320 have read when when I was younger would be a 0:09:18.320 --> 0:09:20.720 key piece of advice, as it sounds to me like 0:09:20.720 --> 0:09:24.270 you've had experience talking to younger women about going through puberty. 0:09:24.290 --> 0:09:26.810 What's a key piece of advice that you would give 0:09:27.470 --> 0:09:29.449 somebody who's just starting puberty? 0:09:29.510 --> 0:09:33.610 I think the key piece I would. Gives them more information, 0:09:34.150 --> 0:09:36.579 and the more straight sort of straight talking you are 0:09:36.620 --> 0:09:39.429 about it, the less bad it will sound because it's 0:09:39.429 --> 0:09:43.600 less mysterious and so especially for parents safe and cited parents. 0:09:43.720 --> 0:09:46.559 My advice would be try and think of everything that 0:09:46.600 --> 0:09:50.050 you didn't have to think of. So it's all very 0:09:50.050 --> 0:09:51.969 well to say that blood's going to come out of 0:09:51.970 --> 0:09:54.910 your vagina. It means you're growing up. And also, you 0:09:54.910 --> 0:09:57.260 get breasts and you'll have to start wearing bras. But 0:09:57.280 --> 0:10:00.550 try and think of things like when you're out and 0:10:00.550 --> 0:10:02.290 you go into a public toilet, there's going to be 0:10:02.620 --> 0:10:05.290 being next to it or give them warning signs like 0:10:05.290 --> 0:10:07.870 give them as much information as you can. So the 0:10:07.870 --> 0:10:11.109 more information you give, the less bad and scary will 0:10:11.110 --> 0:10:14.020 actually seem to be the main thing. That was the 0:10:14.020 --> 0:10:15.670 main reason I wrote the book, actually. 0:10:16.840 --> 0:10:21.429 I think that's a fantastic way to end on and Emma. 0:10:21.460 --> 0:10:25.089 Thank you so, so much for chatting to us today. 0:10:25.120 --> 0:10:26.260 It's been a real pleasure. 0:10:26.800 --> 0:10:27.730 Thank you for having me. 0:10:30.850 --> 0:10:34.420 It's time to welcome our second guest, Bianca Patrick. Bianca 0:10:34.420 --> 0:10:39.729 is blind and has lived experience of managing menstruation. Bianca 0:10:39.730 --> 0:10:42.520 has a wealth of fascinating insights to share with us 0:10:42.520 --> 0:10:45.100 on this topic. Bianca, thanks for being here. Thank you 0:10:45.100 --> 0:10:45.710 for having me. 0:10:45.800 --> 0:10:48.760 Yeah, thanks so much for joining us, Bianca, and particularly 0:10:48.760 --> 0:10:51.130 to talk about a topic which I think we're all 0:10:51.130 --> 0:10:54.880 quite comfortable talking about, but some people less so. So 0:10:55.300 --> 0:10:58.420 are there particular challenges to dealing with periods if you're 0:10:58.420 --> 0:10:59.410 blind or have low vision? 0:10:59.500 --> 0:11:04.720 Yes, there are a lot of challenges for me in particular. 0:11:05.559 --> 0:11:08.740 That's one of the first challenges was knowing what was 0:11:08.950 --> 0:11:11.650 happening and when it was happening. A lot of people get, 0:11:11.650 --> 0:11:15.400 you know, cramps on a specific day before that period 0:11:15.400 --> 0:11:19.540 or they get crabby or whatever. But things just never 0:11:19.540 --> 0:11:23.170 really showed me what was going on. One month, I'd 0:11:23.170 --> 0:11:26.140 have a tummy ache. One month that had nothing. Nothing 0:11:26.140 --> 0:11:30.640 was really there. That was a marker to tell me, OK, like, 0:11:30.880 --> 0:11:33.280 am I going to get my period now? I wasn't 0:11:33.280 --> 0:11:38.140 always prepared. And then ending up getting a period when 0:11:38.140 --> 0:11:40.720 you really don't want to be getting a period, I 0:11:40.720 --> 0:11:42.070 got it as I was just about to get on 0:11:42.070 --> 0:11:45.459 a plane to a camp. Stress made it come early. 