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Christina Applegate Reveals MS Misdiagnosis
Confirmed
In Short: In a two-part installment of her podcast 'MeSsy' with co-host Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Christina Applegate revealed she was misdiagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in 2021.
In a two-part installment of her podcast 'MeSsy' with co-host Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Christina Applegate revealed she was misdiagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in 2021.
Applegate explained that new technology led to the recent discovery, highlighting the high rate of MS misdiagnoses. 'There’s a pretty damn high number of misdiagnoses with MS,' she noted.
Applegate shared her emotional journey, saying, 'I lost everything. I lost my job. God, I’m so sorry, I get really emotional because it stopped my life.' She still experiences every symptom of someone with MS, but acknowledged the prevalence of misdiagnoses.
Dr. Marwa Kaisey, associate professor with the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center department of neurology, joined the show to discuss how MS misdiagnoses are 'fairly common.' 'Almost one in five of these people who’d been told they had MS, some for decades, didn’t actually have it,' Kaisey said.
Applegate, who had stepped away from the podcast in March and was hospitalized in April, expressed her sense of guilt after becoming a public face of MS. 'It’s weird because I feel like I let everybody down. It’s this weird feeling because I became this — you and I, the poster children for MS,' she said.
The actress also mentioned that her doctors are conducting an online investigation to find out what has been going on since 2021. 'This may come as great news, but to me, I’m back at square one. It’s hard to say that [my doctor] came into my room and she said, “Congratulations, you don’t have MS,”' Applegate said.
Applegate's revelation has left her in a state of shock, calling it a 'mindf—k.' She wrote, 'Thank you for the outpouring of love and well wishes. Health issues are a constant for me, but I’m a strong chick and I’m getting stronger and better every day. I’m taking a moment to focus on my health, but I’ll be back with more to say soon enough.'
What this adds
Applegate's revelation highlights the challenges of diagnosing MS, as there is no single test for the disease.
What's confirmed
- “There’s a pretty damn high number of misdiagnoses with MS,” she noted.
- "I'm not happy at all... You don't get misdiagnosed and then all of the sudden I'm better."
- Applegate said she still experiences “every symptom of someone with MS. Every single one,” but acknowledged the prevalence of misdiagnoses.
- “This may come as great news, but to me, I’m back at square one. It’s hard to say that [my doctor] came into my room and she said, ‘Congratulations, you don’t have MS,” Applegate said.
- “It’s weird because I feel like I let everybody down. It’s this weird feeling because I became this — you and I, the poster children for MS,” she said.
- And that’s going to be an online investigation that my doctors are going to be getting into just to find out what has been going on since 2021, why did this happen?” During another emotional moment, the “Dead to Me” star said, “I’ve gone through a great depression because of it.
- “Almost one in five of these people who’d been told they had MS, some for decades, didn’t actually have it. And a majority of them were on medication to treat their MS,” Kaisey said.
- "She came into my room and said, 'Congratulations, you don't have MS,'" Christina recalled through tears.
- Emmy-nominated actor Christina Applegate announced Tuesday that she had been misdiagnosed with multiple sclerosis, a condition she believed she had for more than five years, leaving her “back at square one” as she continues to experience debilitating medical issues.
What's still developing
- Applegate has suffered from debilitating symptoms and was diagnosed with the disease in 2021.
- Kaisey says nearly 20 percent of those diagnosed with MS turn out not to have the disease.
- The Best Amazon Beauty Deals on TODAY: Save on Tarte, Laura Geller, More Steals & Deals, Boxes & Last Chance Market Christina Applegate cried as she revealed stunning news in her return to her “MeSsy” podcast with Jamie-Lynn Sigler after a seven-month hiatus.
- The Married … with Children actor says the news is ‘unnerving’ and ‘really confusing’ The Married … with Children actor says the news is ‘unnerving’ and ‘really confusing’ After becoming a prominent advocate for multiple sclerosis awareness and chronicling her struggles in an emotional memoir published in March, the Emmy-winning actor Christina Applegate has revealed she does not have the debilitating autoimmune disease after all.
- Applegate revealed her diagnosis in August 2021, at age 49, sharing publicly that she had been diagnosed a few months prior.
- ‘I’m back at square one,’ Applegate said in sharing the news ‘I’m back at square one,’ Applegate said in sharing the news Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later?
- “You don’t get misdiagnosed and then all of the sudden I’m better. I haven’t gotten better … If anything, I’ve gotten worse in some ways,” she said.
- To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Actress Christina Applegate has revealed she does not have multiple sclerosis (MS), despite her 2021 diagnosis.