Christina Applegate has opened up on the symptoms she experienced that led to a heartbreaking diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS).
The 52-year-old star of Netflix series Dead to Me was diagnosed in 2021, after many months of feeling incredibly ill.
The star has since announced that she is unlikely to ever act on camera again as a result of the debilitating illness, to the heartbreak of many fans.
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As per the NHS, the condition of MS 'can affect the brain and spinal cord, causing a wide range of potential symptoms, including problems with vision, arm or leg movement, sensation or balance.'
It is around two to three times more likely to be found in women than men and patients usually receive a diagnosis in their 20s, 30s or 40s, but it can develop at any age.
Applegate has shared her experiences leading up to receiving the diagnosis and listed some 'weird symptoms' to look out for.
The symptoms
- Balance issues
- Speech issues
- Shaky hands
- Feeling weak at the knees (when walking etc)
- Numb toes.
During an appearance on SiriusXM's This Life of Mine with James Corden, Applegate said: "Things just started to get weirder and weirder, and before I knew it, we were about to start shooting the last season of Dead To Me and by this time I was like, 'You guys, I can't even walk up the steps to my trailer.'"
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The actress then organised check-ups alongside an MRI scan of her brain.
She then had to leave the set of Dead to Me to receive the results from her doctor.
"I remember that moment like it was yesterday"
She recalled: "[I] opened up my Zoom, and there he was, and he just looked at me, and he goes, 'I'm so sorry.'"
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She continued: "I was like, 'What do you mean?' and he goes, 'Here's a picture of your brain. Sorry,' and there's like 30 lesions all over my brain and I went, 'No, please don't tell me this. Please don't tell me this.'
"I had to call production. I said, 'You guys, it's f---ing MS,' and they're like, 'OK, we're shutting down for the week.'"
Applegate went on to add: "That was it, and then we were just trying to figure out how to film and stuff, and we did. I mean, we finished it. It took us a long time, but we finished it. But yeah, I remember that moment like it was yesterday."
In an interview with Vanity Fair, the star said: "With the disease of MS, it’s never a good day. You just have little s***ty days."
Topics: Celebrity, Health, Netflix, NHS, TV And Film
Kya Buller