Forgot Tampon

[Chenile]

I have just discovered that I forgot to take out a tampon but have had my period this whole week so have been using a tampon on top of the old one. I had noticed a very bad odour and when I took the left one out its was horrific!! This morning I woke up feeling like im getting flu and im worried its TSS. If anyone has done something as silly as this before and has advice please let me know. Im reading all sorts of things about it being life-threatening etc. I would appreciate any advice.

[June1981]

All u ladies up here are amazing...I have felt ill for about a week with abdominal pains and red hot rash.was getting a bad odour from the down town and thought it was because I felt unwell. Took a shower this evening and went "exploring" and was shocked to discover an old tampon. I count about 6 days and panicked but stumbled across this forum. THANK YOU all for being so brave and honest. I have calmed down completely. Thanks ladies.

[jojo26262626]

Oh my god I have had bacterial vaginosis before and it was awful and to my horror I smelt something similar yesterday, I straight away got upset because I knew how down it had got me last time so to catch the smelly discharge I started using tamping last night which has stopped the smell then realised I can't really get the tampons in properly, so I thought that maybe I had left a tampon in there so I checked it out and I had! Thank god I discovered it was that and no bacterial vaginosis again! Yay! Never thought a forgotten ta pin would nake me so happy haha what us women have to go through ay!

[specialmom]

Glad you solved the mystery.  The nose knows, right?  Good luck

[KayNikole22]

I just had this experience tonight. I had went to the bathroom and tried to take a poop and i felt some weird pressure inside my area. Idk what i thought maybe my ovaries were falling out i dont know but i reached down and pulled out a very disgusting tampons that had to be inside me for atleast a month because i just recently had my period and made sure every tampon had been removed and changed frequently. Sure enough i figured i had a bacteria infection because of this gross discharge and smell coming from me especially after sex it got to the point i couldnt bring myself to have sex because it get on me and the bed sheets. After removal i felt sick for about an hour and pain for about an hour or so. I was so scared i didnt know what to do. If i continue feeling sick in the morning i will be headed over to the drs office. Thank you ladies now i dont feel so alone in this. I'm sure it got lodged in there when me and my boyfriend first got together a month ago i had just started and we were going to have sex i thought he had pulled the tampon out turns out he didnt. Grossest experience of my life tonight ladies.

[specialmom]

Glad you found it!  I think during their lifetime, it's a rare woman that doesn't make this mistake one time.  It only takes once, right?  I did not go to the doctor after because I was fine pretty soon after but if you do feel bad within 24 hours still, then go get checked out.  The likelihood is that you are fine.  good luck hon

[lovelovehellohi]

OH MY GOD. I felt like such an idiot until I found this forum! I didn't have any pain, my period ended about two weeks ago and I only use tampons. About three days maybe four, I noticed a weird odor coming from me and a lot more discharge. Now I just had an IUD put in and it's the copper one so your body can change in odor and can discharge more because of it so I didn't think anything of it. But today it was really bad, like I didn't want to open my legs and I took two showers I felt so gross. Finally I talked to my boyfriend about it and he said maybe I'm rejecting my IUD so in my next shower I went exploring because you should check your strings first which is a tell tale sign, and what do you know A TAMPON WAS INSIDE ME. I almost threw up. I had to get kitchen tongs and basically rip it out of me to get it out (I threw them away don't worry). I am 20 years old and have used tampons for like 6 years and I feel like the biggest ******* in the whole world. I'm horrified with myself but you guys made me feel so much better. I feel better now that it's out but if my odor continues in going to call my OBGYN. THANK YOU THOUGH, this was so terrifying for me to experience!

[dathomas1034]

Uh thanks for your help ladies....this thread gave me the insight and courage to go hunting.  I have never had an odor before re and also notice recently that when I sit and move in a certain way I would feel a sharp pain.  After this last 9 day period I was really concerned over the length pain and severity of my period which normal k y comes and goes in about three days.  Got out of the shower today and decided to go exploring and sure enough it was there really high.  Had to squat and grunt and push to help it along far.enough to grab it.  Ouch but so glad I got it out.  Not sure how long it's been there.

[charley282]

Just when things start going well with the boyfriend I develop a bacteria infection...I had a bad odor and some discharge and went to the doctor for a swab; I was given antibiotic for a bacteria infection should have cleared up in a week; had to go back to the doctor for another swab still had bacterial infection was given another round of antibiotics; I have never had a bacterial infection and I am 46 yrs old. so I started thinking (after I read up on what could cause odors in vagina) maybe I had left a tampon in after my last period because the odor started a few days after my period (this went on for about six weeks)  so I got with my boyfriend to discuss what he thought and sure enough I had left one in and was putting in tampons on top of that one... After I dislodged old tampon (whew what a smell) my odor went away although I am sure I had a bacteria infection caused by the left tampon. no other symptom except the odor.. so thanks for all the input about this situation for I never would have thought of it had I not read all of your stories.

