This Girl Is Fighting For Her Life After Leaving A Tampon In For 9 Days

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The little pamphlet in the box warns users about the risks of toxic shock syndrome associated with tampon use.

If you’ve used them before, I’m sure you’ve had moments where  you just can’t remember if I’ve left one in or not. That normally leads to a mini panic attack until you find out that you’re mistaken.

Model Lauren Wasser recently made the news again after she revealed she will probably have to have her second leg amputated as a result of complications from Toxic Shock Syndrome.

In 2012 Wasser made headlines after she was diagnosed with TSS. The model developed an infection which led to gangrene. Her right leg was amputated below the knee. Now she says that her left leg will ‘inevitably’ need to be amputated in the coming months.

What happened to Lauren is not very common, but she’s using her experience to warn others about the dangers of Toxic Shock Syndrome.

Recently, a UK student found herself fighting for her life after suffering from Toxic Shock Syndrome.

The young woman forgot and left a tampon in for 9 days which has left her fighting for her life.

Twenty year old student Emily Pankhurst was studying for her exams when she noticed that she was feeling unwell and bloated. Like many students, the young woman blamed her symptoms on the stress of school.

But then realized she had forgotten about a tampon she had put in. It was nine days since Pankhurst had inserted the tampon, and when she removed it it was completely black. This is every woman’s worst nightmare.

“When I finally realised, I pulled it out it was pure black. I wouldn’t have known what it was apart from the string. It was horrible. I immediately chucked it in the loo, I felt sick.” 

The Daily Mail reports that within hours she became faint and also began to slur her words. Her skin was also uneven and discolored.

The student was suffering from blood poisoning as a result of toxic shock syndrome.

Antibiotics got the infection under control, but Parkhurt still suffers from lingering effects.

She temporarily lost her mobility and is still unable to walk long distances.The student says her Mother made the suggestion that perhaps she had forgotten about a tampon.

“I was feeling really ill by that stage, I was hot and dizzy and felt really strange. I was bleeding more and my mum suggested I feel about and see if there was anything there. It was then that Pankhurst discovered the forgotten tampon.

“I thought it was disgusting to be honest,” she said. “But I also thought once I’d removed it, I would feel better.”Always Listen to Your Mother!

Her mother suggested that she call a local medical help line. They told her to monitor her symptoms. It didn’t take long for her to get worse.“I was sat in the dark. I can’t remember much, but mum said I kept repeating, “I feel ill – my stomach”. 

My speech slurred and my skin became mottled. I started to feel faint and I was rushed to hospital by ambulance. During the journey they said I was displaying all the symptoms of sepsis [blood poisoning] and so the blue lights were put on. I became an emergency case. I know now that was the poison entering my blood stream.”

The doctors diagnosed Parkhurst with Toxic Shock Syndrome.

“I’ve never been in pain like it so was given morphine and doctors said if I had left it any longer I would be dead.”

Pankhurst says it was her mother who saved her life.

“I put my illness down to stress and ignored the symptoms,” she said. “But mum knew it was something more and pushed me to feel better. She saved my life. I blamed deadlines, returning to uni after the New Year and exams. Actually I was seriously ill.”

Pankhurst says that she is sharing her story in hopes of preventing something like this from happening to another woman.

“It’s amazing a tampon could have such an impact. I will never ever wear a tampon again. Through research I have found that sepsis is not so common in cases such as mine. However, girls my age are not aware of the dangers of using tampons. It is so important to keep an eye on your health, especially during stressful life experiences,” she said.

“I hope my story can help others to take care of your health and not take your life for granted because you never know what might be around the corner.”