Not sure how to write this, don't want to give you TMI but don't want to be guilty of drip feeding either.
On the first few days of my period I use tampons, then towels for the last few days. Recently my local supermarket's own brand were on special offer so I thought I tried them. Wasn't too keen on them for various reasons, so decided when I'd used them all up I wouldn't buy them again.
Yesterday one of the applicators got stuck inside me, and I couldn't get it out for love nor money. Believe me I tried because the last thing I wanted was to go and see a doctor. Nothing would shift it so I ended going to a walk in centre - the doctor there didn't do internal examinations so they sent me to the local hospital's walk in clinic. Lovely nurse there tried twice but couldn't get it out either as it was right up against my cervix so she sent me to the other local hospital's A&E straightaway. After spending most of the day seeing various doctors and having the equivalent of 4 smears in 6 hours and losing all my shame having to tell about 7 different health professionals (reception/triage/nurses/doctors) a very nice doctor finally got the thing out. I am now walking like John Wayne and would kill for a rubber ring to sit down on, but I'm sure I'll live and am very grateful for the NHS and that I'm no longer at risk from TSS.
My family have told me I really should complain to the local supermarket because having poor quality tampons is dangerous. If it had been a one off I wouldn't be thinking I should let them know, but they weren't the best quality ones (I suppose it could have been a dodgy batch). It's just that many moons ago I worked as a customer services manager and I can't bear the thought of making a complaint and whoever reads it laughing with everyone else there about the silly cow who got a tampon applicator shoved so far up her that it reached the cervix and had to be taken out in A&E.
Would be grateful for any advice - on if you think it's worth complaining about from a safety point of view or if I was just unlucky and it's not worth letting local supermarket know. I suppose I could call them and not leave my name or contact details but if I did, I'd want them to follow it up and let me know what they're going to do.
I honestly thought I had no shame left after I'd given birth but I was wrong. Yesterday is a day I never want to repeat! Will be using towels from now on!