Actress Christina Applegate, 54, revealed this week that she had received devastating news: She is still seriously ill, but not with the disease she thought she had.
For years, Applegate had been living with a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS), a condition that profoundly affected her life and career. Recently, however, her doctors informed her that she had been misdiagnosed and does not have the disease after all. The news brought little relief, as her debilitating symptoms persist and her condition has worsened, leaving doctors without an explanation for what is causing them. "I feel like I'm back at square one," she said through tears.
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Christina Applegate: 'Her condition is getting worse, and now she doesn't even have a name for what's wrong with her'
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A source close to the actress told the Daily Mail that the revised diagnosis came after she was hospitalized in March following a severe episode of pain, which everyone initially assumed was related to MS. "She was exhausted, could barely move and was completely bedridden. That's when they discovered that it wasn't actually multiple sclerosis," the source said.
Applegate remained hospitalized for four months before being discharged in early August, emotionally devastated, according to the source. "She went into the hospital to treat a flare-up, with a clear plan to get it under control, and came out with more questions than answers, completely confused, while continuing to experience worsening symptoms," the source said. "She lives with this 24/7. Her condition is getting worse, and now she doesn't even have a name for what's wrong with her. It's just awful. She's really not doing well."
According to reports, Applegate is also struggling with the realization that, after spending years becoming a public face of multiple sclerosis and an advocate and source of inspiration for others living with the condition, she has learned that she does not have it herself. "The disease had become such a big part of her identity, and now it turns out that's not what she has," the source said.
With her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
(Photo: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock)
The next challenge is determining what illness is actually causing her symptoms, which remain severe. "You don't get misdiagnosed and then all of a sudden, I'm better. I haven't gotten better. If anything, I've gotten worse," Applegate said on her podcast, "MeSsy," which she co-hosts with actress Jamie-Lynn Sigler, known for her role in "The Sopranos," who also has multiple sclerosis. "So I'm back at square one, where I don't know what's going on with me," she added.
The source described the emotional toll the discovery has taken on Applegate. "The last few years of her life now feel like a nightmare. She doesn't know how to deal with all of this, and she's exhausted from having to explain to people over and over again what she's going through. It's going to take her a long time to get past this. How can she ever trust doctors again?"
According to the source, Applegate considered taking legal action against the doctors who initially diagnosed her. "She thought about suing the doctors who misdiagnosed her, but really, what's the point? If she does decide to sue, it would only be to prevent the same thing from happening to someone else. That's just too much for her right now, so I don't think it's going to happen."
'Her friends are supporting her right now, and she's still trying to process the shock'
(Photo: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Critics Choice Association)
The source added that Applegate has been avoiding social media because she does not want to read comments or unsolicited advice about her health. "People mean well, but they'll blame the COVID vaccines, or say she needs to eat healthier or take some natural remedy. Whatever they suggest, don't they think she's already thought of it? She lives with this 24/7/365. She's thought of everything."
Despite the uncertainty, Applegate continues to receive support from those closest to her. "Her friends are supporting her right now, and she's still trying to process the shock," the source said.
Applegate rose to fame in the 1980s sitcom "Married... with Children" and later won an Emmy Award for her guest appearance on "Friends." She announced her MS diagnosis in 2021 after experiencing symptoms that affected her ability to function. Multiple sclerosis affects the central nervous system and can cause muscle weakness, sensory disturbances, balance problems and difficulty walking, among other symptoms.
Over the years, Applegate has spoken openly about her health struggles, including how they affected filming of the third and final season of Netflix's "Dead to Me."