Tampon warning issued as woman who forgot she had one in details ‘dead rat’ smell

A warning has been issued to all tampon users as a woman who accidentally kept one in for a whole month has detailed the horrific ordeal.

Most of us have heard the terrifying stories of people who have suffered from toxic shock syndrome (TSS) as a stark reminder to always keep on top of our tampon usage during our periods.

In fact, the warnings are so drilled into women's heads that most of us won't even risk leaving a tampon in for a minute longer than the advised four hours - and for good reason.

TSS is a rare but life-threatening condition caused by an infection, and as per the NHS, it can happen when using a tampon or menstrual cup, or from an infected wound. Symptoms develop quickly and if you have it, you will need urgent treatment.

Symptoms to look out for include a high temperature, muscle aches, a raised skin rash that feels like sandpaper, vomiting and diarrhoea, and severe pain in your arms or legs, or all over your body.

A warning has been issued to tampon users after a woman accidentally left one in for a whole month (Getty Stock Image)

Reality TV star Savannah Miller, who appeared on season seven of Netflix’s The Circle, recalled her narrow miss with the infection in a new interview with the New York Post.

Despite leaving her tampon in for an entire month without realising, she somehow managed to avoid a dreaded brush with TSS.

At the time, she was 22-years-old and in college, and was heading on a night out that coincided with the end of her period.

Wanting to make sure there would no be leakage she used a tampon for good measure, but by the next day she had forgotten it was ever there.

Savannah recalled: "I forgot I put it in, and because there was no blood and the string had disappeared, I didn’t see it."

However, within just a few days she began noticing some red flags, including a general sick feeling, itchiness and a bad smell.

“It smelled like a rat crawled inside of me while I was sleeping and died,” she admitted, adding that she was worried about other people smelling the odour in her class.

Savannah Miller described the smell as if a ‘rat crawled inside her’ (Instagram/@savannahcmiller)

But, she passed it off as an 'old period' smell and kept using new tampons to combat this, pushing the old one further up into her vagina.

On top of this, the on-campus STD clinic found nothing wrong, leaving her even more puzzled.

It was only at her third doctor's appointment that a doctor discovered cotton particles in her urine sample, which raised the question of whether it was possible she had a tampon inside her.

By the time it was located, it was 'so far up' in her cervix 'there was no shot she was gonna see it'.

Savannah joked: “The doctor had to fish it out of my ovaries."

Although she managed to avoid contracting TSS, it was very nearly a much worse situation, and many warnings have been issued on how to avoid the potentially life-threatening infection.

Experts have advised on the ways you can reduce your chances of getting toxic shock syndrome (Getty Stock Image)

How to avoid getting toxic shock syndrome (TSS)

According to Better Health, there are a number of ways you can make sure you don't get TSS.

The experts advise that you should avoid using super-absorbent tampons and only unwrap your tampon if you are going to use it immediately.

On top of this, make sure you're not handling the tampon more than you need to and wash your hands thoroughly before and after inserting the tampon.

The biggie, of course, is making sure you're changing your tampons regularly - at least every four hours.

The site outlines that you should also:

• Be gentle when inserting and removing tampons.
• Avoid using applicator tampons, as the applicator may scrape your vaginal walls.
• Use pads instead of tampons overnight.
• Maintain personal hygiene during your period.
• Do not wear tampons when you do not have your period.
• Consider using pads or panty liners during the last day or so of your period when your flow is light.
• Use a lubricating jelly when inserting tampons in the last day or so of your period when your flow is light