‘I was so sick’: Maura Higgins reveals she nearly died from toxic shock syndrome after being stuck with a tampon for THREE MONTHS
Maura Higgins nearly died from Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) after being stuck in a tampon for three months.
TSS is often associated with tampon use in young women, but it can affect anyone of any age — including men and children — and can be fatal if not treated promptly.
Keith Lemon, the former Love Island star, 31, appeared on Shopping with Keith Lemon and described her “very bad experience” to warn others of the risks.
‘I was so sick’: While shopping with Keith Lemon, Maura Higgins revealed she almost died of toxic shock syndrome after being stuck with a tampon for three months
She said: “I had a very bad experience. I’m not a doctor, I don’t know much about it [TSS]but I know not to leave a tampon in longer, I think it’s nine hours, I think that’s the max.
“I had a tampon in me for three months. When the doctor found it, it was stuck to my cervix. And I was so sick. I didn’t know what was going on…
“There were people who died from this event.
“Young girls may not have noticed how when you go out at night what if you were really drunk and you forget that these things actually happen and people don’t talk about it.
“I remember even at school I would pull my tampon out of my pocket, slip it up my sleeve and then go to the bathroom like that…thinking back, why did I do that? It’s nothing to be ashamed of, so I think it’s an important issue, isn’t it?’
She said: “I had a tampon in me for three months. When the doctor found it, it was stuck to my cervix. And I was so sick. I didn’t know what was going on…’ (pictured this month)
Elsewhere on the show, Maura shared her belief that more women should be teaching themselves how to orgasm rather than relying on a man to be “good.”
She explained: “Most of the girls I know have never had an orgasm.
“But do you know what it is? I don’t think people understand, you actually have to teach yourself how to orgasm, it’s not about how good the man is or whatever, it’s about you as a woman.
‘We women don’t understand how lucky we are, the woman who can do it, know what I mean?’
Candid: Elsewhere on the show, Maura shared her belief that more women need to teach themselves how to orgasm rather than relying on a man to be ‘good’
The conversation also turned to her looks, with Maura revealing that she dyed her hair when she started going gray as a teenager.
“I’m so grey, you know, if I left it it would be all white,” she confessed. [It started] When I was 17, it was bad genes, wasn’t it?’
Shopping with Keith Lemon ends Thursday at 10pm on ITV2.
WHAT IS TOXIC SHOCK SYNDROME?
Toxic Shock Syndrome is a highly dangerous bacterial infection – but it can be misdiagnosed because the symptoms are similar to those of other diseases and because it is so rare.
It occurs when normally harmless Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus bacteria that live on the skin enter the bloodstream and release dangerous toxins.
The prevalence of TSS is unclear, but doctors have claimed it affects about one or two in 100,000 women.
The mortality rate is between five and 15 percent. And recurs 30 to 40 percent of the time.
Symptoms usually begin with a sudden high fever — a temperature above 38.9°C/102°F.
Within a few hours, an affected person develops flu-like symptoms such as a headache, muscle aches, sore throat and cough.
Nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, dizziness and confusion are also symptoms.
Women are at greatest risk of developing toxic shock syndrome during menstruation, particularly if they use tampons, have recently given birth, or are using an inner-barrier contraceptive such as a contraceptive. B. a diaphragm use.
While tampon boxes recommend changing them between four and eight hours, it’s common for women to forget and leave them in overnight.
Treatment may include antibiotics to fight infection, oxygen to help with breathing, fluids to prevent dehydration and organ damage, and drugs to control blood pressure.
Dialysis may also be needed if the kidneys stop working.
In severe cases, surgery may be needed to remove dead tissue. In rare cases, it may be necessary to amputate the affected area.
To prevent TSS, women should use tampons with the lowest absorbency for their flow, alternate between a tampon and a pad, and wash their hands before and after insertion.
Tampons should also be changed regularly as directed on the packaging—usually every four to eight hours.