0:11:45.550 --> 0:11:47.230 I was in the middle of an operation and I 0:11:47.230 --> 0:11:49.870 got my period. But just, yeah, all sorts of stuff 0:11:49.870 --> 0:11:50.260 like that. 0:11:50.350 --> 0:11:53.469 Do you think the level of education that's particularly targeted 0:11:53.470 --> 0:11:55.059 at people who are blind to have no vision? Because 0:11:55.059 --> 0:11:57.040 I know we've talked before about how a lot of 0:11:57.040 --> 0:11:59.830 the information at school and a lot of the material 0:11:59.830 --> 0:12:01.690 out there is really visual, you know, it's sort of 0:12:01.690 --> 0:12:05.170 patches of of various anatomical things and what have you. 0:12:05.320 --> 0:12:07.660 Do you think that there's still work to be done 0:12:07.660 --> 0:12:10.690 in the space educating people from that perspective? 0:12:10.929 --> 0:12:14.020 The education is absolutely abysmal. I think there needs to 0:12:14.020 --> 0:12:17.319 be a huge amount of work done and people need 0:12:17.320 --> 0:12:21.730 to come to terms with the fact that their blind 0:12:21.730 --> 0:12:27.309 children or their blind relatives or whatever are getting periods. 0:12:27.340 --> 0:12:29.829 And that is a fact of life, and you can't 0:12:29.830 --> 0:12:32.679 do anything about it or you can do is educate 0:12:32.679 --> 0:12:35.470 them like you would educate your sighted relatives, but you 0:12:35.470 --> 0:12:37.000 just have to do it in a in a non 0:12:37.000 --> 0:12:37.750 visual way. 0:12:37.870 --> 0:12:38.319 And do you think 0:12:38.320 --> 0:12:41.110 there is a sense of embarrassment in the community talking 0:12:41.110 --> 0:12:41.920 on this subject? 0:12:42.130 --> 0:12:47.050 Absolutely. There's a huge sense of embarrassment. I was talking 0:12:47.050 --> 0:12:49.150 to a friend who was it's a bit of a 0:12:49.150 --> 0:12:53.130 bit tangential, but it's it totally says everything in Japan. 0:12:53.140 --> 0:12:56.589 They were talking about natural disasters and preparing for that 0:12:56.590 --> 0:13:00.160 and all that, and they didn't have sanitary stuff or 0:13:00.160 --> 0:13:04.270 baby formula or anything for people in those disaster areas 0:13:04.270 --> 0:13:08.980 because it was men who were doing the doing the logistics. 0:13:09.130 --> 0:13:10.750 Oh yeah, yeah, 0:13:11.050 --> 0:13:14.890 that does seem to be a more general squeamishness about it. 0:13:14.920 --> 0:13:17.050 You know, it's the classic most of the appetizing. I 0:13:17.050 --> 0:13:19.810 think there is one company who's actually started using red now, 0:13:19.809 --> 0:13:22.360 but when they advertise sanitary products, it's always with this 0:13:22.360 --> 0:13:25.809 mysterious blue liquid that shows absorbency rates and things. And 0:13:26.470 --> 0:13:29.620 nobody parties that I didn't know that I didn't right. 0:13:29.920 --> 0:13:32.380 The idea that, you know, seeing seeing blood on screen 0:13:32.380 --> 0:13:35.020 is somehow too shocking and too revolting for us to 0:13:35.020 --> 0:13:37.359 cope with. So, yes, I use a nice clinical looking 0:13:37.360 --> 0:13:40.990 blue liquid in every single update on on television and 0:13:40.990 --> 0:13:42.400 in magazines is extraordinary, 0:13:42.460 --> 0:13:46.290 which is very blueblood to a whole new level. I know, 0:13:46.780 --> 0:13:47.230 I know. 0:13:47.500 --> 0:13:50.650 Can you talk a bit about the different options you've 0:13:50.650 --> 0:13:52.360 got out there than managing your period? 