Christina Applegate Believes She Had MS for ‘Many Years’ Before Diagnosis

Christina Applegate, 52, has opened up about her battle with multiple sclerosis in a new book. interview “Good Morning America” ​​with Robin Roberts.

Applegate was joined by her friend Jamie Lynn Sigler, 42, who was diagnosed with MS at age 20. The women are currently co-creating a podcast called “MeSsy.”

Christina told Roberts: This is a little difficult for my system since I don’t go out much. But of course the support has been amazing and I really appreciate it. ”

by mayo clinic“Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease that can damage the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system). In MS, the immune system attacks the protective sheath (myelin) that covers nerve fibers, causing the brain to It causes communication problems between the nerve fibers and other parts of the body. Ultimately, the disease can cause permanent damage and deterioration of nerve fibers.

Applegate explained: “I never wake up in the morning and think, ‘This is amazing.'” Let me just say that. That won’t happen. I wake up and remind myself of that every day… but maybe I can get to a place where it works a little better. I’m currently in quarantine, but I’m coping by not going anywhere because I don’t want to. it’s difficult. “

Christina was working on “Dead to Me” when she was diagnosed. “The symptoms started in early 2021, literally just tingling in my toes, and by the time filming began in the summer of that year, I was being wheeled to set in a wheelchair,” the star said. I reminisced.

“I had to tell everyone because I needed help,” she recalled.

Applegate believes she may have had the disease “for years” before that.

“I probably had it for six or seven years,” Christina said. “I noticed it especially in the first season.” [of ‘Dead to Me’], My leg bent while shooting. It’s easy to put it off because you’re tired, dehydrated, or because of the weather. Nothing happened for months after that and I didn’t pay attention. But when things got this tough, we had to be careful. ”

Her friend and former The Sweet Thing co-star Selma Blair, who also has MS, encouraged her to get tested.

Christina said, “She says, ‘I need to get tested for MS.'” I said, “No…” Really? Odds? Are we both from the same movie? Now, that’s not going to happen. she knew. Without her, she could have been in a much worse situation. ”

She also mentioned that she performed at the Emmy Awards in January and received a standing ovation for telling a joke on stage. Christina said, “I actually kind of blacked out. People were like, ‘Oh, you were so funny,’ and I was like, I don’t even know what I said, what I was doing. I was like, I don’t understand. I was so freaked out, I didn’t even know what was going on. And I felt really loved, and it was a really beautiful thing.”

Every day, Applegate misses being able to do the things she loves most: running, dancing and even being a mother. She said Jamie Lynn is helping her.

“She keeps me going because…I’m upset and angry all day about this. I’m really, really angry,” Christina said.

“She was like, ‘Okay, I have you, you’re going to be okay,'” Applegate said of Sigler. It’s okay, like. And without her…I honestly don’t know. ”

Currently, they share their lives on the “MeSsy” podcast.

Sigler said it’s like “eavesdropping” on their lives. “That’s it. For me, those are my favorite podcasts. You feel like you’re somehow supposed to be listening to conversations with people. There’s no format, no agenda, no questions,” she said. “It’s already here and it’s a mess. It’s a mess for sure.”

Christina said she was looking forward to sharing her true self, saying, “For a long time, I was doing little acts for everyone because I thought it would be easier.” , don’t make people uncomfortable.” And I don’t care anymore. ”