Jamie Lynn Sigler: Embracing the Reality of Living with Multiple Sclerosis
Jamie-Lynn Sigler, diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2016, fearlessly shares her journey with the disease From 2020 to October 2023, she opens up about her experiences, raising awareness and inspiring others along the way Don't miss her empowering story
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Jamie-Lynn Sigler, known for her role in The Sopranos, publicly shared her experience with multiple sclerosis in 2016, revealing that she had been living with the autoimmune disease since the age of 20, almost 15 years after her diagnosis.
Sigler shared her health update during a Fox News appearance in October 2016, admitting that it was difficult to accept her diagnosis given her successful career. Although her symptoms initially subsided, they resurfaced years later during her divorce from A.J. DiScala in 2005. Sigler later remarried and had two sons with Cutter Dykstra.
Continue reading for Sigler's most honest statements about coping with MS:
2016
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During an interview with Fox News, Sigler expressed her desire to provide comfort to others facing health challenges.
“I believe that many individuals dealing with chronic illness often feel isolated and alone, as if nobody understands,” she explained. “I wanted to be a supportive voice, letting them know that they are not alone, and that I understand and empathize with their struggles.”
2020
Despite feeling like she has “every excuse to stay in bed and say, ‘Poor me,’” Sigler noted that she lives “a full life,” just like many others living with MS.
"People living with MS experience love, start families, build careers, and face challenges unrelated to their condition," she shared in a February interview with E! News’ Daily Pop. "Above all, I aim to be a symbol of courage in the midst of it all, to continue living each day without succumbing to the illness."
January 2022
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Sigler cleared up some misconceptions about pregnancy and MS during an interview with People.
“You can definitely manage it and have a completely healthy pregnancy and delivery,” she stated. “In fact, many people actually feel better during pregnancy. That was certainly the case during my first pregnancy.”
June 2022
“Living with MS is like having another job, and you know, sometimes I’m a really good employee and sometimes I’m not,” Sigler expressed during an interview with CNN. “I’ve been dealing with this disease for over 21 years, and you know, some days [or] some weeks, you can’t help but feel a little bitter and upset about the amount of focus it takes just to get through each day.”
February 2023
In a recent interview on the "Bathroom Chronicles" podcast, Sigler opened up about her difficulty accepting her physical limitations. "I feel like I'm growing and progressing as a person, but my body isn't keeping up with me, and that's really my struggle right now," she confessed. "You expect everything to be in sync, but it's not. That's the struggle for my family, to be honest, we all feel it."
Sigler expressed her determination to not give up on her aspiration of becoming more physically active one day. She also envisioned the extraordinary experience of her kids witnessing miraculous healing and the impact it could have on their lives. In her meditation, she holds onto a vision of running with her children, embracing their joy and happiness, as it is something they constantly talk about and desire.
September 2023
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Being from New York, she revealed how her illness impacts her role as a parent to her children.
"I'm only human. There are days when I think, 'Would I be more patient if I wasn't dealing with physical struggles?' It makes you rethink everything in your life. It impacts every aspect of your life," she shared exclusively with We. "But when I tuck my kids in at night and I see the bond we share, I know that remains unaffected no matter my physical limitations."
According to Sigler, her two sons have completely different ways of dealing with her condition. "My oldest son is empathetic and very sensitive. When I apologize to him for not being able to do certain things or explain my limitations, he always responds with understanding and reassurance, saying 'Oh, mom, I understand, it's okay,'" she explained. "On the other hand, my younger son gets upset and doesn't like it. He compares what I can and can't do to what other moms can do, but that's okay."
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October 2023
In a conversation with Forbes, Sigler admitted that she chose to keep her MS diagnosis confidential "out of fear and self-preservation." She mentioned how she managed her demanding schedule as a mainstay on The Sopranos without confiding in friends or seeking help from a therapist regarding her health struggles.
"I didn't want to inconvenience anyone. I struggled to reach out for assistance," she expressed. "I was worried about how the world would perceive me once they knew about my illness. Would the industry still be interested in hiring me? Would my friends still want to spend time with me?"
