Bethenny Frankel Shares Stage 2 Chronic Kidney Disease Diagnosis

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Bethenny Frankel is getting real about her health.

Former Real Housewives of New York City star shared she’s been diagnosed with stage two chronic kidney disease. She hopes by openly discussing her health, she can encourage others to prioritize their own well-being.

Bethenny recently decided to prioritize her health and get regular checkups, like blood tests and bone density scans. In a TikTok video posted on January 22nd, she explained that these tests repeatedly showed her kidney function was lower than it should be.

After noticing a concerning pattern, the woman, age 55, hesitantly scheduled an appointment with a kidney doctor.

During her appointment, the doctor explained her diagnosis, but wasn’t certain about the cause of her kidney disease. Possible explanations ranged from a bad allergic reaction she’d had in the past, to an autoimmune condition, or simply not drinking enough water.

Honestly, I’ve always known Bethenny wasn’t a big water drinker! She’s constantly got one of those hydration packets she mixes in, and while you’ll often see her with a bottle in her hand, she’s usually not actually drinking plain water. It’s just part of how she stays hydrated, but it’s definitely not just water for her!

Her doctor advised her to think of water as medicine and drink at least a liter and a half daily. He also recommended avoiding ibuprofen, turmeric, and ice cream. While they would attempt to repair her kidney, he warned that the damage might be long-lasting.

All of this inspired the Skinnygirl founder to appreciate her commitment to health, and she urged her followers to prioritize theirs as well.

She advised me to get a complete blood workup, saying it was important to be thorough and follow up on any unusual results.

I was so worried to hear about Bethenny’s latest health scare! This is actually the second time this year she’s dealt with a medical issue. She mentioned earlier that she got a really bad rash while on a New Year’s trip with her daughter, Bryn – you know, the one she has with Jason Hoppy. It’s just been a tough start to the year for her, and I’m sending all my good wishes.

Bethenny Frankel shared a TikTok on January 5th with the caption, “Allergic to St. Barths,” playfully explaining that she cut her trip to St. Barths short by three days and ended up with a bacterial infection.

For more stars who have experienced their own health scares, keep reading.

Nikki Bella shared that a breast implant moved after being hit in the chest during a wrestling match with Piper Niven in July 2025.

She reassured her sister, Bella Garcia, that they would eventually get the issue resolved. She explained to the doctor that as soon as she finished her current commitment – implying her retirement – she would return to address the problem and ensure everything looked its best, anticipating future use. She emphasized the importance of fixing it so it wouldn’t appear neglected.

Lupita Nyong’o received a diagnosis of uterine fibroids – non-cancerous growths in or around the womb – in 2014, the same year she won an Academy Award for her acting role in 12 Years a Slave.

She didn’t reveal her diagnosis until 2025, when she shared on Instagram that she had been privately struggling with it for over ten years.

She explained that many girls are taught to accept period pain as a normal part of being a woman. This often leaves them feeling like they have to deal with it on their own, despite it being a common experience.

 

In July 2025, the actress from Daisy Jones & The Six revealed she was hospitalized for a hernia. This happened because she’d been wearing pants that were too tight, which caused a gap in her abdominal muscles.

Someone messaged Suki on X (formerly Twitter) asking why she hadn’t been tweeting. Suki replied, jokingly suggesting she hadn’t tweeted because she’d injured herself six months ago by wearing very tight pants and was afraid to mention it.

The former star of Beverly Hills, 90210 shared in April 2025 that he was recovering from surgery after a near-ruptured appendix.

I was really worried when Brian shared a video last week explaining he’d been having stomach pain. He ended up needing to go to the ER, and it turned out he had a perforated appendix – thankfully, it hadn’t fully burst, but it was very close!

He added, “I’m on the road to recovery. It’s not an easy process. This is my first major surgery.”

During a soccer game against Seattle Reign on September 14th at Lumen Field in Seattle, a midfielder from Racing Louisville collapsed after only a few minutes of play.

