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Original poster

I found a forgotten tampon in my vagina...

67 replies

Biancadelrioisback · 27/07/2019 23:53

So, this is incredibly embarrassing. Earlier this week I booked myself a drs appt for Monday morning (Monday coming that is) because I had, what I believed to be BV.
Over the last week or so, I'd noticed an increase in discharge, but it was pinkish, then brownish. It was thin and so much of it throughout the day. It's really weird to have a conversation with your boss while this discharge is gushing out your vag (my periods are usually light so never experienced this other than post birth).
The worst thing about it was the smell. Honestly it stunk! I was showering twice a day at this point and changing my knickers at least three times a day.
I bought BV gels which you use over 7 days but nothing was improving. I thought it might be thrush because it had been so very very hot recently.
After nothing was working and Google wasn't helping, I had convinced myself I had cervical cancer. I was preparing myself that on Monday my whole life might change. Until tonight. I decided to have a bit of a search around and I fucking found a tampon. My period was the week before but I remember taking the last one out so I'm presuming I had two up there for a while and I had no fucking clue.
I've been having my period for over 20 years and used tampons for at least 15. How the fuck did this happen?
So now I am well and truly freaked out. Part of me thinks that I should cancel my appointment on Monday as I've solved the mystery, but I'm also worried what the after effects might be...
Please tell me that this has happened to someone else before? Also, I think I'm ready to get a mooncup or period knickers...

OP posts:
LoafofSellotape · 27/07/2019 23:56

Gosh,that's quite a wordy post !

AnotherEmma · 27/07/2019 23:57

Oh dear! Well at least you've found it now.
Don't cancel the appointment. They will probably need to do swans and/or a blood test to rule out infections.
And menstrual cups are amazing - I recommend the Meluna (prefer it to the Mooncup for various reasons). I use the cup during the day and washable pads at night.

Original poster
Biancadelrioisback · 27/07/2019 23:57

Thank you for your very useful comment...

OP posts:
AnotherEmma · 27/07/2019 23:58

swabs not swans Grin

LoafofSellotape · 27/07/2019 23:58

I'm sure you'll be fine.

AnotherEmma · 27/07/2019 23:59

Yeah I think that was possibly one of the most pointless comments I've ever read on Mumsnet! and I've been on here way too long and way too often

Original poster
Biancadelrioisback · 28/07/2019 00:00

@AnotherEmma thanks. I'll keep the ap but I feel like such an idiot!
I'm going to have to do some cup research I think, I can't face another tampon Hmm

OP posts:
Original poster
Biancadelrioisback · 28/07/2019 00:01
Grin
OP posts:
AppropriateAdult · 28/07/2019 00:01

This happens all the time, don't worry - I'm a GP and I've fished many a forgotten tampon out of an embarrassed woman. Because you've been having a smelly discharge you may need antibiotics, so it would be a good idea to keep your appointment and have swabs done.

LoafofSellotape · 28/07/2019 00:01

I posted too quickly,excuse me all over the place Confused as I said, I'm sure you will be fine.

MollysMummy2010 · 28/07/2019 00:02

I have done the same and alive to tell you. Don’t worry.

justasking111 · 28/07/2019 00:03

Please see gp. I have two friends who did this and suffered toxic shock syndrome. I have forgotten myself a few times.

chubbysquid · 28/07/2019 00:04

Anyone else remember the woman who forgot her moo cup was in for almost a month?

LoafofSellotape · 28/07/2019 00:05

Anyone else remember the woman who forgot her moo cup was in for almost a month?

Unfortunately yes Grin

Twixes · 28/07/2019 00:14

This happened to my sister...and me, although I dealt with it at home and didn't need to go the gp. My sis had to get the doctor to remove it and she said it was like a stinky rodent when it came out! Gross but unfortunately not that uncommon Blush

Original poster
Biancadelrioisback · 28/07/2019 00:17

Thanks ladies.
I feel like such a fucking idiot! I am worried about toxic shock, I feel sick but I'm not sure if that's as a result of what I've just fished out... I'll keep the ap on Monday but I am not looking forward to that!

OP posts:
Original poster
Biancadelrioisback · 28/07/2019 00:19

The weird thing is is that it had turned upside down...so the string was facing up. So either it managed to rotate in there or I put it in in my sleep which TBF I wouldn't put it past me...

OP posts:
Faez · 28/07/2019 00:20

I've done it, must've been in there ages. From what I remember the smelly discharge cleared up within 24 hours, never saw the gp

VenusTiger · 28/07/2019 00:28

Oh no OP, this is the reason why I’ve only used tampons a handful of times in my life. The toxic shock syndrome thing that was drilled into us at school scared me too much and I’ve only ever used them a few times. I have period knickers for bed and when I’m not bleeding heavily and pads for heavy days.
Good to see a GP on here. I’d be a freakin mess!
Good luck on Monday!

Original poster
Biancadelrioisback · 28/07/2019 00:35

I just don't get how it happened!! How the fuck do you forget a tampon?

OP posts:
Seeingadistance · 28/07/2019 00:50

I’ve done this several times. One of the great advantages of Mirena was it stopped my periods.

Keep the appointment - you’ll likely be given a ticking off, told you’re not the first and won’t be last, and prescribed antibiotics to be on the safe side.

WashingMyHair247 · 28/07/2019 00:51

I did this once, many years ago when I only used tampons.

I figured I might have put it in on one of my benders, it wouldn't have been there more than a few weeks (I hoped).

It didn't kill me.

RubbingHimSourly · 28/07/2019 00:54

There's a shelf up there isn't there ??

I bet it was sat up there.

Flamingjo · 28/07/2019 00:54

I did exactly the same a year ago. I went to the doctors because I had a horrible smelly discharge that went on and on for over a week after my last period. I was worried there was something seriously wrong with me. Anyway, the nurse took some swabs and then she was said "errr....is there any way you could have a tampon stuck inside you?" and I was like "no...absolutely not". Anyway, it turned out that yes there was a tampon inside me and it was pushed so far up that she could barely see it as it was wedged high up in some corner of my vagina?!? I much have forgotten to take it out and put another tampon in which pushed it so far up it got stuck. Anyway, long mortifyingly embarrassing story short, it took 3 nurses and one doctor 45 minutes to remove it. I have never been so ashamed in my life, especially when the doctor asked how long it had been up there and I worked out it must have been there for at least 11 days. I had no infection from it luckily and the discharge and smell stopped immediately.

The following month I did the same thing again and forgot I had a tampon in me except this time it did the opposite thing and started falling out of me as I walked to pick my dc up from school. I've been having periods for the last 25 years and never had any issues with tampons but after last years issues with remembering to remove them I've actually more or less stopped using tampons altogether now.