Christina Applegate: Actress says she remains MS community advocate after misdiagnosis
The 'Dead to Me' star detailed her current mobility struggles on her podcast, noting it now takes her 10 minutes to get out of bed.
By Nadia Singh ·
Christina Applegate maintains her commitment to the multiple sclerosis community despite learning she was misdiagnosed with the autoimmune disease.
Applegate, 54, stated on Tuesday's episode of her podcast "MeSsy" that she feels she is "back at square one" following a recent medical review. She announced the misdiagnosis during last week's episode, noting that a doctor informed her she does not have the condition. The actress said she still feels part of the community and intends to continue speaking out for others.
She described specific physical challenges she is currently facing. Applegate said she timed herself on Tuesday and found it took 10 minutes to move from her pillow, get out of bed, and stand up. She added that she nearly could not walk to the bathroom and now keeps a walker next to her bed. She noted that she never had such difficulty sitting up before and described her current state as new.
Applegate co-hosts "MeSsy" with Jamie Lynn Sigler, who is publicly living with MS. Applegate told listeners, "You guys are my people," and said, "I'm still your warrior and I'm still going to speak out on your behalf forever and ever." She added that she loves the community and wants to raise awareness about misdiagnosis without causing hysteria.
Medical experts note that diagnosing MS is complex. Dr. Marwa Kaisey, a board-certified neurologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, stated on a previous podcast episode that about 20% of patients diagnosed with MS do not have the condition. Doctors explain that no single test confirms the diagnosis. The process relies on symptoms and various test results that can change over time. Misdiagnosis can occur due to improper application of criteria or because symptoms mimic other disorders.
Applegate said she is continuing to seek medical care. She told her audience, "I can't get my hopes up," and expressed uncertainty about her current health status. She confirmed she will continue to co-host the podcast and acknowledged that the news of the misdiagnosis is an adjustment for everyone involved.
