Christina Applegate recently opened up about the staggering effects of her multiple sclerosis since her diagnosis in 2021.
The “Married with Children” alum says the autoimmune disease has caused major digestive issues affecting her gastrointestinal system and resulting in multiple trips to the hospital.
“For three years, since I was diagnosed I’ve been in the hospital upwards of 30 times from throwing up and diarrhea and pain,” the 53-year-old revealed on her and Jamie-Lynn Sigler’s “MesSy podcast,” where the actresses discuss living with MS.
“That is unimaginable, OK?” said Applegate. “They’ve done every test known to man on me, put so much radiation into my body from CT scans to everything else.”
The chronic disease mostly affects the central nervous system, brain, and spinal cord, but Applegate says doctors initially ignored her concerns about the gastro issues.
“And literally just in the last month, I have figured it out,” Applegate explained. “Now, maybe this isn’t what’s happening, but I’m just going to tell you this. Talk to your doctor about motility issues, OK. Because one of the things with MS is that it slows down our organs, you know, not like completely but there is a slowing of the function of your organs.”
She continued: “I have noticed that and I’m going to be really honest, if I have to poop, I puke. And when I puke, I get all the pain and then all the things happen.”
The “Dead To Me” star encouraged listeners to talk to doctors about any unusual symptoms if they’re navigating illness. “I’m going into my colonoscopy on Thursday and I’m going to have a conversation with the big guys: ‘I know you guys are saying that I’m crazy and I’m coming in here for no reason, but now I’m seeing a pattern.’”
Despite Applegate’s ongoing health battle, she’s still managing to find humor in the midst of it. “Have you puked and had diarrhea at the same time. Because that’s my favorite part, that’s the sexiest.”
“Well, always have a little trash can next to your toilet,” she says. “Because you can do both without it being messy. I had one yesterday.”