0:13:52.540 --> 0:13:57.790 I have found having IUDs and implants. I had an 0:13:57.790 --> 0:13:59.790 IUD for a long time. I need to correct myself. 0:13:59.800 --> 0:14:01.240 I had an IUD for a long time. I have 0:14:01.240 --> 0:14:03.850 an implant now and just an IUD. 0:14:03.850 --> 0:14:06.880 For those of us who aren't sure an IUD is 0:14:06.880 --> 0:14:09.030 intrauterine device, is that right? 0:14:09.040 --> 0:14:13.360 Yeah, yeah. Yeah, basically, I had the marina and the 0:14:13.360 --> 0:14:17.920 marina looks like eight times new Roman tee. It looks 0:14:17.920 --> 0:14:22.330 like a capital T in print, which is a long 0:14:22.420 --> 0:14:26.800 vertical line with a horizontal line on the top. And 0:14:26.800 --> 0:14:31.030 the vertical line is such that there are two equal sides. 0:14:31.380 --> 0:14:35.340 Going horizontally, but usually if you look at a T., 0:14:35.350 --> 0:14:37.330 It's just the two straight lines, but if you've got 0:14:37.330 --> 0:14:40.030 two times you run into each, it's got these little 0:14:40.060 --> 0:14:42.070 ticks going down the sides. So it's kind of like 0:14:42.070 --> 0:14:46.050 a roof. This little device is full of, I think 0:14:46.060 --> 0:14:49.510 it's progesterone and they inserted into your cervix and it 0:14:49.510 --> 0:14:53.500 has little, little wires going out. Basically, what happened to 0:14:53.500 --> 0:14:56.560 me was that I stopped getting periods. I also had 0:14:56.560 --> 0:14:58.780 it for contraception because it's one of the most effective 0:14:59.050 --> 0:15:03.340 contraception methods in case accidents happened. You get it put 0:15:03.340 --> 0:15:06.400 in and you have it for five years and you 0:15:06.400 --> 0:15:07.300 have no periods. 0:15:07.450 --> 0:15:10.120 And the people who are maybe less comfortable with having 0:15:10.120 --> 0:15:14.770 something more invasive, let's go for the typical scenario you're 0:15:14.770 --> 0:15:17.530 in the supermarket or the chemist and you've gone to 0:15:17.530 --> 0:15:21.010 the sanitary products aisle. You're blind to the explosion. How 0:15:21.010 --> 0:15:23.230 on earth do you navigate that? It's overwhelming enough when 0:15:23.230 --> 0:15:25.000 you're sighted. There's so many choices. 0:15:25.150 --> 0:15:30.160 Research, I guess what I what I got myself was 0:15:30.550 --> 0:15:35.320 a diva cup that is basically a little silicone medical 0:15:35.320 --> 0:15:39.790 grade silicone top that you fold and you insert and 0:15:39.790 --> 0:15:44.470 it covers your cervix. The blood drips into it and 0:15:44.470 --> 0:15:47.260 then you empty it and then you re-enter it. And 0:15:47.260 --> 0:15:50.440 you can basically put that on my shoe around the 0:15:50.440 --> 0:15:52.990 time that you are going to get your period and 0:15:52.990 --> 0:15:56.800 you can empty it every up to 12 hours. You 0:15:56.800 --> 0:15:59.260 can get pads and you can get tampons as well, 0:15:59.260 --> 0:16:02.740 but the menstrual cups are good. There are a few 0:16:02.740 --> 0:16:06.760 different kinds this, but they're all silicone. I think there's 0:16:06.760 --> 0:16:09.070 one or two that were latex, but we won't talk 0:16:09.070 --> 0:16:12.250 about those. And the thing about them is that they 0:16:12.250 --> 0:16:16.500 are environmentally friendly. They don't leave crap all over landfill. 