Christina Applegate is opening up about her Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis. The 53-year-old actress, who was officially diagnosed in 2021, first noticed unusual symptoms two years prior while filming the pilot for Netflix's "Dead To Me."
During the Tuesday episode of her podcast, "Messy," co-hosted with actress Jamie-Lynn Sigler (who also has MS), Applegate discussed her experience with her close friend and the creator of "Dead To Me," Liz Feldman. She revealed that her symptoms began in 2019 but were initially dismissed and not immediately addressed.
Applegate recalled falling during a scene in the dark comedy, which she now recognizes as an early sign of her autoimmune condition. "I remember falling that day," she said. "Hi, first sign of MS!" Feldman also remembered the incident, noting that Applegate had lost her balance a couple of times during filming.
In 2021, while shooting the third and final season of "Dead To Me," Applegate was diagnosed with MS after experiencing back issues, tingling, and other symptoms related to the condition's impact on the brain and nerves. Feldman described the diagnosis as challenging, sensing Applegate's fear and the physical changes she was experiencing.
The producers of the show adapted Applegate's scenes to accommodate her declining mobility, a decision she expressed deep gratitude for. "That would not happen anywhere else," she said. "So my gratitude towards you guys being humans – because you should be humans and love other humans! – is, like, I can't even tell you, that's not the normal reaction!"
Since her diagnosis, Applegate has retired from acting but hasn't ruled out voiceover work. Last month, she shared how MS has affected her daily life and career, detailing the physical pain and challenges she faces. "I lay in bed screaming – like, the sharp pains, the ache, that squeezing," she recounted. "Every single day of my life."
Applegate also spoke about her outlook on living with the disease, stating, "I'm never going wake up and go, 'This is awesome.' I'm just going to tell you that – like, it's not going to happen. But I might get to a place where I will function a little bit better."
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