(Ch. 23 of my story of how I became deaf…)

So what was the mysterious, life-threatening illness I experienced in 1981, which ultimately lead to my deafness? The final diagnosis was TSS - Toxic Shock Syndrome.

Photo by: Tracy Hunter

TSS is defined as a rare, bacteria-caused illness occurring mostly in menstruating women who use high absorbency tampons. TSS is caused from a certain strain of staph, the bacterium Staphylococcus Aureus, which normally live harmlessly on the skin or in the nose, armpit, groin or vagina of one in every three people. In rare cases, certain strains of these bacteria can produce toxins or poisons that cause TSS. It is said that highly absorbent tampons may facilitate the infection because their prolonged intra-vaginal use enhances the bacterial growth.

I don’t remember if the tampons I used before my illness were super absorbent, but the tampon I had inserted sometime in the middle of the night was left inside me for about 6 hours before it was removed in the hospital emergency room that next morning. Sadly, they did not culture the tampon itself to find out if there was staph present because someone threw it away.

Photo by: Jason Wilson

In some cases of TSS, it is possible that the inside of the vagina, which is normally mucus-coated, could become dried out from a tampon’s absorbency, and it’s removal may cause a lesion or laceration along the vaginal wall. This could’ve happened sometime during the current or even previous menstrual cycle. Even the tiniest cut or tear would have been an open door for bacterium to enter.

Photo by: Ryan Junell

Another possibility is that residue of synthetic pieces from a tampon could have been left behind, thus facilitating bacteria growth, infection, or the build up of toxins.

It is also said that half of the TSS cases result from localized infections, for example following burns, boils, insect bites or surgery. This is probably why the doctors kept revisiting the bulging blister on the back of my heel.

Symptoms of Toxic Shock Syndrome include: a sudden high fever, vomiting, diarrhea, a sunburn-like rash that later peels - especially on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet, an unusual redness that occurs in the eyes, mouth, and vagina, dizziness, light-headedness, confusion, disorientation, decreased urination, fatigue and weakness, thirst, muscle aches, rapid drops in blood pressure, shock, kidney and liver failure.

Photo by: Jay Star

Even though I had most of these symptoms over the course of two and a half weeks (back in 1981), the doctors did not yet know that I had Toxic Shock Syndrome. It wasn’t until after I was discharged from the hospital that the formal diagnosis was made.

(Footnote: Don’t give up on the story yet. It has been important for me to share what life was like before I became deaf so that people understand the significant transition that occurred when I became deaf — a transformation I not only understand and accept, but also celebrate! Keep on reading! You have completed the beginning chapters entitled: Life Before Deaf, which tell of my experience before I became deaf. You have also completed the middle chapters entitled: Deaf or Death, which tell the dramatic story of the illness that took my hearing. You are now reading the final chapters entitled: My Journey Into Deafhood, which tell of my transitions and waking up to a world of silence. Keep reading! More coming soon…)

Posted by LaRonda on Wednesday, July 25th, 2007 at 5:00 am.