Model loses legs after tampon left her minutes away from death

A model has opened up on the horrifying circumstances which led to her losing both of her legs.

LA-based Lauren Wasser has issued an urgent warning to tampon users after her body started to shut down amid regular use.

She was just 24 when she developed the life threatening infection, Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS), in 2012.

The rare illness 'can happen when using a tampon or menstrual cup, or from an infected wound', according to the NHS.

What causes TSS?

According to the health service, it's possible to get TSS:

• from using tampons or menstrual cups
• a contraceptive diaphragm or cap
• after a vaginal birth or caesarean section
• from a cut, wound, boil or burn that has become infected

Lauren claims the majority of tampons are 'full of bleach dioxin, chlorine'

"We're putting that inside of us at such a delicate time and it creates a perfect storm. It takes one of those toxins to get inside your body and start acting like the flu and shutting down your organs, it's lethal, it's dangerous," she said on the Life Uncut podcast, now aged 36.

"It's my goal and life mission to make sure that not only is this information out there but women have these conversations amongst each other, create the dialogue and check in with each other because knowledge is key."

Lauren had two heart attacks and was given a one percent chance of survival

Lauren explains that she was found unresponsive at home having suffered a fever of almost 42C back in 2012.

After her kidneys failed, she had two heart attacks and was given just a one percent chance of survival.

But when she woke up from a medically induced coma over a week later, an infectious disease doctor ordered staff to check if the woman had a tampon in, leading to her diagnosis of TSS.

Although her life was saved, Lauren’s legs were black with gangrene – and sadly, they couldn't be saved.

“My feet were on fire, it was like someone was lighting my foot on fire, the burning sensation was insane,” she said on The Diary Of A CEO podcast in 2023.

“My right leg was worse than my left, my toes on my left were turning purple but my right side, there was a lot more damage, you could tell.

“So then the concern came in that basically they needed to amputate my right leg to save my life or I was going to die.”

Lauren overheard a nurse saying she would to have her legs amputated

“I remember looking around and thinking, ‘Is she talking about me, she's saying I am an amputation?’" she told Bartlett.

"And I just started screaming, I was screaming for my mother, my godfather, I was screaming for everyone, saying; ‘Do not let this person touch me'.

“I was unaware of the severity of the situation for myself. That was the first time I heard the word amputation.”

With just one leg left, six years passed and Lauren decided to have her left leg amputated, given how much pain it was causing her.

Nowadays, Lauren has bravely re-entered the world of fashion and is an advocate for more transparency in menstrual products.