0:16:16.510 --> 0:16:20.650 They don't cause toxic shock syndrome like the tampons could 0:16:20.650 --> 0:16:24.070 if if it's kept too long in place, things like that. 0:16:24.520 --> 0:16:27.310 And there are about 20 or 30 bucks and they 0:16:27.310 --> 0:16:28.690 last for about 10 years. 0:16:28.750 --> 0:16:31.690 And let's go through the worst case scenario. How would 0:16:31.690 --> 0:16:34.210 you how would you advise people deal with the situation? 0:16:34.210 --> 0:16:37.000 You're out, you're out and about, you're not ready for 0:16:37.000 --> 0:16:40.780 it and it's decided to come nonetheless. You may have 0:16:40.780 --> 0:16:42.850 a stain. You're not sure what 0:16:42.850 --> 0:16:45.400 do you do? A lot of people get really upset 0:16:45.400 --> 0:16:50.380 and embarrassed, and years ago, I probably would have as well. Nowadays, 0:16:50.590 --> 0:16:53.680 I'm just like, OK, I wasn't prepared. I have a 0:16:53.680 --> 0:16:55.930 period if I look like, you know, I'll make a 0:16:55.930 --> 0:16:58.479 joke about or something. Yeah, if I look like the 0:16:58.480 --> 0:17:02.680 psycho movie and or like Freddy Krueger just had a 0:17:02.680 --> 0:17:05.010 go at me or something, you know, like just just 0:17:05.020 --> 0:17:07.690 some kind of thing, I think it's normal, like if 0:17:07.690 --> 0:17:12.040 something's really, really bad. My instinct these days is to 0:17:12.040 --> 0:17:14.470 act like it's normal and be like, OK, I got 0:17:14.470 --> 0:17:17.950 my period. I got it early. I got it unexpectedly. 0:17:18.100 --> 0:17:20.740 I'm probably going to stay in the absolute heck out 0:17:20.740 --> 0:17:23.560 of everything right now. I'm probably going to need some 0:17:23.560 --> 0:17:27.190 kind of help. And I'll ask some help. And you know, 0:17:27.369 --> 0:17:30.280 and these days, I don't care if it's a guy 0:17:30.280 --> 0:17:32.649 or a girl, I will ask for help where I 0:17:32.650 --> 0:17:33.159 can get it. 0:17:33.310 --> 0:17:35.229 And you're right. I mean, you say acting like it's 0:17:35.230 --> 0:17:37.929 normal absolutely is normal. And you know, that's happened to 0:17:38.320 --> 0:17:40.420 all of us. And you just kind of roll your 0:17:40.420 --> 0:17:42.340 eyes and get on with it. And I suppose the 0:17:42.640 --> 0:17:46.540 the the classic soak everything in cold water is everyone's 0:17:46.540 --> 0:17:48.190 best friend at this point, isn't it? 0:17:48.310 --> 0:17:53.230 Absolutely. See, people around me acted like it wasn't normal. 0:17:53.530 --> 0:17:56.590 Got all embarrassed. I ended up in tears and it 0:17:56.590 --> 0:17:59.050 didn't like it didn't change the fact that I had 0:17:59.050 --> 0:17:59.590 my period. 0:17:59.920 --> 0:18:03.639 And so, Bianca to end. If you're someone who maybe 0:18:03.640 --> 0:18:06.910 is just about to start cutting periods or maybe feel 0:18:06.910 --> 0:18:09.100 like you haven't quite found the sweet spot in managing 0:18:09.100 --> 0:18:11.440 your own, where might you go to find out more 0:18:11.440 --> 0:18:13.060 about what options there are out there? 0:18:13.180 --> 0:18:16.150 If you're at school or something, go see the school nurse. 