(TMI) potential retained tampon... aibu

[MissIonX]

OK, name change, obvious reason. I'm very embarrassed. Please no lectures about weight etc/ i already know and feel worthless.

In my 25 years of periods I've never had this issue. I'm larger and trying to lose weight at the moment, the newer and regular exercise has meant more chafing between my thighs. I've got my period and wore a pad yesterday, and this morning. With the heat it seems to have exacerbated the rubbed areas between high up on my legs, so I switched to a tampon. Not my regular absorbency (lighter).

I've not removed it, I haven't felt it come out during a wee (and that's never happened to me in 25 years anyway) no BM or sex to impact positioning.

No string visible, can't feel it with fingers, hubby can't feel it (granted he is somewhat like a rabbit caught in headlights with the current situation). Can't see it with a torch. (Yes we tried!). Im getting a dry sensation but again not sure if that's from fishing around. 🙈🙈🙈

Aibu to wait until GP opens in the morning? It will be 12-13 hours in by then (if its still in).

Sorry totally tmi, but didnt expect this as a 40 year old! Never had this or anything like it happen ever!

Tips/ thoughts please!

Personally I’d go to an and e. They have the correct pain free tools to remove it and it can be done by a nurse so you shouldn’t be there too long.

If it’s a lighter one than your usual, are you sure there’s not a chance it’s slipped out when you’ve gone to the loo? If you’re really certain then I’d agree with pp, I think it’s an A&E job. Difficult, but don’t be embarrassed, I’m sure you’re not the first and better to be safe than sorry.

Go to an urgent care centre if you have one or minor injuries instead of A&E, they'll still have the tools and it's less urgent currently so better than A&E. But if you don't have any near you then go to A&E and just takes things to keep you occupied like a book because I wouldn't wait till the morning.

You really do need to go and get this sorted, although rare the last thing you need is TTS.

Go to A&E. My sister has removed these from patients there and it is an emergency if it is stuck as it can cause TSS. I know it’s embarrassing but trust me they’ve seen it before - the GP isn’t the place for this.

Yep, off to minors or A&E with you! My DM was a nurse in A&E for 30 years, and has removed hundreds of tampons over the years. It might be a bit embarrassing for a moment, but no more than a smear test and much better than the alternative of TSS. It may be that it did pop out while you were on the loo, but it's easy to miss and much better to get checked than risk it.

I hope you are at the A&E or planning to go first thing in the morning.

fwiw this has happened to me twice. & I wasn’t obese for either incident

it’s not an uncommon experience for A&E

1st time -had sex. Could not find it after. Doctor did. Thank goodness

2nd time - no idea why it went missing but the lovely nurse found it. Something about it getting lost round a bend…..!!!!

I’ve had a similar problem, if you squat and push it will move and hopefully you can reach it, imagine being constipated and push 🤷‍♀️

I had hoped it would dislodge itself if I went to bed and relaxed. Woke up at 5.30 with pain. Called 111 and have been sent to a&e. Currently waiting here. I don't have a fever and have been here about 90 mins so they don't seem too concerned its been in 14+ hours.

The most mortifying experience having to keep repeating this as I move through triage process.

You’re in the right place OP. They’ll have seen it a million times, there is nothing to be embarrassed about.

Hope you get seen quickly.

You've done the right thing being seen and I know easier said than done but please don't feel embarassed. I uaed to work on surgical triage unit and often people transfered there from a and e with issues like this.

Make sure you take yourself off for a treat once you are all sorted x

I went down to my local sexual health drop in centre, was seen and removed within the hour.

A and E is not the best place, I work in ED and you will always fall to the bottom of the list due to acuity.

In fact, I have had 2 x tampons and a cup removed due to a high cervix (argh) and the local sexual health drop in is where they have the best gynae set up.

I thought that is where I would be sent, but the one local to me is appointment only and 111 referred me here instead. I think it was due to the number of hours retained.

I'm trying logically to say that they've seen it all... just not helping with the embarrassment at this stage

Please don’t feel embarrassed it’s very common. I’ve had to have a tampon removed before. They are very used to it. Also had to go back to the Gp when I was trialing a cervical cap as birth control and it got stuck. even worse first time with a partner on a romantic weekend the condom got lost! Apparently I have prominent pubic bone!