Actress Selma Blair announced via an Instagram post that she has been suffering from Multiple Sclerosis for years and was officially diagnosed with the illness in August.
In an Instagram post on Oct. 20, the 46-year-old actress said she had been suffering the effects of the disease for about 15 years before she finally got the diagnosis.
Blair, who has a recurring role in the Netflix series Another Life, decided to share her condition with her fans after being deeply moved by how much help she was getting from her costume designer.
The costumer, Allisa Swanson, not only designed the clothing Blair’s character would wear—she spent her time and energy helping Blair dress each day.
“The brilliant costumer #Allisaswanson not only designs the pieces #harperglass will wear on this new #Netflix show , but she carefully gets my legs in my pants, pulls my tops over my head, buttons my coats and offers her shoulder to steady myself,” Blair posted on Instagram.
“I have #multiplesclerosis,” Blair posted. “I fall sometimes. I drop things. My memory is foggy. And my left side is asking for directions from a broken gps.
“But we are doing it. And I laugh and I don’t know exactly what I will do precisely but I will do my best.”
Some Treatment, No Cure
Multiple Sclerosis is an auto-immune disease which affects the central nervous system.MS causes the immune system to attack myelin, the fatty sheathes that protect the nerve fibers. Myelin functions like insulation, and when it is gone, the nerves short-circuit—nerve impulses don’t get to where they were intended or come through intermittently.
This leads to problems with balance, vision, muscle control, and a number of other basic bodily functions.
While there is no cure, there are drugs that can limit nerve inflammation, fight pain, and in some cases slow the disease’s progression.
MS usually starts affecting its victims between the ages of 20 and 50 and is twice as common in women as in men. Generally, people with MS have their life expectancy shortened by 5–10 years.
Despite the bad news, Blair said in her post that she was glad to finally get the diagnosis.
“And the biggest thanks to @elizberkley who forced me to see her brother #drjasonberkley who gave me this diagnosis after finding lesions on that mri.
“I have had symptoms for years but was never taken seriously until I fell down in front of him trying to sort out what I thought was a pinched nerve.
“I have probably had this incurable disease for 15 years at least. And I am relieved to at least know. And share.”
Support for Fellow Sufferers
Blair hoped that by coming forward she could help others suffering in the same situation.“I am in the thick of it but I hope to give some hope to others. And even to myself. You can’t get help unless you ask.
“It can be overwhelming in the beginning. You want to sleep. You always want to sleep. So I don’t have answers. You see, I want to sleep. But I am a forthcoming person and I want my life to be full somehow.
“I want to play with my son again. I want to walk down the street and ride my horse.
“I have MS and I am ok.”