0:18:16.330 --> 0:18:18.970 The school nurse needs to tell you about this sort 0:18:18.970 --> 0:18:21.909 of stuff. They'll help you if if your parents are 0:18:21.910 --> 0:18:24.940 not in a place to help you go find someone 0:18:24.940 --> 0:18:28.090 who you trust. If you know, looking, sitting and looking 0:18:28.090 --> 0:18:30.760 at the internet is a bit too impersonal, find someone 0:18:30.760 --> 0:18:33.400 you trust and they will help you with this stuff 0:18:33.740 --> 0:18:36.400 that maybe they'll take you out shopping. You can go 0:18:36.400 --> 0:18:39.490 get them and still come on. Period underwear is a 0:18:39.490 --> 0:18:40.390 good thing, too. 0:18:40.450 --> 0:18:42.520 Can you explain a bit about what that is? 0:18:42.550 --> 0:18:47.260 Yeah, I've never worn it, but it's underwear that absorbs 0:18:47.470 --> 0:18:50.409 your period blood and a parent. Apparently, there's like light, 0:18:50.410 --> 0:18:54.670 slow ones and heavy flow ones and bonds makes them 0:18:54.670 --> 0:18:58.750 and a couple of other brands. What's a which is 0:18:58.750 --> 0:19:01.930 there's one I heard about recently in the name. Just 0:19:01.930 --> 0:19:02.320 going out 0:19:02.320 --> 0:19:04.000 of the body is the one called my 0:19:04.180 --> 0:19:06.580 body. Yes, yes there is. Yes, there is. Thank you. 0:19:06.730 --> 0:19:11.020 Those would be nice and discreet, I guess, but find 0:19:11.020 --> 0:19:12.970 someone who you can trust. And if you get your 0:19:12.970 --> 0:19:15.460 first period soon, see if you can have a period 0:19:15.460 --> 0:19:18.250 party I love that's supposed to be celebrated. 0:19:18.310 --> 0:19:20.169 I don't think I'll ever get to the celebratory stage, 0:19:20.170 --> 0:19:22.930 but absolutely damn right. We should think it's as normal 0:19:22.930 --> 0:19:24.909 as anything, and I hope that it's not going to 0:19:24.910 --> 0:19:27.850 be too long before periods is not an appropriate topic 0:19:27.850 --> 0:19:31.060 for something where we're looking at things that are off limits. Bianca, thank. 0:19:31.200 --> 0:19:33.120 You so, so much for joining us, this has been 0:19:33.119 --> 0:19:35.370 so helpful, and thank you for your frankness as well. 0:19:35.400 --> 0:19:38.130 It's been really, really valuable for us. Thank you so much. 0:19:38.369 --> 0:19:38.910 Thank you. 0:19:41.270 --> 0:19:44.680 You're listening to nothing's off limits with Tess and Polly DG, 0:19:44.690 --> 0:19:48.200 no vision Australia now provides a comprehensive set of telehealth 0:19:48.200 --> 0:19:52.100 services to help you achieve your goals. For more information, 0:19:52.100 --> 0:19:55.409 go to Vision Australia dot org or call one 800 0:19:55.460 --> 0:20:00.080 eight four seven four double six. Visit Australia Blindness Low 0:20:00.080 --> 0:20:01.730 Vision Opportunity. 0:20:01.760 --> 0:20:05.990 Our next guest is Amy Matthews. Amy is an occupational 0:20:05.990 --> 0:20:09.650 therapist at Vision Australia and specialises in helping people who 0:20:09.650 --> 0:20:12.109 are blind or have low vision develop the skills they 0:20:12.109 --> 0:20:14.840 need to live the life they choose. Amy has lots 0:20:14.840 --> 0:20:17.900 of handy tips and strategies for managing personal care, so 0:20:17.900 --> 0:20:19.970 we're so thrilled to have you on the show. Thank 0:20:19.970 --> 0:20:20.960 you so much, Amy. 0:20:20.990 --> 0:20:24.440 Thanks for having me. Amy, what strategies would you suggest 0:20:24.440 --> 0:20:26.420 to clients for managing menstruation? 