According to Reuters, the U.S. Women’s National Team player was seen slowly sitting down on the field with a teammate supporting her, just before she collapsed. Trainers were immediately called to assess her condition.

Savannah was given immediate medical attention on the field and then taken to a nearby hospital for more tests, according to a statement from the National Women’s Soccer League. They reported that she is currently in stable condition and is alert.

Adam Devine revealed that injuries from being hit by a cement truck at age 11 still cause him problems now.

“It’s been incredibly difficult,” Devine shared on the In Depth With Graham Bensinger podcast in 2025. “I experience spasms throughout my body, and doctors recently told me I was facing a life-threatening situation—within the last year, actually.”

He mentioned that his pain is intermittent, explaining that his body has some minor imperfections and isn’t quite working as it should.

A former contestant on The Bachelor recently revealed he had to crawl to the hospital because of severe back pain. The pain flared up during a road trip with a friend while traveling in an RV.

He described a persistent tingling sensation in his knees and toes during a March 2025 episode of his podcast, Trading Secrets. He explained that just a few weeks prior, he was able to squat 295 pounds, but now he can’t even do a single squat without falling over. He compared the feeling to having had a stroke.

But with the help of a back specialist and some steroids, he added, “We’re on the mend.”

Gina Kirschenheiter, from The Real Housewives of Orange County, revealed that her ex-husband, Matt Kirschenheiter, had a heart attack in March 2025, but he is now recovering.

In March 2025, the actor from 30 Rock experienced a medical issue at a New York Knicks game and had to be helped out of Madison Square Garden.

The comedian later posted on social media to explain that he hadn’t been feeling well due to food poisoning, but he was starting to feel better.

In February 2025, the former Even Stevens star revealed she was shot in the face during a birthday celebration for her husband, Brendan Rooney. They were on a trip to go clay pigeon shooting when the incident occurred.

I was injured when someone at a party accidentally fired a gun in the wrong direction, and I was shot in the face,” she explained in an Instagram post. “Brendan Rooney quickly checked me over and drove me to the hospital. I was hit five times, and one bullet came dangerously close to my right eye.

The Kim Possible actress explained that a small piece of something got stuck behind her eye. Doctors have advised against removing it with surgery right now, and they’ll keep monitoring her vision, which is currently normal.

The actress expressed immense gratitude for surviving a frightening experience. She shared her deep love for her daughters, husband, family, and friends, explaining that facing a life-threatening situation made her realize how precious life is. She urged everyone to cherish their loved ones and hug them often, because things can change unexpectedly.

Amy Schumer is grateful for the internet, even though it can be harsh, because it helped her figure out what was wrong with her health. After noticing she looked “puffier,” Schumer was surprised to see doctors commenting on interviews, suggesting she might have Cushing syndrome – a condition often caused by high cortisol levels or steroid injections. This prompted her to realize she’d been getting steroid injections after a breast reduction and C-section. She shared that she wouldn’t have known about the condition without the online comments. In a recent newsletter, Schumer expressed relief that her type of Cushing syndrome will resolve on its own and that she is healthy.

During a game in December 2024, an AHL player was accidentally cut in the face by another player’s skate and needed 25 stitches to close the wound. After his son made a full recovery, New Jersey Devils General Manager Tom Fitzgerald shared with ESPN how relieved they were, saying, “We feel very lucky, and I wouldn’t want any parent to go through that.”

In March 2022, Hailey Bieber experienced a frightening health scare while having breakfast with her husband, Justin Bieber. She suddenly developed stroke-like symptoms, struggling to speak and noticing her face drooping. Although these symptoms briefly subsided, she went to the hospital for evaluation. Doctors discovered she’d had a small blood clot travel to her brain, which they identified as a TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack), often called a ‘mini-stroke’. Further testing at UCLA revealed Hailey had a hole in her heart, called a patent foramen ovale (PFO). This hole allowed the blood clot to reach her brain, causing the TIA. Hailey successfully underwent a procedure to close the hole in her heart and is now recovering well.

