A model has issued an urgent warning to people who use tampons after she almost died and lost both legs to toxic shock syndrome (TSS) aged 24.
Lauren Wasser, from Los Angeles, changed her tampons regularly, but still contracted the syndrome that caused her body to begin to shut down within hours.
The woman, now 36, dispelled the myth that TSS is caused by leaving tampons in for more than eight hours and said the condition can affect even those who use them correctly.
“People think they’re invincible, that no one is off limits, that TSS can happen to anyone at any time,” she said, speaking to Brittany Hockley and Laura Byrne on their podcast. life without cuts.
Lauren claimed that many tampons on the market are “full of bleach, dioxin and chlorine” and that products marked 100 percent cotton “are still sprayed with pesticides.”
Lauren Wasser developed toxic shock syndrome despite changing her tampons regularly. She lost both legs as a result of the life-threatening infection.
‘We’re putting that inside of us at such a delicate time and it creates a perfect storm. “It takes one of those toxins to get into the body and start acting like the flu and shut down the organs, it’s lethal, it’s dangerous,” he said.
“My goal and my mission in life is to make sure that not only is this information available, but that women are having these conversations with each other, creating the dialogue and communicating with each other because knowledge is key.”
After being found passed out in her apartment, Lauren was rushed to hospital where she suffered two heart attacks and was placed in an induced coma as her organs failed.
Lauren claims she was changing her tampon regularly, every four hours, during one cycle in 2012 when she started experiencing flu-like symptoms and a high fever.
His mother requested a welfare check after not hearing from him for a few hours.
The police officer who treated her saw that she was sick immediately, but did not think it was necessary to go to the hospital.
Lauren was found face down in her apartment hours later, just 10 minutes from dying.
She was rushed to the hospital, where she suffered two heart attacks and was put into a medical coma because her organs were failing.
Hospital staff told Lauren’s parents to prepare for the worst, as they thought she only had a one percent chance of living.
“They couldn’t understand why this young, healthy 24-year-old was dying before them,” he said.
An infectious disease doctor ordered staff to check for a tampon, and after testing her, she was diagnosed with TSS.
Toxic shock syndrome is a rare and life-threatening bacterial infection. It is commonly misdiagnosed because the symptoms resemble those of other more common diseases.
Although her life was saved, the damage caused to Lauren’s limbs by gangrene was irreparable and doctors had to amputate her right leg below the knee, as well as some toes and part of the heel of her left foot.
Although her life was saved, the damage caused to Lauren’s limbs by gangrene was irreparable and doctors had to amputate her right leg, as well as the toes and part of the heel of her left foot.
Doctors had initially saved his left leg, but it caused him so much pain over the next six years that he had no choice but to amputate it too, just before his 30th birthday.
Lauren wants women and people who menstruate to have the right to choose and be fully informed about the menstrual products they want to use.
“I’m not here to say what anyone should do, but I will say that I’ve heard of women getting SST for (menstrual cups) and all that,” she said.
“There is nothing on the market that is one hundred percent safe and that is why I fight.”
She said it’s a “misconception” that TSS only occurs when someone has had a tampon for more than eight hours, which she said brands disclose on the packaging to prevent users from sleeping with one in.
They are vague on the label. “Thousands of women have died from using tampons correctly,” she said.
While doctors initially saved his left leg, it caused him so much pain over the next six years that he had no choice but to amputate it too, just before his 30th birthday.
Lauren is calling on all women, as well as men and first responders, such as police and paramedics, to educate themselves about TSS and its symptoms.
“Tampon companies have done a very good job of using that misinformation as a kind of scapegoat and then putting the blame on women who say ‘well, that’s your fault’ when it’s really not your fault.”
Since her terrifying experience, Lauren only uses pads during her cycle and has warned people not to use tampons if they no longer feel well.
“Obviously, it’s still surrounding the area and I’m not saying it can’t happen, but it’s not coming inside you, sitting there and creating the perfect storm,” he said.
‘If you are sick, never use tampons. Your body can’t fight two things at the same time because your body is already fighting any illness, whether it’s the flu or whatever, and then you’re putting something in your body that is extremely toxic.’
Lauren is calling on all women, as well as men and first responders such as police and paramedics, to educate themselves about TSS and its symptoms, as it presents like many other illnesses in their early stages.
TSS occurs when usually harmless Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus bacteria, living on the skin, invade the bloodstream and produce dangerous toxins.
Symptoms include high fever, low blood pressure, vomiting, confusion, and seizures.
It occurs more frequently in women who use tampons. Each year, toxic shock syndrome affects approximately one in 100,000 women.
Tampon boxes come with a deadly infection warning after leaving them in for more than eight hours, although Lauren said she changed hers regularly.