Considering how rare TSS is, and how often tampons are lost or forgotten up there until there’s discharge and odor, I wouldn’t worry.
I used tampons exclusively for years, often for more than 8 hours, and forgot one for a few days which ended up going rotten - pretty gross, but it didn’t make me sick. Now I use a DivaCup which is even more convienent, and of course much cheaper.
Paging Jenna Jamison!!
This. Anecdote time.
I am the rare bird who has been diagnosed with Toxic Shock Syndrome as a result of improper tampon usage. Spent several days in the hospital due to it.
Back in my youth, living in Hawaii, I spent a great deal of time at the beach and in the ocean: camping, swimming, sunbathing, surfing. I spent more time on the beach than ever even during my period. Tampons are great for continuing your favorite outdoor activities undeterred by feminine hygienic issues. Needless to say, I was less than conscientious about changing them regularly. It’s not exactly easy to deal with tampons when there are few or no restroom facilities, no obvious disposal options, and you’re busy having fun.
Shortly after arriving home from a long beachy weekend, I became quite ill with severe flu-like symptoms. My family thought it was the flu and left me in bed, all achy and miserable, for a few days figuring it would get better on its own (this was before anyone considered getting annual flu shots and generally treated flu like a bad cold). Finally, it was decided that I was getting worse, not better, and I was taking to the local clinic. My symptoms seemed to indicate a serious infection and I was sent to the hospital for a spinal tap while waiting for blood results.
At the hospital, my BP was low enough that I passed out immediately when sat upright. I was admitted. Blood results came back and staphylococcus levels were significantly high and it was determined that my lackadaisical attention to feminine hygiene (e.g., improperly leaving tampons in too long) combined with increased exposure to bacteria through my outdoor activities contributed to the serious staphylococcal infection I suffered. I was told that had I not received medical attention when I did, I could have died within a day or two.
For a few months, I stopped using heavy flow tampons, and instead used light flow tampons in conjunction with pads, but that was inconvenient for my activities. I’m back to using heavy flow tampons, but I’m cautious about removing them within 6-8 hours. When I swim in the ocean and camp, I’ll swap them more often than that.
There’s no way I want to treat my girly bits as a petrie dish again. It was not a fun experience.
I have an anecdote as well.
This was when I was drinking and would often forget things. My period seemed extra long (almost 12 days) and the flow had slowed then started up again, though it was still fairly light. I didn’t feel great, but then I never did because I was always hung over or drunk. It was mid-day and my husband and I were frisky and started to have sex. I was on top. Something felt extra wet and I looked down and all I saw was dark. I told him not to look, but something was wrong. In one swift movement I got off of him and stood up and this gush of bright red blood went everywhere and ran down my legs and all over the carpet. It scared both of us and I started crying.
I rinsed all the blood off in the shower and we went to the hospital. I was soaking a pad in about 20 minutes. Finally they took me in for a pelvic exam and the doctor said ‘what’s this?’, reached in, and pulled out a tampon. As far as I remember, the last time I used a tampon (when I still had my regular period) was probably seven days previous. In my drunken stupor, I apparently forgot to take one out. They said I was VERY lucky.
That actually was one of my wake up calls that sent me to rehab.
I’m glad you started this thread, Freudian Slit (Um, what a perfect username!) I have often wondered the same thing. And I have the same trouble with pads. I hate the feeling of trickling blood all day long anyway, I just hate it.