[sunbelle]

An ectopic pregnancy is a very serious often fatal condition. TSS is usually not related to such a condition. And TSS is usually not life threatening as compared to ectopic pregnancy. Symptoms are usually onset quickly. an ectopic pregnancy is very very urgent. It is critical to get patients to the hospital in the least amount of time. TSS symptoms onset gradually. They present more like a cold that gets worse. when checking for anyone in an emergency state we look for the ABC s. airway is the airway open. how are they breathing. is it hard for them to breath does the chest fall and rise at a normal depth and pace. Is breathing labored. Circulation is there a pulse. is it normal. how does the skin look. Is it pink or pale. is it warm or cold. is it clamy or dry? If the airway is occluded an emergency, if breathing is labored transport is neccessary. pale skin clamy not good signs. but the urgency is based on vital signs as well. Is the heart beat in normal range, is the temp normal. blood pressure normal range o2 stat. ect. the best thing to do is see your primary doctor if you are concerned about it. TSS is rare, and because it is one of the shock syndromes, any state of shock is reversible with the proper care. Once in the shock state though you will know it. the body declines rapidly .TSS from a tampon is the last stage of what can go wrong. if you are still moving and able to consciously be alert enough to type what you have im pretty sure you don't have TSS. you would be weak and not alert enough to respond to most daily stimuli. An altered mental state is almost always parallel with shock. i would be more concerned about a bacterial infection in the wahoo then TSS. Again like i said any issues concerning your health u should consult a physician, instead of personal Google research. many times this will do nothing more then cause anxiety and worry.
And btw forgetting a tampon in is more common then u would think.

[Vic393]

This site is a life saver! Tonight while going to the bathroom I felt something not so right... down there. When I reached down I felt a tampon string and immediatly pulled it out. Needless to say it was so gross! I have been off my period for 3 weeks!!! I am due to start this up coming week! As soon as I got it out I did what any girl freaking out would do, I googled it! I have been reading all of these post and it has made me feel a lot better! The only symptoms I have had was a slight odor, I thought it had been caused by the weather getting warmer causing me to sweat. Honestly I have never been so grossed out in my life. I am 20 years old and have been using tampons for at least 6 years and have never had a problem. After removing the tampon I have been having a small amount of pain in the pit of my stomach, but I think this is just a factor of the sense of panic that I felt upon finding the tampon.

[Bugsey379]

I had the same exact thing happen to me! I just came back from the OBGYN just yesterday. I had a really foul odor and no idea what was causing it... The discharge was a dark watery brown, unlike anything ive ever experienced before! After about a month of these symptoms, blood & urine tests from the ER, & no pregnancy, I made the appointment with my OB. I kept hoping it would subside on its own. Well, she went to do a culture, and next thing I know she's ripping the most disgusting thing I've ever seen out of me! What makes the matter worse..? It had been in me for over a month, and my boyfriend and I had been having sex cluelessly! Which explained the odor! I almost threw up right on the spot. I'm only 19, been using tampons since I was about 12, and I've forgotten them in for a couple extra hours before, but not like this. I had been using other tampons over this one to . I was shocked something could be pressed against my cervix and me basically have no idea! The string was completely gone so I wouldn't have known!! So scary!

[steinunn96]

Hi! uhm I was just wondering if the doctor said something was wrong or that this could actually have serious consequences. The EXACT same thing happened to me but after I took it out the odor completely went away and I haven't felt any symptoms of something bad.. do I need to go to the doctor just to be safe or not?

-Steinunn :)

[steinunn96]

yeahhhhh.... that story was like one of those that end with; now forward this to 10 of friends or it WILL happen to YOU

[missscared92]

I am so glad i found this site! tonight i was going to the bathroom and felt something weird in my vagina and felt it and pulled out a tampon! I have been off my period for two to three weeks but probably used other tampons on top of that one and also had sex while it was up there! Since I found it so late at night I haven't been able to get it checked out so I am still mortified but can hopefully see the doc tomorrow. I had no idea it was up there but do remember questioning whether i had taken out my tampon or not once during my last period. The only signs that I had was a very foul odor a couple days before finding it, along with a slight discharge. But it is so nice to see that I'm not alone in this! I had no idea that this happened to so many people! I was sitting here thinking that it was so crazy that I had done that and I bet that no one else does that and then I did some research and found this and it made me feel way less stupid.

[LMarieA]

I had the same symptomaine of a horrific smell, weird dark blood and cramps. I went to my gyno and she found a tampon WAY up there... Like unable to be fished out without forceps! She put me on two anti biotics as my cervix was inflamed. She told me NOT to douche! The smell went away immediately and I feel fine. Seriously, go get it looked at- I was sure I hadn't left one up there, and I had- for a month! I had been having sex and using tampons the whole time! I was mortified but I'm SO glad I went to the MD- I could have gotten TSS!

[TaSunke]

Oh, please. Get over yourself. Stuff happens and you can forget. You've never forgotten? Good for you. But please don't chide these people. It is embarrassing enough for them. They are looking for help.
Thanks.

