Lauren Wasser, 24, nearly died from toxic shock, and lost her right leg and part of her left foot. Now, she might lose her left leg, she revealed.
Toxic Shock Syndrome is caused by the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, known as staph. It’s linked primarily to super-absorbant tampons, making headlines decades ago for causing deaths among young women.
“Toxic shock syndrome can affect anyone, including men, children and postmenopausal women. Risk factors for toxic shock syndrome include skin wounds and surgery.”
Wasser said she’s still struggling with the effects of the syndrome after contracting it in 2012. She explained recently that she could lose her left leg as well.
“In a few months, I’m inevitably going to have my other leg amputated. There’s nothing I can do about it. But what I can do is help make sure that this doesn’t happen to others,” she said.
“Toxic Shock Syndrome cost me my leg, but, years later, I have since dedicated myself to raising awareness about TSS prevention,” Wasser wrote or InStyle last month. “I want to educate women about the potential risks of using tampons. TSS has been killing and harming women for more than 30 years: let that sink in. How many lives is it going to take for something to change?”
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