Christina Applegate recorded the latest episode of her Messy podcast from a hospital bed in Los Angeles. The 53-year-old actress shared that she had been rushed to the hospital after returning from a trip to Europe, due to intense pain that left her screaming.
During the podcast, which she co-hosts with Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Applegate said the pain was so bad it felt like her appendix had burst. She pushed for full medical testing and was eventually given an emergency CT scan at 2 a.m. That scan revealed the source of her suffering, a kidney infection that had spread to her second kidney.
Applegate, who has been open about her ongoing health challenges, especially since her multiple sclerosis diagnosis in 2021, now faces extended treatment in the hospital. She’ll be receiving IV antibiotics and plans to stay until her condition is fully under control.
She joked during the episode about being asked if the infection could’ve come from a UTI or poor hygiene. With her usual dry humour, she replied that she’s clean and couldn’t believe she was having those kinds of conversations at 53.
Even in pain, Applegate tried to stay lighthearted during the podcast but admitted she’s struggling emotionally. She described herself as “holding in a bag o’ tears” and said there have been moments when she broke down crying in the arms of nurses.
Since being diagnosed with MS, Applegate has used her platform to talk about the reality of living with chronic illness — the physical pain, the emotional toll, and the uncertainty that comes with it. This recent health scare adds yet another chapter to her already difficult journey, but she continues to show up and speak openly about it all.