Christina Applegate attends a ceremony honoring Christina Applegate with a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame on November 14, 2022, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Netflix)
Actress Christina Applegate on Tuesday revealed in her podcast "MeSsy," that she was misdiagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
The backstory:
In 2021, Applegate first announced her multiple sclerosis diagnosis and made her first public appearance when she attended her Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony in 2022.
What we know:
Variety reports Applegate returned to her podcast Tuesday after being away for seven months due to her health and tearfully shared the revelation in a two-part episode, saying that new technology led to the discovery. "This may come as great news, but to me, I’m back at square one," she said. "It’s hard to say that [my doctor] came into my room, and she said, ‘Congratulations, you don’t have MS.'"
What they're saying:
Applegate says her illness and symptoms are now a mystery. "I have every symptom of someone with MS. Every single one," she said. "Now, we both know that there are many things that mirror MS — many different things."
In 2008, Applegate survived a breast cancer diagnosis after undergoing a double mastectomy.
What is Multiple Sclerosis?
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society says multiple sclerosis (MS) is an unpredictable disease of the central nervous system which includes the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves.
MS disrupts the flow of information within the brain and between the brain and the rest of the body.
Symptoms also vary from person to person and can include:
- Fatigue
- Memory difficulties
- Mobility issues
- Mood changes
- Numbness
- Pain
- Tingling
- Vision impairment
MS can affect different areas of the body and symptoms depend on where inflammation and damage are occurring at any specific time.
Applegate's acting career:
Applegate rose to fame as the teen character Kelly Bundy on the sitcom ‘Married…. with Children," which aired from 1987-1997.
Applegate has also starred in various movies and television shows, including "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy" (2004) and "Dead to Me" (2019–2022).
She also appeared in the films "Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead" (1991), "Across the Moon" (1994), and "Wild Bill" (1995).
In 2003, Applegate won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series in 2003 for her role as Amy Green on "Friends."
The Source: This article includes information from Variety, People, The National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and previous FOX Local reporting. This story was reported from Orlando.