Any doctors/nurses up? Urgent advice required

[joanneg36]

Warning - TMI - if you're not a doctor or nurse you may want to give this a miss...

I have just discovered an old tampon that has been in for approx 10 days. I have removed it, I am otherwise feeling fine. Do I need to go to the doctor (or A&E, I guess, given the hour) to get checked out? Or would I have symptoms if something was wrong?

Many thanks in advance.

Bumping, and also I actually have a follow up question which is that I am supposed to have my covid vaccine tomorrow (first jab, AZ). My slight concern is, if I get a fever tomorrow and write it off as a vaccine side effect, could it in fact be toxic shock syndrome. I obviously will ask an actual doctor in the morning but basically want to know if I can go to bed or need to get myself down to A&E.

Not a dr or nurse but thought this might be useful. It’s Australian based (that’s where I live!) but the info is still good.

www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/toxic-shock-syndrome-tss

If you feel completely well with no fever, offensive discharge or pain then you don’t need to go to a&e tonight.
If you’re worried you can speak to the GP tomorrow or your local sexual health clinic who can examine you - sometimes things can be a little sore inside where the tampon has been, but in most cases it gets better by itself

Drink lots of water. I would avoid the vacine tomorrow and speak to your doctor first thing. If you feel feverish or have any other symptoms get to A&E.

Thank you - I am otherwise fine.

If your temperature is normal, you don,'t feel at all unwell and you have had a good old shower you should be ok.
This happens more than we care to admit and after ten days your risk of developing TSS is next to nothing now the tampon has been removed.
Relax.

Sorry, didn't see your update re the vaccine, but yes a reschedule would be prudent. Just to err on the side of safety.

Thank you - is the reason you're advising rescheduling the reason I gave above - i.e. not knowing if a fever is caused by the vaccine or something else? Or is there another reason?

... and if anyone else sees this delightful thread overnight, I'd really appreciate views. Tried 111 but they said I just had to ring my GP first thing tomorrow - but am then cutting it really fine to reschedule the jab. I guess I would really rather not reschedule jab if I don't have to - but obvs will do so if needed.

I’m a gynaecologist. Women forgetting tampons is pretty common, I’ve removed plenty in my time, some having been in the vagina for weeks or months.

If you feel well, there is absolutely no need to visit A&E, your GP or any other health care setting. Not sure what you expect them to do, as the tampon is now out? There is no need for them to examine you, as the tampon will not have done any damage.
I would suggest get your vaccine as planned. Not much logic to delaying it in case you develop TSS. I have never seen a case of TSS related to tampons in my long career of 20yrs plus. The same could also be argued, that you might develop a cold, flu or any other sort of infection shortly after a vaccine...

I think you should get the vaccine as planned. Inform the practitioner but it’s unlikely they would tell you to reschedule

Thanks quince2figs and wingsnthat - both very reassuring!

Not a HCP but I'd imagine if you were going to get Toxic Shock then you would've done so already and that it wouldn't then occur once the item has been removed.

I've had a few instances of particular mishap myself before (albeit not for 10 days) and not had TSS. My point being that it's not a foregone conclusion, so to speak. TSS is still relatively rare apparently.

Thanks all. Just bumping this for the morning crew - I am inclining towards just going for the vaccine this morning.

I’m a midwife, I’d say if jo symptoms from the tampon unlikely to develop any now. I’d get the vaccine.

If you get any symptoms post vaccine take paracetamol, if that doesn’t help you can see a dr, explain the circumstances and they’d probably prescribe some broad spectrum antibiotics just in case?

GP here. You’ve had some very good information and advice from a gynaecologist. Get your vaccine.

Thanks covidcorvid. That was pretty much what I thought - that if I got a serious fever post vaccine, I could go to the docs and get antibiotics to be safe.

Thank you plonkyplink.

I've done this, no issues following. I would have the vaccine

Thank you. Looking around on mumsnet today, this seems to be surprisingly common! It is the first time I have ever done it in my just-over-40 years.

I have never seen a case of TSS related to tampons in my long career of 20yrs plus.

Appreciate you're a very experienced gynaecologist - but when a teenager local to us died of TSS many years ago, a campaign was launched to highlight dangers and symptoms of TSS. Whilst I am sure it is fairly rare, people do need to be aware of it, just because one gynaecologist hasn't seen it, doesn't mean it's not real.

That said. OP - take the advice from a variety of medical people on here - go ahead with your vaccine. The risks of Covid are higher than TSS at this point.

Yes exactly - I know TSS is real. But I feel that, even with low rates of the virus currently, the risk of Covid is probably higher for someone in their mid 40s who is displaying no symptoms of TSS. So I will go!

TMI but out of interest how did you know/ how did you find it? About 10 days ago I could have sworn I put a tampon in but after searching decided I couldn’t have done because I couldn’t find it . How obvious was it?

Homeschool - it was not obvious at all. At the risk of really TMI, I noticed an odd smell which is why I went looking. But I had to look very hard - an initial feel suggested there wasn’t one there. Needed mirror etc. Still slightly baffled as to where it was!