21 Comments »

Comment by 1159
2008-05-12 08:22:02

Ugh, Monday morning reading. Well, um certainly – urban legend.
Too awful for reality.
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Comment by Greg
2008-05-12 13:23:48

Fuck. Me.
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Comment by Josie
2008-05-12 15:18:16

No, Greg – sexually active could lead to TSS.

“who makes this stuff up”

That made me laugh, sister.
I’ll tel ya who – writers.

Oh yeah, you know it lol
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Comment by Jim
2008-05-12 16:12:47

I heard that legend ten years ago, but the fetus died shortly AFTER birth, and (get this) — it had a HOOK for a right hand!!!

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Comment by Richard Ferguson
2008-05-12 16:22:08

After reading this all I can say is, Thank God I’m not an obese woman. Nor do I have irregular periods.

I am a little sexually active, though.

But that’s another story.
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Comment by Christina
2008-05-12 18:44:04

I can validate the authenticity this came up in my Anatomy and Physiology class. This isn’t at all common but very plausible.
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Comment by Rebecca Adler
2008-05-12 20:00:12

59: Sounds like someone has a case of the Mondays.

Greg: Haha. I think Josie’s response says it all.

Josie: I swear I didn’t make this up.

Jim: Hm. Sounds like a different story after all
Rich: I’m also glad you’re not an obese pregnant woman.

Christina: Horrifying. Simply horrifying.
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Comment by Emma R
2008-05-13 02:10:48

Gag. Your boyfriend has some lovely dinner conversation. But, like you, I wouldn’t be able to resist telling people.

Also: I think maybe I’ll go for a run today. And do some sit ups. It’s scary to imagine being that out of touch with your body.
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Comment by Liesel
2008-05-13 14:00:16

Pardon the length, but I did pre-med : )

Sepsis (or toxic shock syndrome) is basically a bacterial infection – the only difference is that when it occurs in places that are highly vascularized
(ie- uterus, lungs, abdomen, intestines, etc) it just got on the autobahn to every square inch of your body – not a lot of time to fight it – spreads like wildfire – and is much harder to “get to” with medical intervention

So – a miscarriage, piece of placenta, a tampon… etc… if left inside the highly vascularized uterus/vaginal area – is basically affecting your body’s chemistry in a way that can lead to bacterial infection that will enter the bloodstream and could be lethal

BUT – infections take a while – you can go around toting any of these foreign bodies for like 10 weeks without anything happening – in some cases.
when sepsis STARTS you will get an onslaught of crazy symptoms that should send you to the doctor in time to get help in the form of antibiotics
you would have to literally ignore days of constant fever, massive headaches, tachycardia, dizziness, vomitting, siezures or severe shaking chills… etc etc…
but if you ignore those kinds of symptoms in the first place – you have bigger things wrong with you anyway!
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Comment by Rebecca Adler
2008-05-13 16:40:03

Liesel: She did have a lot of those symptoms for at least two weeks before she finally went in. I guess she just thought she had a flu or something. What’s tachycardia by the way? You’ve got me interested!
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Comment by liesel
2008-05-13 17:50:50

Tachycardia is a rapid heart rate, usually defined as greater than 100 beats per minute. There are different types. Sinus tachycardia happens when you excerise or get worked up emotionally – you can definitely feel it – like a flutter in your chest. It happened to me a lot when I had the bad habit in college – of taking the terrible original now illegal Xenadrine formula stackers…
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Comment by Chason
2008-05-13 20:53:28

Wow. No wonder you didn’t feel like eating after that.
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Comment by Rebecca Adler
2008-05-14 07:36:08

Liesel: Ah. Thanks. I would have looked it up but I had a super slow internet connection earlier.

Chaz: Yeah.
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Comment by liesel
2008-05-14 09:17:31

no problem!

this is a hilarious post – good stuff

it is reason # 37 why you love your boyfriend and reason # 645 why it’s just plain bad to be obese
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Comment by Rebecca Adler
2008-05-14 21:29:44

Liesel: Hahahaha!
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Comment by Colin Matthew
2008-05-31 21:39:18

Oh my god. That’s gross.

but funny…

but still gross..
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Comment by Natasha Burton
2008-06-04 09:09:06

This reminds me of an “urban legend” that went around my high school. Basically, a guy passed out with some girl after a night of drinking, went to the bathroom in his boxers while sleeping and then, upon waking up, took the poop out of his boxers (somehow, no ones knows) and put it into her underwear so she thought she was one who crapped her pants.

At best, it was a funny/scary story that made me very suspect about drinking in high school (I was–am–such a goody two shoes). At worst, I never looked at the guy the same way again, and when I did, I laughed.
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Comment by Becca
2008-06-10 14:28:06

Natasha: I’m horrified by that story. Ick, ick and more ick.
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Comment by Jeffrey Pillow
2008-08-03 10:01:09

Goes great with pizza and orange juice.
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Comment by brenda
2008-09-02 12:18:25

This is a little late, but as for the Toxic Shock Syndrome story, I can validate it. Your Boyfriends story is correct! My co-workers husband (I know that is how all Urban Legends start, but really) works for Betty’s parents. My co-worker came in every day and gave me detailed updates on Betty.

All I can say is KEEP UP on you monthly visitor and go to the doc if she doesn’t visit in a few months. Don’t wait 6 months with back pains and flu symptoms, especially if you are trying to conceive your second child.

And yes it did turn out to be fatal.
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Comment by Rebecca Adler
2008-09-04 21:06:36

Brenda, that’s so awful that it was fatal. I feel really bad for writing about this so flippantly knowing that….
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