California model Lauren Wasser is sharing her tough and inspiring story to educate women globally about toxic shock syndrome (TSS) which is connected to using tampons.
In 2012, at the age of 24, Lauren had a severe flu including fever, aching and exhaustion. Because her condition quickly worsened, she was sent to the hospital and the doctors suspected she had a serious flu. However, after further tests, the doctors learned that Lauren actually had toxic shock syndrome due to harmful toxins from the staph bacteria in her body.
The culprit? A tampon.
If a tampon is not removed from the body in time, it can help bacteria multiply. In Lauren’s case, the bacteria got into her blood and caused several complications. Within no time at all, her body started to go into failure mode. For more than a full week, my mother was unconscious in a coma.
After waking from her coma, Lauren realized that her right leg had been amputated just above the ankle. Because the infection did so much damage, it was not possible to treat the limb. In 2018, her left leg had to be taken off because it was affected by the same infection.
Lauren has mentioned in interviews that she came very close to losing her life. “These things stem from adolescent girls experiencing menstruation.”
Instead of shying away from people, Lauren decided to speak out about the importance of women’s hygiene safety. Her efforts focus on advocating that women’s health product companies show more transparency, introduce greater education and make better innovations.
Her story is shared in TV and radio interviews and on the internet, along with her appearance at many awareness events where she explains about the problem of using tampons for too long.
Lauren emphasizes that this shouldn’t happen again to others. The thing is, it can be prevented as long as people understand this disease.
In spite of what she went through, Lauren still works as a model and helps change the definition of beauty. Showing her prosthetic legs to the world, she has become famous for her strength and determination.
Hannah’s experiences have encouraged individuals, not just women, to educate themselves about their health and what products they use daily.
This disease can happen to anybody, even though using a tampon is commonly linked to it. If Staphylococcus aureus or other toxin-producing bacteria access the blood through mucous membranes, sepsis develops.
A person may feel sudden very high fever, vomit or have diarrhea, have a low blood pressure, ache in the muscles, experience sunburn-like rash and also feel confused or dizzy.
For better safety, select a tampon with the least absorbency and replace it every 4 to 6 hours, change to a pad if possible and avoid using a tampon overnight or longer than the instructions suggest. It is vital to recognize early signs and immediately talk to a doctor.
Lauren Wasser’s experience shows us the need to take action. She points out that safety, awareness and improvements are important for the industry which impacts many people daily.
Lauren wrote this to ensure others do not suffer the way she did and, ultimately, so that someday toxic shock syndrome will be unknown.
