I found a forgotten tampon in my vagina...

[Biancadelrioisback]

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...

I've done it too. Must have shoved one up on top of the other (shoved? I mean carefully inserted!) Was still using others afterwards, but the horrendous smell! Mine came out naturally but it must have been 2 weeks. No further side effects and no infection, smell went as soon as tampon did euk!

I did this when I was a teenager (and at boarding school!). I had no idea what was happening and had black disgusting discharge. The smell was vile and I was having shower after shower.
Eventually it popped out whilst I was straining on the loo one day. Immediately cured of nastiness 🤮

The smell is truly disgusting, isn’t it!

But it does go as soon as it’s out.

Honestly I've never smelled anything like it! I can almost taste it...

I did this once years ago. I put one in without taking out the old one. The smell was gross. I promise you OP you won't do it again.

Super common. Have fished out a few in my time at work. Definitely see the GP incase you need antibiotics, and or a swab, and don't worry.

I've done this. What I cant work out is how I didn't realise given that I shower every day.

There was a thread on her a few weeks ago from a woman who "birthed a fossilised tampon" which I thought was a great description

My friend found a condom up there. I can't imagine such a thing! How do you forget a tampon's there? I can FEEL them! They gross me out so much I can't wear them despite trying numerous times.

You must have pushed one in and forgotten that you already had this one in there already. There is a sort of enlarged area at the top of your vagina where the cervix hangs down ( called the vaginal vault) so this one probably got pushed up into that area where it stayed. That's why the string was upside down I guess. I'd certainly see the GP in case you need antibiotics.

Just be grateful that you found it yourself ! Imagine if the GP had been the one to fish it out !

I've done this, I'm relieved to see there's plenty of us. My best theory is that I put an extra one in during the night as I'm a bit of a sleepwalker.

I switched to a mooncup 5 years ago and haven't once forgotten that!

Can’t recommend DivaCup strongly enough!

Yes. Happened to me and no ill effects afterwards. Regarding the smell: I had a clean pair of jeans on and when the tampon was still there, the smell transferred. Even though I only wore the jeans for one day, they still needed TWO washes to get the smell out. God, I must have ponged! Probably should have burnt the jeans as well.

Happened to me last month...my God the smell 👃

I'm in pain this morning but part of me thinks I'm only hurting because I'm focussed so much on how my vagina feels that I've created pains in my mind. It's like cramps but around my cervix. Bollocks

It happens. I would suggest not using any internal protection next month, that's what I was advised when I called my surgery for advice, they also told me to check my temperature and come in if I ran a fever otherwise not to worry. Nurse said she got dozens of calls a month about the same thing, you are not alone!

I did it years ago and have no idea how I managed to put two in - probably tiredness. I didn't have any of the smell or pain issues luckily, it just fell out when I pulled one out during my NEXT period so had been up there a while 🤢🤢.

I told my now exh and he insisted we tell my mum and go to hospital, I was really upset about potential toxic shock etc. The hospital were awful! They did not give a shit about infections, toxic shock etc. The examination was only to make sure I hadn't got any more up there as I was quite clearly stupid enough to. They made me feel dreadful and I really wish I hadn't gone. I was made to feel like I had completely wasted their time and I was a special class of stupid.

I hope you manage to have a better experience than I did but make sure they check you over properly if you're having symptoms of an infection. Fingers crossed for you

Have you checked if you have a temperature?

I love my Organicup. Wish I'd switched to a cup years ago. Life changing and surprisingly somehow much less grim than tampons

I've done it too. Truly grim. Everything sorted itself out as soon as I got the bugger out.

No sign of a temp, but feeling a bit rank and definitely in pain. I've just 111'd it and as usual they told me to get to a hospital ASAP so I guess I'm off to A&E.
Such a fucking idiot!!

I pulled a tampax out a few years ago and a second one followed! No idea how that happened. Friend also had to go to doctor to fish out a tampax and was a male doctor and she was mortified! But all was good, don’t beat yourself up, mistakes happen and just keep the appointment in case you need antibiotics

I did this recently. Must have put another in and pushed the original one high up. I couldn't retrieve it myself and had to go to the docs. Took the nurse a good 10mins to fish the bugger out. The smell was

I've now bought a moon cup. Struggling with it though.

This thread has seriously made me reconsider using tampons

Hope you get seen quickly at A&E

This happened to a friend of mine, it's pretty common! If you feel ok within yourself ie no flu like symptoms or temperature you'll probably be fine. But get checked just in case you need antibiotics for any infection.

Just if anyone was interested, I've just got out from hospital. Went to A&E who sent my to gyno who had a look and a poke around and have told me I have a very inflamed and tender cervix (Captain obvious!). Wouldn't give me antibiotics or take any swabs as they said there was no need, but that doesn't mean I won't need to come back. So if the discharge doesn't stop or if the pain in the cervix doesn't stop or if I feel ill or anything like that, I have to come back. The cervix pain feels like very early labour so I'm going to lie down in the fetal position for the rest of the day and drink cups of tea.

On a side note, I had to tell about 5 different people why I was there and the Dr at the end of it was a fitty man Dr who advised me to use pads from now on