I nearly died from falling asleep drunk and forgetting how to change my Tampon.

A TEEN claims that she almost died from alcohol poisoning after falling asleep drunken and forgetting to change her diaper.

Ellie Makin stated that she suffered from toxic shock syndrome. However, she was dismissed by medical staff when she went to the hospital.

Ellie Makin spent five days in hospital after developing toxic shock syndrome

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Ellie Makin spent five days in hospital after developing toxic shock syndromeCredit: Kennedy News
The teenager claims she was dismissed from hospital as having 'freshers flu'

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According to the teenager, she was discharged from hospital because she had ‘freshers flu’Credit: Kennedy News

The 18-year old claims that she was sent home after doctors told her she had an infection. “freshers flu”.

The tampon had been left in her bag overnight after she went out on a night.

The student experienced flu-like symptoms, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. She was then diagnosed with toxic shock syndrome.

She fell unconscious and was taken by her university welfare tea to The University Hospital North Durham, where she claimed she had told them about the tampon.

Ellie stated that she was discharged three hours after her doctors examined her. “dismissed”She was concerned about toxic shock.

They put her symptoms down a viral infection, she claims.

After she started to get worse, Tameside General Hospital diagnosed her with toxic shock syndrome. She was kept in hospital for five more days.

Climate science student, now encouraging other teens to follow her lead. “trust their gut”When they feel they have been dismissed, they may seek a second opinion.

Ellie, from Droylsden in Greater Manchester, stated: “It was freshers and i’d been out quite a lot and then I felt really run down with flu symptoms.

“My apple watch showed my heart rate at 120 when I was lying down, which is normally 55. That was alarming and it made me feel dizzy and sick.

“I had drunkenly fallen asleep with my tampon in. I left it in for twelve hours. So, I Googled my symptoms and found that it was toxic shock.

“I told mum, and she rang welfare. They arrived at my door.” I fell unconscious when they answered my door, so I was taken to hospital.

“I had blood tests done. They said my white blood count wasn’t high enough, but couldn’t pinpoint the source of the infection so they discharged me.

“I knew it wasn’t viral infection because it made me dizzy and I felt fainting. I also told the doctors about the tampon and they didn’t do anything.

“I feel like I was dismissed – they should’ve run the tests and not just put it down to freshers flu.”

“PUSH FOR HELP”

Toxic shock syndrome is a rare, but potentially fatal condition that results from bacteria entering the body and releasing harmful chemicals.

The condition rapidly deteriorates and can lead to organ failure or even death if it is not treated quickly.

Tampon users are advised to change their tampons prior to going to bed, and as soon as they awake.

Now, the teen claims that she is suffering from long-term, relatively unknown effects of the condition. She has a thinned hairline and peeling skin on her feet and hands.

Ellie worries that these effects could last as long as six months. Ellie joined online support groups made up of people who have recovered from toxic shock syndrome.

She stated that there was a possibility that it might have been toxic shock. Durham Hospital should have done more tests, particularly considering that she had left the tampon in for so long.

“They said it’s a fatal disease and you’re lucky to have caught it now. It was scary and made me feel annoyed about how Durham Hospital treated me.”

After the horror of her experience, she vows to use tampons with extreme caution and encourages others to do it.

What are the signs and symptoms of TSS?

  • High fever: 39C (102F) or higher
  • Flu-like symptoms can include headache, chills (or muscle ache), sore throat, and cough.
  • Feeling and/or being sick
  • Diarrhoea
  • A widespread, sunburn-like rash
  • You will see redness in your whites, lips, and tongue.
  • Dizziness, fainting and/or dizziness
  • Difficulty breathing

A spokesperson for County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust stated: “There are times when a patient develops additional symptoms after leaving our emergency department team. This would support a specific diagnosis.

“We encourage patients who have existing or new symptoms to go back to the hospital to be examined further.

“We’re sorry Ellie is unhappy with the care she received and would welcome an opportunity to discuss this and her overall experience with her, if she would find this helpful.”

The 18-year-old developed a rash and felt severely unwell

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The 18-year old developed a rash, and felt extremely unwell.Credit: Kennedy News
She said she was sent home initially before going back to a different hospital the next day

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She claimed she was first sent home, but then returned to another hospital the next day.Credit: Kennedy News
I accidentally left my tampon in for a MONTH becauseI’d put two up there without realising – I took a photo when I finally got it out

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