Joe Manganiello Shares Hospital Photos Amid Mystery Illness Battle
The actor revealed the extent of his health struggles, including weight loss and a subsequent amputation, through a series of raw images shared on Instagram.
Joe Manganiello has offered a poignant look into his struggle with a severe and prolonged illness, sharing previously unseen hospital photographs on Instagram. The actor detailed the challenging aftermath of a surgery that involved the amputation of his large intestine, a procedure that led to significant physical changes.
In a post accompanying a carousel of images, Manganiello explained, “In the days following the amputation of my large intestine, my weight began to plummet. I would ultimately lose a total of 60 lbs during the two weeks following the surgery.” One of the stark images shows him sitting shirtless in a hospital chair, with IV lines visible.
He further described a close-up photo of his abdomen after a subsequent surgery to reconnect his digestive tract, noting, “my ostomy bag was removed and what was left of my digestive tract was reconnected.” Another image revealed a multitude of skin conditions he experienced during his seven-year health ordeal, showing red rashes across his face.
Manganiello first disclosed the seven-year battle with an unnamed illness in the synopsis for his memoir, "Bloodlines," released earlier this year. He stated that doctors were unable to diagnose the specific ailment that affected his thyroid, digestive system, skin, lungs, and eyes. He recounted turning to alternative healing methods, including shamans and spiritual practices, in his search for recovery.
In his memoir, Manganiello also explored the possibility of a voodoo curse, reportedly suggested by a shaman, as a cause for his illness. He recalled the shaman telling him and then-wife Sofía Vergara that someone from his past had placed a curse on him. While not explicitly named in the memoir's synopsis, Manganiello later identified the person of interest as Vergara’s ex, Nick Loeb, who has New Orleans ties. Loeb responded to these claims with a brief statement, saying, “I pray they find Jesus — not another shaman.”
Additionally, Manganiello claimed in his book that Vergara ridiculed him during his illness and refused to hug him. The couple, married for seven years, separated in 2023.