In 2012, when LA-based model Lauren Wesser was 24, she fell ill after using a tampon. She was found in her apartment, just 10 minutes away from death, unconscious and covered in faeces and vomit.
But the American model did not know how dire her situation was — until she overheard a nurse discussing the surgery that would upend her life: Wasser, just 24 years old at the time, would need a below-the-knee amputation on her right leg.
At the time, Lauren was on her period and was wearing a tampon like she usually did. After her infection turned to gangrene, Lauren lost the toes on the left leg, while her right leg had to be amputated below the knee.
No, Wasser did not “leave it in too long”: She was living her normal life, as one should, when she got roundhoused by this tampon-induced illness that took two of her limbs and almost her life. “Even looking back, I would have never even thought to think that my tampon was the thing that was making me sick,” she said.
After Toxic Shock Syndrome Claimed Her Legs, Lauren Wasser Set About Reshaping The Fashion Industry. At 24, her world collapsed overnight. Ten years later, Lauren Wasser is redefining what it means to be a model.
Skin wounds, surgical incisions, nasal packing, scrapes, burns or other areas of injured skin can increase the risk of the condition. Half of all cases are unrelated to menstruation. The symptoms of TSS happen suddenly and worsen quickly. However, most people recover if TSS is diagnosed and treated quickly.
Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is a rare but very serious infection. TSS is a medical emergency. So it's important to know how to prevent it and what signs to watch for. With prompt treatment, it's usually cured.
The instructions on your tampon box are clear: You should never keep the same tampon in for longer than eight hours. If you leave it in longer than that, you risk toxic shock syndrome and other health concerns. If you really want to be on the safe side, though, you may want to change your tampon even more often.
Like her on-screen counterpart, Gorecki is also an amputee. The actress lost her leg in a logging accident when she was 14 years old. She heard about the part of Izzy while attending Camp No Limits, a camp created for children with limb differences.
If you're sleeping for no more than eight hours, sleeping with a tampon in does not increase your risk of toxic shock syndrome (TSS).
Expert analysis says the more absorbent the tampon, the more bacteria it can hold onto. That, paired with a tiny tear from something like pulling out a dry tampon before it's saturated with blood, can introduce the bacteria into the body.
Leaving a tampon in for too long can lead to infections and rarely cause life-threatening toxic shock syndrome (TSS). TSS is typically caused by an overgrowth of bacteria called Staphylococcus aureus. Each year toxic shock syndrome affects about 1 in 100,000 women.
Amy Schumer, seen in 2018, reacted Thursday to stories blaming her for part of an apparent tampon shortage in the U.S.
Tampons, as we know them today, were invented in 1931 by a male physician based in America, Dr. Earle Haas. But it took decades of trial and error to invent effective modern tampons that truly address the needs of women around the world.
While Dr. Earle Haas patented the first modern tampon in 1931, tampons had been used for thousands of years prior to that by women across the globe. The Papyrus Ebers, the world's oldest printed medical document, describes the use of papyrus tampons by Egyptian women as early as the 15th century BCE.
If you choose to use a tampon overnight, know that it's a safe option available to you. If you accidentally fall asleep with one in, don't panic. Just be sure to change it first thing in the morning and plan ahead for the next night you have a heavy flow.
A long-lost tampon will begin to make itself known through a strong (foul-smelling) odour that is clearly not normal. If that starts to happen, it's time to fish around, find it and pull it out or get to your doctor for some help immediately. Don't be embarrassed.
If it's only been left in for 12 to 24 hours and you feel fine, just remove it and go on your way. If it's been longer than that or you can't remove it yourself, see a doctor for removal and a checkup.
In general, TSS symptoms can develop as soon as 12 hours after a surgical procedure. Symptoms usually develop in 3 to 5 days in individuals who are menstruating and using tampons or menstrual cups.
Tampon manufacturers advise that a tampon should not be left in for more than 8 hours. Occasionally, a rare but life-threatening bacterial infection called toxic shock syndrome has been linked to women using tampons.
Your pelvic muscles may not be relaxed enough while you put the tampon in or pull it out. See if it helps to take a deep breath and then completely release your pelvic muscles before you attempt to remove or insert the tampon.
A sudden high fever. Low blood pressure. Vomiting or diarrhea. A rash resembling a sunburn, particularly on your palms and soles.
Given the number of women worldwide who regularly use tampons, TSS is a very rare condition. Suggestions to reduce the risk include: Change tampons regularly (at least every four hours). Avoid using super-absorbent tampons.
Check if you have toxic shock syndrome
Symptoms include: a high temperature. muscle aches. a raised skin rash that feels like sandpaper.