I use sanitary napkins (I call them "pads"), too. I always wear one as a backup, and for when my period stops (and then it starts up again a day or so later). I much prefer tampons because I can't stand cleaning the mess with just a pad.

ANOTHER TAMPON QUESTION (even if you used tampons in the past):

When you're in the shower, do/did you wear a tampon? I usually don't, but I did last night, and it was nicer to not have blood get on my towel. I just wondered if the water would get soaked up by the tampon and not protect from the blood, but it still was fine.