IUD strings in cervic canal..

Gah. I am freaking out. I checked my IUD strings about a week ago and noticed that I could no longer feel my strings. They were very short to begin with, but I could almost alway feel them sticking out at least a little bit. When I checked this time, I could feel the end of the string from the outside of my cervix but the strings are in there. I just made an appointment it get checked but I am TERRIFIED of getting my IUD removed as insertion was incredibly painful.

I read that they use a mascara brush looking tool to try and recover the strings.. I feel so sick and anxious thinking about this.