[Wisconsintx]

I just today went to see a gyno, I also somehow forgot a tampon for a month I realized something was wrong when then and the time period it took for me to get my period again smelled like dead animal I was scared to tell my mom. But it had gotten so bad that even my urine smelled like 10 years old ruin no joke. So today after the visit from the doc I got a Pam smear done and I found out I have an ulcer 2 cysts and a UTI still waiting on the results for the pap my great doctor said I more than likely got the ulcer from the blood of the old tampon and made an infection. I am taking 4 day antibiotics & 3 day suppository like medicine for the bacteria, also my urine results had a lot of diff types of bacteria. Yes it was a horrid day for me. Wish me luck. So yes there is effects to leaving a tampon sooner or later. Go get checked!!  

[tdot1961]

CloudiGin,
I too thought the same way when 30 years ago after having my son, the girl in the bed next to me told me that happened to her and she was a Nurse!!!
For years I thought, wow, how could this happen? Wouldn't you notice? etc etc.  Well, 30 years later, if happened to me!  I'd had a shower and was in a hurry to get to a party.  Later that night, I went to replace my tampon and couldn't find a string.  Then I couldn't remember if I had even put a tampon on the night be for in my haste.  Well, 8 days later, I noticed a bad odor and discharge and so felt around and sure enough, one was lodged deep enough that I could barely touch it with the tip of my finger....
So...never assume anything and yes, always be diligent.

[relieved893]

PHEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That is all!

[Rene711]

I have done the same thing. I know its been in there since Thursday (today is Wensday) maybe longer i don't know. Me and my boyfriend have had sex 3 times since then and the first time he had brown discharge on his stuff and it smelt horrible... I just figured it was old blood. The same thing happened the second time and the third time it was like i was bleeding brown and the smell got worse it was all over my legs and him. I defiantly wanted to cry. well last night I took a bath hoping that kind of flushing it out would clear out the old blood and I pushed and the tampon came out. I felt like the biggest retard ever!!! but thanks everyone for posting these stories I feel normal again haha! My friends and boyfriend freaked said I need to tell my doctor but I feel 100% fine and my mom said I will be OK as long as I don't show symptoms So unless i get sick anytime soon I'm not gonna tell my doctor because I can't miss work....

[cookie643]

the same thing happened to me, I had one in, and was woken up to sex..he didn't know it was in there, and I was half asleep. it's been 8 days and it just worked it's way out. same symptoms, thought i had a yeast infection. I have no symptoms of infection. the problem is i have no insurance, and really can't afford to go to a gyn.  i just wanted an opinion on not going to the doc's. as long as i have no symptoms i should be fine, right

[KARIN819]

I am going to GYN tomrrow for same reason. Was over my period and seem to think I may have forgotten to take the last one I used out. Fished around and did not feel anything so let that idea go. Well last nite I started to bleed and constant clots. Never in my life did I have a cycle like that. I could not even stand without such a flow coming out of me. Finally I felt something slide out as if it was a fish swimming out and to my disbelief it appeared to b a tampon could only tell from the string. Funny part is had no odor, no cramps no fever. Everyone kept saying menopause setting it. But it just my stupid mistake. To be safe going to DR tomorrow to tell my embarassing story. If anyone interested in results I will post.

[leannerickson]

I have also done this . I realized it the other day and figured it had been in for two or three days I also had a very bad smell but it was from the old.blood in the tampon I had forgotten about.  Thankfully when putting the new tampon in it was very difficult and simply didn't feel like it was in right.  I used a shower head just to rinse the inside of my vagina to make sure any old blood and or discharge was able to come out.  I never had and sick like symptoms but this is also the second time it has happen to me. I am goinn to make sure from here on out that I am more careful when inserting tampons. I am also off of my period and it has been a couple days since it has happened. I feel fine should I still make an appointment?

[leannerickson]

I have also done this . I realized it the other day and figured it had been in for two or three days I also had a very bad smell but it was from the old.blood in the tampon I had forgotten about.  Thankfully when putting the new tampon in it was very difficult and simply didn't feel like it was in right.  I used a shower head just to rinse the inside of my vagina to make sure any old blood and or discharge was able to come out.  I never had and sick like symptoms but this is also the second time it has happen to me. I am goinn to make sure from here on out that I am more careful when inserting tampons. I am also off of my period and it has been a couple days since it has happened. I feel fine should I still make an appointment?

[caroline841]

i forgot to take out my tampon and i had no odor or hurting but i could not find a nurse to tell me what to do my son woried that i was going to die but i told him that you dont  have to worry then i tried to contact my friends but they did not answer the phone then i read the tampon box and my son worried even more and cried then i called my friend francis and she said it is no big deal and it is to much information to tell my son.
And then i was disapionted that i told my son and then called my sponse.
and then everything was ok .

[shelbyfrog]

Same thing happened to me and somehow it was in there for 5 months I noticed a foul odor thinking it was bv thought I cured it but the smell came back then one day I went up there with my fingers and to my horror there was a tampon in there. Switching to pads from now on.

[Nicola2326]

I totally agree with you I'm very confused that people can easily walk about not knowing they have a tampon in them then put another one in! That just doesn't make sense to me sorry never happened to me :/ x