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Original poster

Lost tampon! (TMI)

26 replies

dippica · 14/02/2009 10:23

I'm not really sure if I have actually lost one, I don't usually use them (have my lovely Mooncup), but I did use one a few days ago, and I really can't remember taking it out. I've had my mooncup in since, and i was a bit tricky to put in, but I didn't really put 2 and 2 together.
So I'm just having a bit of a panic. I've had a search around and I can't feel it anywhere.
My question is - where can it go - can it go anywhere beyond the reach of my finger?
If it was still there (probably been there five days at least), would I have had nasty symptoms of toxic shock yet, or does it take longer than that?

Reassurance, advice, anyone?

OP posts:

veryembarrassedmummy · 14/02/2009 10:25

I had a friend who had this- what she got was an unpleasant discharge!

It can't "go" anywhere, although if your cervix is very high the tampon may be out of reach.

Think hard- did u take it out or not!!

Maybe a trip to A&E is required, or at least a call to NHS direct? Though I have found them pretty useless in the past, tbh.

Vamanos · 14/02/2009 10:39

Do you have an obliging DH/DP who could help you to root around? They might be able to get a slightly better angle on it than you can yourself.

littlerach · 14/02/2009 10:48

There is something caled the pouch of douglas where they can go to, apparently.

If you are really owrried, you must see a doctor.

kiltycoldbum · 14/02/2009 10:50

you need to lie down pull your feet up to your bottom then let your knees drop to the sides, a bit like when your having a smear then feel iyswim hth

sugarpear · 14/02/2009 11:21

A friend told me this happened to her many moons ago and then her dd some years later. She said a warm bath with salt in helped the tampon come down enough for her to find the string and pull it out.

Maybe worth a try before you whip up to a&e ?

Hth

pamelat · 14/02/2009 11:57

This is probably a bit disgusting but this happened to me a few years ago and I convinced myself that I must have taken it out.

Since then I had even had sex a couple of times.

About 2 weeks later it just came out as I was having a wee.

I was very worried about it and scared about toxic shock etc. I have no idea where it went to in the interim.

hereidrawtheline · 14/02/2009 12:01

Right that has put me right off tampons!! I cant really use them anyway and I am scatty enough to forget when I have so I think I shall rule it out! Much sympathy though - unfortunately you have to see a doctor if you arent sure, you cant just leave it there, if it is indeed there. Dont worry though doctors always see the strangest things they wont bat an eye if they are worth their salt!

NinaNannar · 14/02/2009 12:02

FairLadyRandySlut · 14/02/2009 12:34

Happened to me a little while ago...
sometimes it can change position and hide behind the the cervix....
if you have a dh/partner that could help it would make it easier...
I did get it out by myself, but as it was towards the back, I sort of had to help guide it downwards by putting a finger into my anus (sorry very tmi...
it will probably come down by itself eventually...but...that isn't really an ideal situation.

hmmm...sugarpear...tbh, I think the salt probably wasn't that important component on getting the tampon out, tbh...however, a bath can possibly help...I suppose...as it relaxes everything and of course the string might come down a bit and become reachable...

StripeyKnickersSpottySocks · 14/02/2009 12:37

I once forgot one, had sex and then remembered. No way could I reach it. Had to visit the GP.

trixiethepixie · 14/02/2009 14:16

This happened to a friend of mine. She was getting discharge and when the gp inspected he found a tampon that had been there for a couple of weeks. Scared the crap outa her - thr thought she could have got tts. It put me off using them again.

Original poster

dippica · 14/02/2009 15:37

Oh blooming 'eck, think I'll have to go to GP on Monday, just to be sure. But will try all the tips above too, adds a certain something to DH's valentine's day!!!

Thanks all.

OP posts:

LynetteScavo · 14/02/2009 15:41

I'm that you woudl all let your DH/ DP have a rumage up there!

Sorry, that wasn't very helpful. Noadvice other than sugesting crouching down and sticking your hand up.

HeadFairy · 14/02/2009 15:42

Does bearing down not shift them? I have lost the string a couple of times and panicked, but bearing down a bit has pushed the tampon down enough for me to reach it. I'm assuming you've tried that though.

CoteDAzur · 14/02/2009 15:48

Don't worry. If it's in there, it will come back down in a few days.

If you feel a bad smell from down there and tampon still hasn't come, see a doctor.

twoluvlykids · 14/02/2009 15:51

pmsl at "feel a bad smell"

woman I once knew lost a condom up her vagina, it took a trip to A&E to remove it, eventually.

FairLadyRandySlut · 14/02/2009 15:56

Lynette..why are you so about it... I think my dh knows his way around down there far better than me
and if it oculd save you from an embaressing trip to the GP....

newpup · 14/02/2009 16:28

My friend is a nurse at a local surgery and she has had to remove a few of these from embarassed women. Apparrently it is not an uncommon thing to happen so don't be embarassed about going to your surgery, they will have seen it before!

Good Luck!

JamesAndTheGiantBanana · 14/02/2009 16:40

I've actually been on one of these threads before and we managed to get it out. Try squatting down (this shortens the vagina considerably) and bearing down too. Relax and have a feel around, if you can feel your cervix (feels like a soft bulb like thingy at the top towards the front iirc) trying gently running a finger round it to see if the tampon could be hiding behind it.

If that doesn't work it'll be a gp job. Fun.

candyfluff · 15/02/2009 08:32

dippica-did you find it ?

Original poster

dippica · 15/02/2009 14:42

No, not found it yet, the more time goes on, the more I think I must have taken it out at the time. .... but then again, if it is still there, it's not going to be doing me much good.
DH didn't comment last night on foul smells or anything during our annual valentines intercourse - surely it would have got in the way??

Will have another go at finding it today, then go to nurse tomorrow.

OP posts:

LynetteScavo · 15/02/2009 17:48

Aparently it doesn't neccessarily get in the way of intercourse- a friend of mine told me she forgot hers one night, and her DP didn't seem to notice it was there - and neither did she.

DH and I had a good laugh at "pouch of douglas" last night and he confirmed that he would me doing no rumaging with his hand inside me, even if I asked.

pamelat · 16/02/2009 20:56

No, my DH did not notice and we had sex 2 or 3 times with it still there.

JamesAndTheGiantBanana · 17/02/2009 10:43

Did you find it/go to the nurse dippica?

unknown011 · 27/03/2018 23:02

i’m only 15 and visited the clinic yesterday to ask them to check for a lost tampon. Earlier on the day before i couldn’t remember if i was wearing a tampon and when i came to take it out there was no string which sent me into panic mode. i attempted to find the tampon by myself but couldn’t feel much so decided to leave it for a day. the next day i felt aching around my pelvis and upper thighs which is then when i decided to get it checked, the doctor i had was lovely she checked around and didn’t find a thing, don’t worry if you feel embarrassed or anything it was absolutely fine !! :)

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