I nearly died after a tampon I couldn’t find for 5 days went black and left me battling sepsis
A MUM-of-one has revealed how she nearly died after she couldn't find a tampon for five days.
Amy Williams, 24, from Basildon, Essex, was left fighting for her life after contracting toxic shock syndrome.
Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) can cause the body to go into septic shock, a serious case of sepsis, which can cause multiple organ failure and eventually death if left untreated.
The PA, is now speaking out to raise awareness of the rare, life-threatening condition in the hope that other women do not experience the same trauma.
Amy, who works for the leader of Basildon Council, says: “I had heard of toxic shock syndrome but didn’t think it would ever happen to me.
“I’d been using tampons for ten years, but I’ll never use one again now.
“I want to warn women and young girls to be extra careful when using them.”
COULDN'T FIND IT
In June 2019, Amy was on a night out with her boyfriend, Samuel Mullen, 30, an IT account manager, when she went to the toilet to change her tampon.
When she couldn’t find the string, she thought didn’t have one in, so she applied another.
She says: “I was really drunk at the time and couldn’t remember if I already had one in. Plus I couldn’t locate it.”
After that, Amy carried on changing her tampons as and when necessary.
But five days later, she noticed a pungent smell down below.
She says: “It smelt like death and it wasn’t normal.
“So, I got in the shower to wash, but the smell was still there after I got out and dried myself.
“I laid down on the bed and checked inside myself.
“I felt something with my fingernail and it dawned on me that there was a tampon inside me.
“I was mortified.”
The tampon had turned on its side and it took Amy half an hour to remove it - nearly passing out from the pain.
She says: “When it came out, I felt an overwhelming rush, like I was going to faint.
“The tampon was black. It was disgusting.”
RUSHED TO HOSPITAL
After that, Amy suffered with painful cramping in her lower abdomen.
Two days later, while at work, Amy began to feel nauseas and a colleague commented that she ‘looked like she was on death’s door’.
She was rushed to A&E at Basildon University Hospital and her temperature was a dangerous 40 degrees.
Upon arrival, she started vomiting.
Amy says: “They rushed me to a ward and hooked me up to an antibiotic drip while they took blood tests.
“I’d told staff I’d left a tampon in for five days and they looked worried.
“I was then informed that my CPR levels were 264, the normal amount was 5.”
By this point, Amy’s organs had started to fail and she had gone into septic shock.
Shortly after she was diagnosed with toxic shock syndrome.
She says: “The doctor said to me that if I’d had gone home that day, I wouldn’t have woken up.
“I was terrified.
“I cried to the nurse and asked her if I’d ever see my three- year- old son, Archie again.
“She reassured me I was in good hands.”
What is toxic shock syndrome (TSS)?
Toxic shock syndrome is a rare but life-threatening condition.
It's triggered by bacteria getting into the body, and releasing harmful toxins.
The condition is typically linked with tampon use in young women, but it can affect anyone of any age.
TSS gets worse rapidly, and it can be fatal if it's not treated properly and quickly.
What are the signs you could have TSS?
The symptoms of TSS can start very suddenly, and get worse in a very short space of time.
Symptoms include:
- a high temperature of 39C or above
- flu-like symptoms, such as a headache, chills, muscle aches, a sore throat and a cough
- feeling and being sick
- diarrhoea
- widespread sunburn-like rash
- whites of the eyes, lips and tongue turning bright red
- dizziness or fainting
- breathing difficulties
- confusion
- drowsiness
In some cases a person will also have a wound on their skin where the bacteria entered the body.
When should you see a doctor?
TSS is a medical emergency, if you suspect you have the symptoms, contact your GP or call NHS 111.
If your symptoms are severe go to your nearest A&E department.
Can TSS be treated?
If you have TSS you will need treatment at hospital, in some cases in intensive care.
Most people will start to feel better in a few days but it may be several weeks before you are strong enough to leave hospital.
For the next four days, Amy slipped in and out of consciousness while her body was pumped full of antibiotics to fight the blood poisoning.
Thankfully, after nearly a week in hospital she was discharged.
But she continued to be monitored at home and was on a course of antibiotics for ten days.
Since then, Amy has suffered heavy and irregular periods and she was even warned it could affect her chances of conceiving.
Thankfully, a year on she is now expecting her second child.
She says: “I couldn’t believe a tampon nearly killed me.
“I’ll never use one again and now only use sanitary towels.
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“Please, be careful when using tampons.
“It nearly cost me my life."