Actor Joe Manganiello has opened up about a serious health battle he kept a secret for nearly a decade.
During an Instagram video shared June 24, the 'True Blood' star said that he "suffered in silence battling a deadly mystery illness," confiding only in a small circle of close family and friends. He described consulting with "the best doctors in the world," though they were unable to identify the root cause of his condition.
The 49-year-old star also revealed he spent extended periods "heavily medicated while dealing with excruciating bouts of chronic pain." According to Manganiello, his forthcoming memoir, 'Bloodlines,' to be released on October 13, documents his 10-year journey searching for answers and explores the complexities of his family background.
Manganiello then shared words of encouragement to anyone facing comparable challenges: "If you're out there and you're suffering, there's hope."
In a synopsis of his memoir, Manganiello shares that he battled "a cascade of autoimmune-related illnesses" that affected his thyroid, digestive system, skin, lungs, and eyes. Throughout a seven-year period, he faced "chronic pain, a life-saving organ amputation, existential crisis and a prolonged fight for survival that left doctors with few answers and no clear explanation."
In seeking relief, he explored alternative approaches including "shamans, pagan rituals, ancient myths, long-lost family records and the rebirth of his own spirituality" as part of his treatment strategy.
Manganiello's battle places him among millions worldwide facing similar diagnoses. For decades now, the incidence of autoimmune diseases has been on the rise, and scientists are trying to work out why.
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