0:20:26.450 --> 0:20:30.320 There are lots of different strategies available. They're all individual 0:20:30.320 --> 0:20:34.010 to the clients. There are more options coming out all 0:20:34.010 --> 0:20:38.030 the time. Something I really like for a client who's 0:20:38.030 --> 0:20:43.040 struggling with managing pads and lining them up or having 0:20:43.190 --> 0:20:48.950 issues with leakage is period pants. They're a fairly recent development, 0:20:49.100 --> 0:20:54.199 and they're just like regular underwear. Except the pad is 0:20:54.200 --> 0:20:58.250 built in, so you don't have to work out where 0:20:58.250 --> 0:21:02.960 there's a sanitation bin in the toilet. Dealing with changing pads, 0:21:02.960 --> 0:21:08.270 potentially when you're out, period pants mean they don't have 0:21:08.270 --> 0:21:13.070 to change anything throughout the day. They've got special absorbent 0:21:13.070 --> 0:21:17.120 material that I don't understand. I think it's magic material 0:21:17.630 --> 0:21:21.830 that you can wear them all day and not feel 0:21:21.830 --> 0:21:26.330 like you're wearing wet undies. You wear them for the day. 0:21:26.510 --> 0:21:30.889 Then rinse them off in cold water. Rinse them with 0:21:31.040 --> 0:21:35.899 some gentle soap. No fabric softener because fabric softener does 0:21:35.900 --> 0:21:40.520 something to the fabric and deactivate the magic so they 0:21:40.520 --> 0:21:43.970 stop absorbing anything, rinse them at the end of the 0:21:43.970 --> 0:21:47.090 day and then wash them as you would all the 0:21:47.090 --> 0:21:48.800 rest of your clothes for a couple of 0:21:48.800 --> 0:21:49.670 other things people can 0:21:49.670 --> 0:21:53.359 do. There are strategies that people might already know and 0:21:53.359 --> 0:21:58.310 be aware of, like pads and tampons. Each have their 0:21:58.550 --> 0:22:05.210 benefits and challenges. Some people find with menstruation pads that 0:22:05.330 --> 0:22:09.800 they have some difficulty lining them up or making working 0:22:09.800 --> 0:22:13.070 out where to position them in their underwear. I often 0:22:13.070 --> 0:22:17.300 suggest people start with using pads that have wings, and 0:22:17.300 --> 0:22:19.730 you can line the top of the wings up with 0:22:19.880 --> 0:22:24.649 the little line or that double seam on the front 0:22:24.650 --> 0:22:29.149 of your underwear. Most underwear will have a double layer 0:22:29.150 --> 0:22:33.200 of fabric that little bit of extra protection that's not 0:22:33.200 --> 0:22:39.230 intended for managing periods, but where the double layer of 0:22:39.230 --> 0:22:43.820 fabric is is a really good guide for positioning your pads. 0:22:43.820 --> 0:22:47.810 Because if it's obviously too high or too low, you 0:22:47.810 --> 0:22:51.140 can get leakage at the top or the bottom. The 0:22:51.140 --> 0:22:54.020 other thing that I would suggest for some people is 0:22:54.020 --> 0:22:56.990 getting the longer pads so that if they are a 0:22:56.990 --> 0:23:00.020 little bit boards or a little bit back, you've got 0:23:00.020 --> 0:23:06.320 a bit of extra leeway. Young girls who are often 0:23:06.470 --> 0:23:12.020 a lot smaller in structure and getting used to wearing pads, 0:23:12.109 --> 0:23:16.940 they often find that having smaller, thinner ones and changing 0:23:16.940 --> 0:23:21.439 them more regularly is their preferred method. A lot of 0:23:21.440 --> 0:23:25.280 clients tell me that they don't know when to change 0:23:25.280 --> 0:23:29.110 their pads. They can't see the amount of blood thinner. 