A teacher in Texas nearly died from a rare bacterial infection she contracted after keeping her tampon in for too long.
At first, she thought she had caught a regular stomach bug from a family wedding she attended two days before.
Mrs DeSkeere’s doctors began suspecting TSS when they realized she had just finished her monthly menstrual cycle.
She told doctors tampons were all she ever wore while on her period and the longest she had ever worn one was eight hours at the wedding.
Though she had used tampons for 25 years, Mrs DeSkeere is now opting to use other sanitary products to avoid TSS.
A rare bacterial infection that a Texas teacher got after leaving her tampon in for an extended period of time almost killed her.
Ashley DeSkeere, 43, experienced severe nausea and woke up every 30 minutes one morning last month with “major chills.”.
She initially believed she had gone to a family wedding two days prior and contracted a common stomach ailment. But in just three days, her breathing became difficult and her blood pressure fell.
Upon arriving at the hospital, the mother-of-three was diagnosed with toxic shock syndrome (TSS), a rare condition that affects one in 100,000 people. It was discovered that the mother-of-three had left her tampon in for eight hours during the wedding.
After attending a wedding with her husband and kids, Ashley DeSkeere, 43, experienced breathing problems and vomiting (pictured here).
After leaving her tampon in for eight hours, Texas teacher Mrs. DeSkeere was diagnosed with toxic shock syndrome, a one in 100,000 bacterial infection. This picture shows her attached to six different antibiotics.
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After being informed that she was “lucky” to be alive, Mrs. DeSkeere is now cautioning other women to either completely avoid using sanitary products or change their tampons on a regular basis in order to prevent the deadly infection.
“I was very scared,” she said. I confided in my spouse that I believed I was going to die. In my entire life, I have never felt better.
“I promise not to use a tampon ever again.”. I was frightened by this and find it unbelievable that it actually happened. I would never do it. ‘.
Toxins generated by bacteria such as group A streptococcus (strep) and Staphylococcus aureus (staph) can cause TSS, an uncommon but potentially fatal infection.
Long-term tampon use during menstruation can create a warm environment in the vagina that promotes the growth of bacteria found in period blood.
Particularly those that are extremely absorbent, tampons have a tendency to adhere to the vaginal walls, creating microscopic abrasions that allow bacteria to seep into and eventually enter the bloodstream.
Tampons are not the only cause of TSS cases, though; skin wounds and infections account for about half of all TSS cases.
Swimming with an open wound while contaminated water is present can sometimes result in TSS.
According to Cleveland Clinic, the illness claims the lives of three to seven out of ten patients.
Upon realizing that Mrs. DeSkeere had completed her monthly menstrual cycle, her doctors started to suspect TSS.
Tampons were the only menstrual product she had ever worn, according to her statement to the doctor; the longest she had ever worn one was for eight hours at the wedding.
In the evening and every four hours, she said, she usually changes them.
“Eight hours doesn’t seem like enough time for something like this to happen to me.”. “.”.
To lower the risk, the FDA advises using the lowest absorbency tampons and changing them every four to eight hours. Tampons should only be used during menstruation.
After Mrs. DeSkeere was admitted to the intensive care unit for five days, her body needed to be cleared of the infection, so the doctors had to start her on six different intravenous antibiotics.
The standard treatment consists of antibiotics, fluids, and blood pressure-stabilizing drugs.
Remarkably, she was able to reach the hospital despite the fact that most people with this condition pass away within two days, according to multiple doctors, and that she was only on day two and a half.
It was advised that I arrived at the appropriate time because if I had arrived any later, they might not have been able to assist me.
It’s one of those things you just don’t think will happen to you and you don’t hear about very often these days. ‘.
After spending five days in the critical care unit, Mrs. DeSkeere was able to recuperate at home from the infection that was almost fatal.
The mother of three is now advising other women to look for alternative sanitary products or to replace their tampons more frequently.
Most women recover completely from TSS, however little is known about its long-term effects. But other accounts suggest emotional and psychological problems, such as trouble focusing, in addition to physical weakness.
There is no evidence that TSS affects reproductive health or fertility.
To avoid TSS, Mrs. DeSkeere is choosing to use other sanitary products even though she had used tampons for 25 years.
“My advice to people who do want to use tampons is to just change them very frequently,” the woman stated.
“It is recommended that you replace your tampon every time you use the restroom and never use one that is more absorbent than you require.”.
Just being where I am now and getting better makes me happy. My recuperation has been more difficult than I anticipated, but each day I’m getting stronger and stronger. “.
