Actress Christina Applegate opened up about her ongoing battle with multiple sclerosis (MS), describing it as “the worst thing I’ve ever gone through.” In a recent episode of the podcast Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend, the 53-year-old actress appeared alongside her MesSy podcast co-host, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, who also lives with the disease.
“If people saw what my life was like on the daily, they wouldn’t they wouldn’t be able to do it. Because I can sometimes not do it. It’s really, really hard,” said the Married… with Children star.
Applegate, who was declared cancer-free following a double mastectomy in 2008, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in 2021. MS is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks the protective covering of the nerves, disrupting communication between the brain and body.
She has openly discussed her symptoms, which may include numbness, weakness, and vision problems. The condition currently has no cure.
MS and its Severity
The Dead to Me actress shared that she rarely leaves her home due to the severity of her symptoms, which include intense pain, balance issues, and numbness. She revealed that she has been hospitalized approximately 30 times because of complications like vomiting and diarrhea, which she suspects are related to MS.
She also expressed frustration over the unsolicited advice she’s received throughout the years, ranging from questionable “cures” to outright nonsense.
“You wouldn’t believe some of the things people suggest,” she said. “Like, ‘I have this holy water that can cure your MS.’ And I’m thinking, ‘Really? That’s incredible – because millions of people around the world are still living with it.”
Applegate also addressed the stigma surrounding chronic illness, expressing frustration over people insinuating that her conditions are self-inflicted.
“I think that the first thing that I hear from people is, ‘How did you get it?’” she told O’Brien. “Meaning, I must have done something wrong in my life to have this disease. I did it to myself. I had breast cancer as well. So, ‘Oh, you must have done something.’” She noted that she is “used to” the stigma now.
Watch the conversation in the video below.