0:23:29.359 --> 0:23:33.120 If you've taken them off, the weight will be different, 0:23:33.140 --> 0:23:39.169 but most people will change them at regular times in 0:23:39.170 --> 0:23:44.030 the day, whether they set an alarm on their phone 0:23:44.330 --> 0:23:50.030 or just carried the right note pads change them. It's 0:23:50.030 --> 0:23:52.760 morning to lunch and afternoon tea. 0:23:52.970 --> 0:23:56.210 Now, puberty is a great time. It's not really. I mean, 0:23:56.359 --> 0:23:58.700 we all love it because not only do we miss 0:23:58.730 --> 0:24:02.930 them tonight are have absolutely we. We sometimes get our 0:24:02.960 --> 0:24:07.909 periods and we can also get haze fry sprouting left, 0:24:07.910 --> 0:24:09.670 right and centre on our bodies. 0:24:09.680 --> 0:24:12.640 You know, some people like 0:24:12.700 --> 0:24:15.230 like to keep these, these heads and some people like 0:24:15.230 --> 0:24:19.040 journalism if you do like to remove them. What are 0:24:19.040 --> 0:24:21.380 some ways in which people who are blind or have 0:24:21.380 --> 0:24:22.310 low vision can 0:24:22.310 --> 0:24:25.730 safely remove these hairs on their body? It depends on 0:24:25.730 --> 0:24:28.640 where the hairs are popping up. I, for one, am 0:24:28.640 --> 0:24:31.939 very glad puberty is over and have just had the 0:24:31.940 --> 0:24:36.230 joy of his popping up on my chin. I personally 0:24:36.230 --> 0:24:39.530 don't feel I'm quite ready to embrace that look. Some 0:24:39.530 --> 0:24:43.910 people do. But using your other senses to feel where 0:24:43.910 --> 0:24:47.450 the hairs are to remove them. A lot of people 0:24:47.450 --> 0:24:52.189 will use electric razors if they're deciding they don't want 0:24:52.490 --> 0:24:57.859 hair on their legs or other pubic areas under their arms. 0:24:57.890 --> 0:25:04.970 Electric razors have the advantage that they're less likely to 0:25:05.630 --> 0:25:09.860 cut the skin. However, some people find they don't cut 0:25:09.859 --> 0:25:12.680 as close. I've had a number of clients tell me 0:25:12.830 --> 0:25:17.450 that men's electric razors cut better and closer than females 0:25:17.450 --> 0:25:23.000 electric razors, so it's worth talking to people and working 0:25:23.000 --> 0:25:28.760 out which ones they prefer. Some people also decide that 0:25:28.760 --> 0:25:32.660 they don't want to remove their pubic hair completely, but 0:25:32.869 --> 0:25:38.330 just trim it. There are also trimming options if shaving 0:25:38.330 --> 0:25:41.690 or removing the hair isn't an option because they don't 0:25:41.690 --> 0:25:45.950 like it growing back quickly, or it's too fussy or annoying. 0:25:46.100 --> 0:25:52.280 There are different cream solutions that can bleach or remove hair. 0:25:52.550 --> 0:25:56.030 Before you start on. Any of these always do a 0:25:56.030 --> 0:26:00.560 patch test. Maybe talk to friends or family, talk to 0:26:00.619 --> 0:26:05.659 your tea or your support worker. Even the assistance at 0:26:05.660 --> 0:26:09.380 the pharmacy will provide advice on different products. 0:26:09.800 --> 0:26:14.720 How about public bathrooms? Have you experienced clients having difficulties 0:26:14.720 --> 0:26:16.130 accessing public bathrooms? 0:26:16.310 --> 0:26:20.960 Yes, it's unfortunately a common issue, as a lot of 0:26:20.960 --> 0:26:25.909 people will find themselves directed to a bathroom, but once 0:26:25.910 --> 0:26:31.369 they're inside having difficulties getting around. I find clients will 0:26:31.369 --> 0:26:35.919 often ask somebody to tell them in the bathroom where 0:26:35.940 --> 0:26:39.080 the cubicles, where the sinks are they on the left 0:26:39.080 --> 0:26:43.760 or the right. Asking for specific directions to the layout 0:26:43.760 --> 0:26:49.520 of the bathroom with the toilet cubicles asking somebody in 0:26:49.520 --> 0:26:55.160 advance which cubicle has a sanitation bin if they've got 0:26:55.160 --> 0:26:58.460 their period and they need to safely dispose of pants? 