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I was nearly killed by a TAMPON… and even saw dead relatives as I lay in intensive care

Aimee Haller Follis, 37, of Pennsylvania, USA, thought she felt rundown from the stress of a house move, but she was actually suffering from toxic shock syndrome

A MUM-OF-TWO has told how she nearly died after contracting toxic shock syndrome from a TAMPON – and even saw dead relatives as she battled for her life.

Aimee Haller Follis, 37, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, was lying critically ill in hospital when she had what she described as a “near death experience”.

 Aimee battled back from toxic shock syndrome
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Aimee battled back from toxic shock syndromeCredit: Aimee Haller Follis

She saw relatives including her cousin Jimmy, who took his own life aged just 16, her mum Peg Haller’s dad, James, plus her dad's parents and uncle.

But, far from being afraid, she was comforted by what happened. “I saw a white light in the distance, in the upper left hand corner,” she explained.

“I saw my closest relatives. It was very interesting. I saw their upper bodies.

“No one spoke to me but everyone was smiling and had a white light behind them. They were all there together. It was a very comforting experience. I was so happy to see them. I knew they were there. I knew where they were coming from, but I didn’t want to go there."

 Aimee, with husband Matthew, credits her friends' Facebook group for getting her through her ordeal
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Aimee, with husband Matthew, credits her friends' Facebook group for getting her through her ordealCredit: Aimee Haller Follis

She continued: “I was really reassured and calm. It was very peaceful. The next day I saw Jimmy, alone, when family were with me.”

Aimee’s ordeal started on May 5, 2017.

A few days earlier, alongside her husband, Matthew, 40, who works in sales, and their children, James, five, and Luke, three, she had moved house.

So when she woke in the middle of the night feeling ill, Aimee, who also works in sales, was not overly concerned.

 Jimmy, who died in the 1990s, came to Aimee
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Jimmy, who died in the 1990s, came to AimeeCredit: Aimee Haller Follis

She explained: "When I woke in the middle of the night with a fever I thought I was exhausted from all the back-and-forth of moving house so I stayed in bed. I thought I had the flu, as the symptoms were very similar to flu.”

But, as the days passed, her condition worsened. “I was taking over-the-counter fever relief but I was becoming more and more dehydrated,” she said. “I was becoming more and more weak. I couldn't eat, I started to vomit. I was becoming progressively worse."

On May 7, barely able to stand, Matthew took her to A&E at Chester County Hospital in West Chester, Pennsylvania.

 Aimee and Matthew with their sons, James and Luke
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Aimee and Matthew with their sons, James and LukeCredit: Aimee Haller Follis

There medics took her temperature – which was around the 41 degree celsius mark, much higher than it should be – and blood pressure – which was dangerously low.

"I had several hours of tests in the emergency room,” she explained. “I had an MRI and CT scan, but they couldn't work anything out. I was in agony.

“I had piercing pains all over my stomach. I was shaking so much because I was cold, even though I was hot and had a temperature.”

What is toxic shock syndrome?

TSS is caused by either staphylococcus or streptococcus bacteria.

These bacteria normally live harmlessly on the skin, nose or mouth, but if they get deeper into the body they can release toxins that damage tissue and stop organs working.

The following can increase your risk of developing TSS:

  • using tampons – particularly if you leave them in for longer than recommended or you use "super-absorbent" tampons
  • using female barrier contraceptives
  • a break in your skin, such as a cut or burn
  • childbirth
  • using nasal packing to treat a bleed
  • having a staphylococcal infection or streptococcal infection, such as impetigo or cellulitis

But, after around two hours, a specialist realised the infection was in her cervix and she had toxic shock syndrome, from a tampon. She had finished her period a few days earlier but believes a fibre had caused an infection. She was raced to intensive care, pumped full of antibiotics and medication to bring down her blood pressure.

She said: “I had used the same tampon I’d used my whole life. I didn’t forget about it. The maximum I leave it in is for eight hours when I sleep at night, which is nothing I haven’t done my entire life."

 After contracting the illness, she lost around 60 percent of her hair - so went for a haircut
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After contracting the illness, she lost around 60 percent of her hair - so went for a haircutCredit: Aimee Haller Follis

She said: “I was in ICU for five days and I was put on a maximum amount of blood pressure medication you can be on. I was on fluids, cathetised and put in a diaper (nappy). I couldn’t walk. They pumped me with so much fluid in the course of a few hours I gained three-and-a-half stone of water weight. I had trouble breathing. I was on oxygen.”

Her family flew in from across America to say goodbye and she was given the last rites.

But, after five days, she turned a corner and was moved to another ward.

 Now, Aimee will never wear a tampon
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Now, Aimee will never wear a tamponCredit: Aimee Haller Follis

Then, 11 days later, she was allowed home.

But the illness has had a lasting impact. She lost about half her hair and suffered a miscarriage in October, at 10 weeks pregnant.

She said: “Although there was no correlation between this and the toxic shock syndrome, I know my body and believe it to be linked.

“I also suffer lack of muscle strength, I’ve had skin peeling and I’ve had temporary vision loss.

“But, now I feel like I’ve been given a second chance - partly thanks to a Facebook page my friends set up where they shared messages for me. It got me through.”

A teenager almost died after suffering from toxic shock syndrome. She spoke about her symptoms.

Model Lauren Wasser suffered TSS in 2012 - she bravely told of her battle with the illness.

Teen who almost DIED from tampon-related toxic shock syndrome shares her symptoms
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