Actress Jennifer Esposito has shared the harrowing details of her years-long health crisis, which included debilitating physical and mental symptoms, multiple misdiagnoses, and a stay in a psychiatric ward before she was ultimately diagnosed with celiac disease.
Esposito, 53, recounted her experience on Maria Menounos' "Heal Squad" podcast, describing how unexplained health issues forced her to halt her acting career in New York City.
"I had a whole life beginning in the city, and I was a young actor and I had to stop everything," Esposito said. She described becoming "deeply depressed" and experiencing "thoughts of suicide" as doctors struggled to identify the cause of her ailments.
During this period, Esposito said she was prescribed various medications and even considered for electroconvulsive therapy, or shock treatment. "I'm very sensitive to medication," she stated. "It was a really bad time."
Her health began to deteriorate significantly while she was working on the ABC comedy "Samantha Who?," which aired from 2007 to 2009. Esposito recalled experiencing alarming physical symptoms, including hair loss and her fingernails falling off. A particularly distressing incident occurred when a tooth fell out mid-scene, leaving her mortified and desperate for help.
Esposito said she was misdiagnosed multiple times, with medical professionals suggesting conditions ranging from multiple sclerosis to irritable bowel syndrome. A therapist also attributed her symptoms to stress, which Esposito described as "gaslighting."
"We don't ever treat the actual underlying issue. We treat symptoms in this country, in America," Esposito commented, reflecting on her years of seeking answers and trying alternative therapies, including holistic healers and a vegan diet.
Desperate for relief, Esposito recalled a moment of crisis during a drive to church. "I remember saying to myself, because I was so depressed of being so sick all the time and fighting panic disorders… ‘If you don't get a diagnosis, you have to accept the fact that you're crazy, and you've created this, and you're going to let it go because I can't keep doing this.’" Moments later, a large piece of wood from a passing truck smashed through her windshield. Esposito viewed this frightening accident as a sign to continue her search for answers.
Two days after the accident, Esposito received her diagnosis: celiac disease. The doctor informed her that her case was severe, with her liver failing. Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition where consuming gluten triggers an immune response that damages the small intestine, hindering nutrient absorption and potentially causing a range of symptoms beyond digestive issues, including fatigue, anemia, neurological problems, and elevated liver enzymes. The primary treatment involves a strict, lifelong gluten-free diet.
Following her diagnosis, Esposito eliminated gluten, but her body's compromised state made recovery arduous. She experienced severe vitamin D deficiency, developed welts from sun exposure, and her nervous system was so overloaded that ordinary stimuli caused tremors.
Around two months after her diagnosis, Esposito sought care from a medical expert who expressed interest in studying her condition due to its severity. During one appointment, Esposito was in such distress that she pleaded with the doctor to admit her to the hospital, expressing feelings of intense anxiety and a desire to jump out of a window. This remark was interpreted as a threat of self-harm, leading to her immediate transfer to a psychiatric ward under the alias "Betty Franklin."
Esposito described the seven hours spent in the psychiatric ward as "excruciating," as she continued to plead for understanding of her medical condition. Her father was present, and she feared she would not be released if he left. The situation intensified when a doctor sought her father's permission to restrain her if she became agitated.
Esposito managed to remain calm, telling herself that if she were released, she would need to take action. After returning home, she became more proactive in managing her health and recovery. "If you heal your gut, I promise you, not everything can go away," she said, emphasizing that recovery is a lengthy process.
Esposito, who now lives outside the United States, reported that she no longer experiences panic attacks and has adopted a slower pace of life, prioritizing enjoyment and connection. "This is my life. I get to enjoy time," she said. "I sit down and eat lunch. I sit down and talk to people. There's no phones on the tables."
Reflecting on her ordeal, Esposito believes her diagnosis ultimately saved her life. "Celiac disease saved my life. One hundred percent," she stated, suggesting that the chronic stress from living in a constant "fight or flight" mode would have had more severe consequences had her illness not forced a change in her life's trajectory.
"I 100% would have been somewhere not good," Esposito concluded, expressing gratitude for her current clarity and for the opportunity her experience has provided to help others.