Christina Applegate reveals 'unimaginable' pain and 30 hospitalizations due to MS-related symptoms
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Christina Applegate opened up about the excruciating gastrointestinal symptoms she has endured since being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS).
Speaking on the first anniversary episode of 'MeSsy', the podcast she co-hosts with Jamie-Lynn Sigler, the 53-year-old actress revealed she has been hospitalized 30 times due to severe vomiting, diarrhea, and extreme pain.
Christina Applegate reflects on her MS struggles
Responding to a listener named Kelly, who described dealing with daily nausea and diarrhea, Applegate immediately related, saying, “Oh girl, let’s talk about that.”
She explained that for three years, she has experienced similar struggles, undergoing numerous tests to determine the cause, according to People.
“This is really important because since I was diagnosed, I’ve been in the hospital upwards of 30 times from throwing up and diarrhea and pain that is unimaginable,” she said.
“They've done every test known to man, put so much radiation into my body from CT scans to everything else,” she added.
The ‘Fight Club’ of Christina Applegate's internal system
Applegate speculated that MS may be affecting her digestive system, explaining that the disease slows down organ function.
“If I have to poop, I puke. And when I puke, I get all the pain, and then all the things happen,” she shared.
“There’s this really horrible argument in my body, and I call it ‘The Fight Club.’ Everyone’s fighting with each other,” said Applegate.
She urged listeners with similar symptoms to discuss motility issues with their doctors. Applegate herself plans to address these concerns during her upcoming colonoscopy.
“I’m gonna have a big conversation with the big guys and be like, ‘I know you guys are saying that I’m crazy, and I’m coming in here for no reason. And now I’m seeing a pattern,’” she added.
Christina Applegate's medical uncertainty and frustration
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, MS can cause unpredictable bladder and bowel issues.
However, Applegate’s neurologist dismissed her symptoms as unrelated to MS, a notion she now questions after hearing Kelly’s similar experience.
“It’s interesting because now Kelly has it too since the day she was diagnosed,” Applegate pointed out, adding, “So I’m sorry, but there’s gotta be a correlation here.”
Though she emphasized she is not giving medical advice, she encouraged listeners to push for answers beyond standard medical literature.
“We aren’t in the medical books. We’re human beings,” she said.
Christina Applegate's coping strategies
Applegate lightened the heavy conversation with humor, asking Kelly, “Have you puked and had diarrhea at the same time? Because that’s my favorite part.”
Sigler quipped that the experience is called a “double dragon,” prompting Applegate to offer practical advice, “Always have a little trash can next to your toilet, so you can do both without it being messy.”