0:26:58.790 --> 0:27:04.159 Having a idea of a general layout makes navigating a 0:27:04.160 --> 0:27:06.290 bit easier. Amy, where 0:27:06.290 --> 0:27:10.250 can women and men go if they want to find 0:27:10.250 --> 0:27:12.710 out more information about managing their personal 0:27:12.710 --> 0:27:17.060 care? So if they're having specific issues or things, they 0:27:17.060 --> 0:27:20.300 want to manage bit better. Men and women can talk 0:27:20.300 --> 0:27:25.609 to their occupational therapist and work through their specific goals 0:27:25.820 --> 0:27:30.500 where the barriers are and be more independent, managing their 0:27:30.500 --> 0:27:33.980 personal care and cleaning for men and women. 0:27:34.220 --> 0:27:40.220 And you can access occupational therapy support via Vision Australia. Amy, 0:27:40.220 --> 0:27:43.190 it's been wonderful having you on the show today. Thank 0:27:43.190 --> 0:27:44.330 you so much for being here. 0:27:44.540 --> 0:27:46.910 Thank you for letting me share some of my knowledge. 0:27:47.690 --> 0:27:51.020 This is just the start of the conversation about personal care. 0:27:51.200 --> 0:27:54.560 More information and some useful resources can be found on 0:27:54.560 --> 0:27:57.859 the Vision Australia website, including an article with some handy 0:27:57.859 --> 0:27:59.300 facts about periods. 0:27:59.420 --> 0:28:02.780 Remember, you can download each episode of Nothing's Off Limits 0:28:02.780 --> 0:28:05.780 by going to the Vision Australia website. Just go to 0:28:05.780 --> 0:28:09.740 Vision Australia dot org. That's Vision Australia dot org type. 0:28:09.740 --> 0:28:12.139 Nothing's off limits into the search engine, and you'll be 0:28:12.140 --> 0:28:13.909 directed to my web page where you can listen to 0:28:13.910 --> 0:28:16.609 this and other episodes and do make sure you subscribe 0:28:16.609 --> 0:28:18.800 so you don't miss any. Or if you prefer, you 0:28:18.800 --> 0:28:20.930 can just tune in vintage in Australia right here. 0:28:21.109 --> 0:28:25.250 Next time, we'll be talking about relationships. How to develop 0:28:25.250 --> 0:28:28.879 and nurture positive relationships. Red flags to look out for. 0:28:28.880 --> 0:28:30.649 And what to do about them. And we have a 0:28:30.650 --> 0:28:33.230 great lineup of guests to help us, including a couple 0:28:33.230 --> 0:28:36.199 of familiar voices. But until then, thank you to our 0:28:36.200 --> 0:28:39.170 fantastic guests and thank you for joining us for the 0:28:39.170 --> 0:28:41.060 show where nothing's off limits. 0:28:46.770 --> 0:28:50.700 That was nothing's off limits. Made with the support of 0:28:50.700 --> 0:28:55.800 efficient Australia and the NDIS information linkages and capacity building grant. 0:28:55.980 --> 0:29:00.150 Learn more about our radio and podcast offerings by visiting V.J. Radio, 0:29:00.150 --> 0:29:02.910 dot org and access all there is to know about 0:29:02.910 --> 0:29:07.110 our range of client services via our website. Vision Australia 0:29:07.350 --> 0:29:11.400 dot org. We thank everyone who participated in this episode, 0:29:11.520 --> 0:29:15.240 but especially you for listening today. 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