URGENT IUD

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 before I could almost alway feel them sticking out at least a little bit.

Well, 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 had a panic attack but calmed down thinking maybe it was just a point of my cycle. I checked again today and the strings are still the same.

I just made an appointment to get it checked but I am TERRIFIED of getting my IUD removed as insertion was incredibly painful. I was a Virgin when it was inserted and have not had children since.

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

Has anyone else had this happen or even perforation?