The same year Hailey faced a health issue, Justin also experienced one. In June 2022, he revealed he had been diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome, which caused temporary paralysis on one side of his face. This forced him to cancel the remaining dates of his Justice World Tour.

In a video posted to Instagram, Justin explained the condition affected the nerves in his ear and face, preventing him from blinking, smiling, or moving his nostril on the affected side. He also shared that it had become increasingly difficult for him to eat.

Fortunately, the paralysis eventually subsided. Hailey shared on Good Morning America that Justin was recovering well, adding that while the situation was frightening and unexpected, he was going to be completely fine and she was thankful he was on the mend.

Jamie Foxx recently shared details about the health scare he experienced in April 2023, which he had initially kept private. In his 2024 Netflix special, What Had Happened Was…, he explained that he suffered a severe headache one day while in Atlanta. Before he could take an aspirin, he lost consciousness and doesn’t remember the next 20 days.

Initially, a doctor gave him a cortisone shot and sent him home, but his sister, Deidra Dixon, was worried and took him to the hospital. There, doctors discovered he had a brain bleed that led to a stroke.

After undergoing surgery, Jamie woke up in a wheelchair on May 4th, unable to walk. He then traveled to Chicago for rehabilitation and therapy. He expressed his gratitude for the prayers he received, saying he needed every single one.

The reality TV star said she temporarily stopped breathing while running a mile during the first challenge on the NBC competition show.

She shared on the show Fit for TV: The Reality of The Biggest Loser that her memory of the event was fragmented. She recalled hearing a helicopter, feeling like she was floating, and then seeing her grandfather. After that, she remembers only darkness, followed by light, leading her to realize she had died that day.

She explained that her organs were failing. She hadn’t known she had rhabdomyolysis, a condition where the body essentially begins to shut down.

Emilia Clarke, known for her role in Game of Thrones, revealed a harrowing health battle in a 2019 essay for The New Yorker. While filming the show, she experienced a sudden, severe headache while at the gym. She described collapsing and being violently ill, realizing something was seriously wrong with her brain.

A hospital scan quickly revealed she had suffered a subarachnoid hemorrhage – a life-threatening stroke caused by a ruptured aneurysm. She immediately underwent surgery to repair it, but the pain was excruciating. During her recovery, she temporarily lost her ability to speak, often muttering incoherently.

Though she was discharged after a month, a 2013 scan revealed the aneurysm had grown and required a second surgery. This procedure was unsuccessful, causing a major bleed and putting her life at risk. Doctors had to perform a more invasive surgery, accessing her brain directly through her skull.

Fortunately, Emilia reports she has now made a full recovery and is doing well.

Cori Broadus, Snoop Dogg’s daughter, recently shared her gratitude for her family’s support after she experienced a stroke in January 2024. She told TopMob News that she immediately texted her family with a picture after the stroke, and they quickly came to her aid.

Cori ended up staying in the hospital longer than expected due to other health issues. She explained that while she could have gone home after the stroke, she was also dealing with lupus and kidney problems.

Fortunately, Cori is now recovering well. She said she’s “doing great” and has been working to regain some motor skills, but is otherwise feeling fine.

Shailene Woodley struggled with serious health issues throughout her 20s. In a September 2024 podcast interview, she explained that she experienced hearing loss, extreme fatigue, and digestive problems. She saw many doctors but received conflicting diagnoses.

Shailene, who has kept her specific condition private, decided to take a holistic approach, combining traditional medicine with alternative healing methods. This search for answers spanned a decade.

She explained that the physical discomfort led to anxieties around food and eventually to body image issues and a struggle with her identity. However, after years of focusing on both her physical and mental wellbeing, Shailene is now happy to report that she is fully healthy and feeling much better.

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2026-01-23 04:48