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Jennifer Esposito Says Late Celiac Diagnosis Led to Psych Ward Stay and Recovery

Her podcast account highlights how years of missed autoimmune signs produced severe physical and mental collapse that later reversed after diagnosis and a strict gluten-free regimen.

Overview

  • Esposito told Maria Menounos on the August 11 episode of Heal Squad that unexplained symptoms during her early career left her deeply depressed and thinking about suicide.
  • She says doctors misdiagnosed her multiple times with conditions such as multiple sclerosis and irritable bowel syndrome and that some clinicians attributed her problems to stress.
  • Esposito described extreme physical decline including hair and nail loss, a tooth falling out during a scene, severe vitamin deficiencies, light sensitivity and being told a doctor that her liver was failing.
  • She says she was admitted to a psychiatric ward under the alias "Betty Franklin" after pleading for help and that she had been prescribed many medicines, at one point taking four Klonopin a day while clinicians discussed electroconvulsive therapy.
  • After receiving a celiac diagnosis and adopting a strict gluten-free diet while slowing her pace of life, Esposito reports a prolonged recovery, cessation of panic attacks, and now uses her story to raise awareness about delayed celiac diagnosis and its wide-ranging effects.