TOXIC SHOCK SYNDROME

Dramatic, but we’ve all been there 😩 Toxic shock syndrome, or TSS, is a severe complication of certain bacterial infections; it's often associated with tampons because the blood that accumulates in a tampon can serve as a culture medium for the bacteria. Initial cases of TSS in the 80s were linked to to the synthetic materials that were used in super absorbent tampons at the time. Basically the material in the tampon and string acted as a ladder and Petri dish for dangerous bacteria. ⁣⁣
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Today, it's incredibly rare, affecting less than one out of every 100,000 people in the U.S. The earliest warning signs of the condition are flulike symptoms - vomiting, high fever, diarrhea, and muscle weakness - paired with a flat, red, sunburn like rash that can appear on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet.⁣⁣
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Rare or not, here are some reminders for living your best tampon life:⁣⁣
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• Avoid super-high-absorbency tampons if possible, and use the lowest absorbency that meets your needs. ⁣⁣
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• Make sure you change your tampon every four to eight hours at a minimum, and try to give your body a break. (The same goes for any item that remains in the vagina for a significant period of time, including menstrual cups.)⁣⁣
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• Consider using a pad or nothing (free flowing) when sleeping to give vaginal tissues time to breathe. ⁣⁣
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• Choose tampons and pads that are organic and chemical free! I personally love @lovebeginswithl products ✨⁣⁣