Jamie Lynn Sigler (The Sopranos, Entourage) went public in January with the fact that she has multiple sclerosis, which was nearly 15 years after she was first diagnosed. Jamie opened up about her diagnosis to People Magazine, explaining that she can’t run, has trouble going up flights of stairs and that she gets tired easily. She also said that she took so long to go public with her diagnosis because she wasn’t ready until now. As someone who has had an invisible illness, I could very much relate to her story. In a new interview with Glamour Magazine, Sigler gets very candid about why she wanted to keep her MS under wraps, how it affects her daily life, and how it affects her sex life. She was so open and honest about it that I found myself really admiring her candor. Sigler has a new endorsement deal with an MS drug, Tecfedera, which has helped her suffer less relapses. (She has relapse remitting type MS, which she explains as meaning that her symptoms come and go.)
Glamour: January will mark one year since you publicly opened up about your MS. A year ago at this time, though, where were you in terms of deciding whether or not to tell your secret?
Jamie-Lynn Sigler: A year-and-a-half ago if you would have asked me or anyone who knew me, they would have said, ‘No way. There’s no way she’ll never tell anybody.’ I had been keeping it a secret for so many years, and I couldn’t see anything positive coming out of it. It also meant that I really had to accept that it was part of my life. I thought that work wouldn’t come anymore. I thought that people would see me as sick and not see me as me. I enjoyed when people didn’t know, because I thought that meant I was hiding it really well that nobody would know. For whatever reason, it felt like a positive thing for me.
Glamour: How did you come to a decision on the timing of the announcement?
JLS: I thought, ‘I want to do this around my wedding,’ because I wanted it to come out of a time that was positive and I’m dancing down the aisle. I’m a mother, and I have all these wonderful parts of me that I want to share. I didn’t want it to be at a time that was sad or insignificant. It would be a much better story if it went along [with something positive happening], so that was our plan!
Glamour: How did you feel on the morning that the news broke on People?
Terrified. I woke up crying. I didn’t want to look at my phone and I heard it going off on my nightstand. I looked at my husband, and he said, ‘Why are you crying?’ and I said, ‘I just feel so vulnerable. It’s just my biggest secret is out, and I don’t know how to live like that yet.’ He said, ‘Alright, let me pick up your phone first,’ and he started going through it and then said, ‘I want you to look at this. Read your text messages.’ There were friends from high school texting me that didn’t know, cousins that didn’t know, etc. because I was so secretive about it. And then there was people reaching out on social media, and it was so lovely. My husband said, ‘I’ve got Beau [our son], for the day, so you stay here and just rest and process it and work through it.’ I had friends come over that brought flowers and lunch and just hung out. It was a day that I took to really reflect on my life with MS and all that I’ve been through. I read every single tweet, every single Instagram comment, and it hit me that I have this incredible responsibility now to represent a community that suffers in silence a lot of the time.
Glamour: You touched on MS affecting your sex life. Can you explain more?JLS: First and foremost, [sex] is the last thing on your mind at the end of the day. That’s not where your head’s at. It’s a part of you that you can forget that is still really important. Sometimes pushing yourself to have sex can be like, “Oh yeah, I do enjoy this! I do enjoy this part of me!” You’re laying down, you can definitely make it work for yourself. And then there’s physical things that affect everyone. For me, because I have bladder issues, I have to make sure I always…like, spontaneity is out the window, so I have to make sure I go to the bathroom before. So there’s certain ways I have to manage it and be responsible with it. But you don’t want to lose feeling sexy, and I can feel that sometimes, where I’ll say, “I don’t feel sexy. I don’t feel good today.” Like, I feel dumpy. My husband is wonderful and great at making me feel good about myself—or trying to at least! But, like I said, there’s times I’m like, “I’m going to do this for him,” and then realize it’s actually for me too.
There’s so much more in the full interview. Jamie explained that a hypnotherapist helped her decide to go public as well and that he told her “Your secret is keeping you sick.” She decided to call her publicist and representatives about her decision and they all “were so happy… They said, ‘Jamie, this is not only going to help you as a person and an actress, but you’re going to help so many other people, too.‘” That’s definitely true. Jamie says that she can’t run for exercise anymore but that she gets relief from meditation and that she goes on walks with her son Beau, 3, sometimes using the stroller to steady herself when she gets tired. She also said that when she was pregnant she felt much better and that she hopes to have more children with her husband, Cutter Dykstra, a minor league baseball player (and son of Lenny Dykstra) who currently plays for the Harrisburg, PA Senators.
Photos credit: FameFlynet and Jamie Lynn Sigler/Instagram
Well Good For her, having an illness like MS is neither her fault nor something be be ashamed of!
MS is also one of the most frequently mis-diagnosed manifestations of Lyme Disease, which is an epidemic not just everywhere in the USA but also across the world. ILADS.org has up to date, reliable information from Physicians fighting LD on the front lines, and ist a great resource for accurate information. The CDC information is criminally and dangerously wrong and out of date.
What cute pictures, her husband sounds sweet. Awww
That was a very moving and honest interview. It humbled me.
I have MS. I also keep it a secret from all but those closest to me. I am afraid it will affect my career bc I am a partner at a major law firm. This interview made me cry. I battle a lot in silence too.
That must be so hard to keep it silent in fear of your career. Hopefully you have a good support system in your corner.
Hugs to you, HeatherAnn! Wishing you all the best!
My mom has MS. I’m her caregiver now that she is basically a paraplegic. She use to be the most active person and fearsley independent, now she’s dependent on me or her nurse for everything.
MS can go f–k itself.
I’m so gland Singler is talking publically and getting help. The whole article made me cry
Family or not, I’ve been there and it can be mentally and physically exhausting. Be well, best wishes.
Kelly, I’m so sorry to hear that. It is a terrible disease. Your mother is blessed to have you.
I hated Meadow, but I respect Jamie Lynn for talking about this. It’s such a difficult disclosure for anyone, and privacy is paramount for someone in the public eye. I’m following her on insta and she seems so sweet and normal. She posted a story last week that started with Beau hugging her and going, “I love you, mommy!” and it melted my heart. :”)
I have MS too, and while I certainly wouldn’t wish it on anyone, I’m glad she did come out. We need more open and honest discussion about invisible illness/disability. And without a doubt, no one should be ashamed or embarrassed about their condition!
That’s very brave of her to announce. Good for her.