A woman lost both her legs and almost died after using a tampon correctly.
Tampons are a widely used menstrual product, designed to provide comfort and convenience during menstruation.
These small, absorbent devices allow people to continue their daily activities without interruption.
While tampons are a common part of many people’s lives, it’s essential to understand proper usage, potential risks, and benefits.
Lauren Wasser followed the instructions on a tampon box but faced a devastating outcome – she’s now speaking out and warning others.
People have flooded the comments after hearing Wasser’s heartbreaking story.
One person shares, “I listened to her on a podcast—such a terrible story. This could happen to any woman at any time.”
Another writes, “Thank you, Lauren, for having the courage to share your experience. Even if it helps just one person, you’ve made a difference.”
A third simply says, “Omg, that’s terrifying.”
In 2012, at just 24 years old, Wasser says she carefully followed hygiene guidelines, changing her tampons every four hours during her period.
According to the NHS, “You should change your tampon regularly—every 4 to 6 hours, depending on your flow.” as advised by the NHS.
Despite this, Wasser developed flu-like symptoms, and within hours, she was fighting for her life.
Wasser’s friends quickly observed her worrying condition on a day out and advised her to go home and rest.
But hours would go by without communication and the 24-year-old’s mother grew concerned, contacting the police for a welfare check.
When an officer arrived, they noted Wasser’s illness, however, they deemed it not serious enough to warrant immediate hospitalisation.
Wasser, now at age 36, recalls how she felt at the time on the Life Uncut podcast.
“I was extremely hot. By this time I was developing a 41.5C (107F) fever so I wanted all of my clothes off,” she says.
“My dog was jumping on me ferociously and barking at me. She knew something was wrong. My body was shutting down.”
Wasser says she was soon found face down on the floor ’10 minutes from death’ and was rushed to hospital.
Her condition would deteriorate rapidly – she suffered two heart attacks, kidney failure, and tissue decomposition, per The Sun.
Doctors gave Wasser just a one percent chance of survival, urging her parents to prepare for the worst.
“They couldn’t understand why a young, healthy 24-year-old was suddenly dying before their eyes,” Wasser recalls.
Despite their best efforts, the damage to her limbs was irreversible. Her right leg was amputated below the knee, along with several toes and part of the heel on her left foot, according to MailOnline.
In 2018, after years of battling “excruciating pain,” she underwent another life-altering surgery to have her left leg removed.
“Everything happened so fast,” she says. “Within 24 hours, my life completely changed—and there was no going back.”
It was soon confirmed that Wasser had developed toxic shock syndrome (TSS), a rare but potentially fatal condition.
According to the NHS, “Toxic shock syndrome is a life-threatening condition caused by an infection. It can occur from using a tampon or menstrual cup, or from an infected wound. Symptoms progress rapidly and require urgent treatment.”
Though rare, TSS remains a serious risk. Data from Clue suggests that each year, about one in 100,000 menstruating individuals in the U.S. is affected.
Wasser, famously known as the “girl with the golden legs,” has built a successful career as a model, walking the runway for Louis Vuitton and gracing the pages of Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and Glamour.
Now 36, she is a fierce advocate for toxic shock syndrome (TSS) awareness. “Everyone needs to know about this,” she stresses. “People think they’re invincible, but no one is off-limits.”
Having switched to using only period pads, Wasser is determined to debunk the common misconception that TSS only occurs when tampons are left in for more than eight hours. She warns that the illness can strike even when tampons are used correctly.
The Cleveland Clinic supports this, stating: “There isn’t a set time for when symptoms of TSS begin after using a tampon.”
Wasser explains, “We’re putting that inside our bodies at such a delicate time—it creates the perfect storm. All it takes is for one of those toxins to enter your system, mimicking the flu and shutting down your organs. It’s lethal. It’s dangerous.” Tampon Correctly
She has made it her mission to spread awareness, urging women to have open conversations about TSS. “Knowledge is key. We need to talk, check in with each other, and make sure this information reaches as many people as possible. Tampon Correctly”
