Embarrassing moment at 41yrs old

[DeeDee2018]

I forgot a tampon inside of me for 3 weeks, embarrassing but noticed nausea, vomiting, cramps and tired.  Was able to find it and get it out, reexamined myself 4 times, and gave myself a cleanse with distilled water and white vinegar, all symptoms are ceasing, made appointment to check my cervix, do I need to worry?

[specialmom]

Ugh, the nurse is massively misinformed.  The issue with douching and 'cleansing' is that the vagina is self cleansing.  And if we use a douche or cleanse, it washes out everything.  Our vagina may have bad bacteria, yeast, etc., right?  But it also has good bacteria that keeps the whole thing balanced. Washing out the good bacteria and changing the PH of your vagina is how women make themselves prone to yeast and fungal infections and BV.  

Ha, I'm older than you by a few years and there are times I am like, really?  I don't have dementia but wow, have searched for my glasses when they are on my head!  I attribute it to multi tasking and being too busy.  :>)  I'm sticking with that.  The brownish discharge that probably smelled bad was what made me aware that I had a tampon lost.  (SOOO gross).  I wouldn't have intercourse with your husband for a bit. I'm sure your husband is fine.  AT worse, you may have bacterial vaginosis and we can pass that back and forth with our partners but you don't have any signs of it now so wouldn't worry.  (you'll know if you have that as the hallmark of that is foul odor and grey, thin watery discharge).  Your husband is fine.  And you are too. All things in the vagina that are a result of the tampon are easily resolved. The only serious consequences is Pelvic Inflammatory Disease which is basically a bad infection in your pelvic area that is similar to sepsis.  You KNOW you have it and would be at the ER if you did.  If you have a fever or pain intensifies, that's when you worry.  Again, the people I know who've had a lost tampon have never experienced that. And none of that would transfer or involve your husband.  so, no worries for him.  I say to wait until you get checked on Friday to have intercourse just because your vagina is trying to go back to normal and is possibly a little gunky/funky right now and I'd just let it rest until you get an all clear from your doc.  Although I'm worried about where you go with advice being given for you to use a cleanse.  The vagina is self cleaning!!  

Anyway, I double check now . . . wake up call that we can be distracted and 'forget' important things.  :>))

[specialmom]

Would guess you are fine.  This, while you feel so dumb afterwards, has happened to me too!  I was fine.  I do want to caution you though that the 'cleanse' you did was not a good idea. That in itself causes lots of problems.  Many women then get yeast infections after douching or internal cleanse of vinegar and water.  It is NOT recommended by doctors even after a forgotten tampon.  My biggest symptom of forgetting it I am sorry to say was odor.  Lordy.  I had no real repercussions from it.  It's never a bad idea to get checked though as bacterial infections can occur.  Certainly if you start getting pain or fever, see a doctor as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is a concern with forgotten tampons.  I don't believe it actually happens often but that is a serious condition warranting doctor's care and antibiotics.  Anyway, you should be fine. Don't douche again.  And if you get a yeast infection, treat it OTC.  good luck

[DeeDee2018]

wow, the nurse from the OBGYN told me that the cleanse was fine since it was home remedy and not a douche from the store (those have other ingredients not good for your lady parts).  I feel ok just sore, and I can't believe this happened, but I can blame it on age as I am turning to be forgetful (this coming from a military soldier who is always on point).  They told me I should be ok, but I am going in on Friday for a Cervix check up to make sure I have no infections which I pray that I don't.  Now, since I tried to have intercourse with my husband and couldn't do it for more than a minute due to brownish discharge coming from the stuck tampon, do you think he might need meds too even though he feels fine?  I worry more for him than I do for me, sad but true, thank you for your comments, makes me feel that I am not alone!