Did I get TSS from my mooncup?

[anorak]

I have had severe vomiting diarrhea and fever all Sunday night and all day Monday. Couldn't figure out why. There was nothing left in me and I couldn't even keep water down and it was just getting worse.

It suddenly occurred to me that my mooncup might be giving me TSS. I took it out and immediately began to feel better. My temperature climbed from 95 to 97 in an hour and I had no more fever and the stomach cramps went immediately from every 10 minutes to once an hour or two.

I phoned the chemo nurse and she said it's nothing to do with the chemo, cos it was too many days ago when you last had it, you must have flu.

But I don't have sore throat or blocked nose or headache. I told her about the mooncup and she just said 'oh', so I don't really know if she thought it a possibility or not.

I'm wondering if it happened because my immunity is lower while on chemo. Has anyone any experience of this? And can anyone tell me if I will be able to use my mooncup again?

Don't know I am afraid anorak. Glad you are feeling better though.

Presumably you had sterilised it?

I am on similar to chemo drugs to suppress my immune system and get infections really easily.I know a mooncup would be a nono for me so I don't have one

How long had the mooncup been left in?

I very much doubt it would be the mooncup tbh.

Glad you're feeling a bit better now...how's the chemo going?

I seem to recall the leaflet in the mooncup box saying that mooncups had never been associated with TSS.

I can't check because I finally got round to chucking the box and leaflet away the other day. Sorry.

You know Buda you are right. It was fine when I put it in but I hadn't been as rigorous about cleaning it each time I went to the loo like I normally do. I was so tired I couldn't be bothered. Also did not shower for a couple of days for the same reason - I should have known better living in a country with high humidity, infections breed like wildfire.

was toxic shock syndrome diagnosed? It is incredibly serious and life threatening.

It's arrently never been associated with mooncups because the bacteria doesn't grow on the mooncup material.

I looked on the website and it said that they were nowhere near as bad as tampons for TSS but that it still happens occasionally.

No belgo, I haven't been out of the house since it happened, but it all fits.

here are symptoms

if you are having chemotherapy, I assume you're immune system is compromised? In which case you are more susceptable to bugs I think?

yes belgo. I was supposed to have chemo today but it has been postponed because of this.

Did you have a rash? It seems to indicate that TSS causes a rash so maybe it wasn't TSS but it was giving you an infection of some sort.

Are you feeling better now?

No rash that I noticed. Yes much better, thanks. The improvement was instant when I took the mooncup out.

I just can't think what else it could have been.

I suppose the only way you will know is to try it again really.

Get yourself better first though.

You look after yourself young lady! [stern, but loving look]