Arghhh, accidentally left a tampon in too long

[Tampondickhead]

As my user name suggests, I have been a tampon dickhead (this is a name change not an unlucky coincidence).

Im on the heaviest day of my period, removed my tampon which I put in about 5 hours ago, then realised that there was another one up there too. I must have put it in early this morning but can’t remember doing it. I very very much hope it isn’t from yesterday but I can’t see me being THAT useless (😬) as I don’t like them in overnight so would SURELY have removed it before bed. So likely in for 12 hours. Potentially for more but likely not. Am I going to develop toxic shock syndrome or was that something that was used to scare monger in teenage magazines on the 90s?

I wear them overnight so at least 9 hours. Am sure you’ll be fine.

Highly unlikely unless it was dry when tou took it out.

I used to be a nurse in the GUM and we had lots of women whol eft them in until the stench alerted them (a couple of weeks) and all survived.

Thank you. This is what I was hoping. I guess it’s not outside the realms of possibility for someone to sleep for nearly 12 hours (I mean, not me - 6 or 7 if I’m lucky, but some lucky people) so hopefully ok.

This is the stuff I need to hear! 🤢 though.

You'll be fine
I found one 3 weeks after my last period year ago🥴, survived

I know someone that found their last tampon when their next period started ... they were fine!

Honestly within 24 hours I'd think you're good as long as you aren't having any symptoms.

I am sure you will be fine if you start feeling like you are getting the flu go to hospital. If you feel fine then there is nothing to worry about

Highly unlikely. I've done the same before - god knows how.

I would probably not use tampons for the rest of this cycle to ease the paranoia and make sure you use tampons that match rather than exceed the absorbency you need.

Sounds like you'll be ok. Its a constant source of anxiety for me. Tampons have saved me recently with my never ending period but I left one in first and lost it. I remember crying but got it out eventually.

That would be me 😳 got drunk one night at the end of my period. I didn't wear one at night at the end. This night I must have. Put one in first thing. Removed it a few hours later and thought it was over. One week later I started to think something wasn't right. Visited my poor GP who got stuck in and removed it I didn't get TSS.

I think you need to look for signs of infection for the next few days. The general rule is do not leave them in overnight but to use pads. And toxic shock is real.

A close friend died of this, but the tampon had been in for over 4 weeks before she actually fell ill (she was dead within 3 days of the first symptoms though).

I found one 3 weeks later once.Looked like a dead grey mouse and smelt like one too

The general rule from whom?

All the tampon websites, plus the NHS, say it's safe to sleep with tampons in; but to change it once you wake up.

I'd agree it'd be sensible to look out for signs of infection; though.

Toxic shock syndrome is very rare, 3-6 out of 100,000 people get it related to periods a year in the USA.

The info is included as a precaution really, due to the late 70's / early 80s where there were higher than average cases due to super absorbent tampons that made women ill. These were quickly withdrawn from the market.

If I were you I'd just use a pad for the rest of my period and read up on the symptoms of TSS and call 111 for advise if concerned

You’ll be fine. One of my first posts in here (under a different username, many moons ago) was me asking what the awful stench was and a very kind nurse explaining that I’d probably left a tampon in. She was right. It had been there for about three weeks and was truly grim 🤢 I survived.

I’ve had toxic shock from a tampon, twice.

The first time was when I was at school and I didn’t like changing a tampon at school. I fainted and felt sick but not much else. My mum didn’t believe me so I didn’t go to the doctor.
Then, about ten years later, I decided to try tampons again. Within 2 hours I felt ill so took it out. That evening I had serious sickness and diarrhoea. A visit from the doctor confirmed TSS.

TSS is real but I would say that if you were going to get it then you’d have it by now.

Also have you considered moving to another product such as a menstrual disc? Still carries a TSS risk but it is lower, more sustainable than tampons, has a larger capacity and can be worn for 12 hours. I use the hello disc as I couldn't get the hang of the cups and like that the hello disc has the tab to make removal easier (and you can have sex with it in, though have never tried!).

I find tampons quite noticeable so this always surprises me as I can't wait to get them out.

Am I not using them right?

I strongly advise anyone who uses tampons, irrespective of time between changing them, looks up Laura Wasser's shocking story. She discusses what happened to her at length, on Steven Bartlett's podcast, Diary of a CEO. I wish the risks were much more widely known about.