Bethenny Frankel Says Her Chronic Kidney Disease Progressed to Stage 3

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Bethenny Frankelis offering a discomforting update on her health.

Just weeks after sharing her diagnosis of stage 2 chronic kidney disease, the former Real Housewives of New York City star has announced that her condition has worsened to stage 3A.

Bethenny shared in an Instagram video on February 19th that she had just come from a kidney doctor’s appointment. She explained that her health situation is currently stable, but not yet requiring medication, although her doctor emphasized the importance of drinking plenty of water. During a sonogram, the doctor also discovered a nodule on her liver, highlighting the value of regular testing and check-ups to catch potential health issues early.

During her doctor’s visit, the 55-year-old learned the cause of the kidney disease she was diagnosed with in January. She shares a 15-year-old daughter, Bryn, with her ex-husband, Jason Hoppy.

She explained that her doctor found some damage to her kidneys, likely caused by a severe allergic reaction she had a few years ago. It doesn’t require medication at this point, so she’s not overly worried. She plans to just drink more water, as the doctor emphasized that staying hydrated is key – which ironically makes her anxious, because she often feels dehydrated.

The former host of Big Shot has said in the past that she doesn’t drink enough water. Now, she’s motivating herself and her fans to drink more and prioritize regular health checkups.

Staying true to her commitment to health awareness, Bethenny also highlighted worrying patterns her doctor has noticed in patients with kidney problems – specifically, unusually high levels of turmeric and moringa showing up in their medical tests.

She explained that the doctor had warned against using moringa and turmeric if you have kidney problems. He also pointed out that people often jump on health trends and try lots of different supplements without thinking it through. It’s important to tell your doctor about anything you’re taking, as supplements can impact your health in different ways, and what works for one person might not work for another.

This year hasn’t been easy for Bethenny Frankel when it comes to her health. She recently dealt with a facial rash after a trip to St. Barths with her daughter last month. She shared a TikTok video on January 5th, jokingly blaming St. Barths for the bacterial infection that forced her to cut her vacation short, writing, “Allergic to St. Barths.”

Keep reading to see more stars who have experienced their own health scares


Nikki Bella, known from Total Bellas, shared that one of her breast implants moved after being hit during the elbow of fellow wrestler Piper Niven in a match back in July 2025.

She reassured her sister, Bella Garcia, saying they would get the issue resolved eventually. She explained to the doctor that as soon as she retired from her current job, she’d return to address the problem and ensure everything looked its best, because she planned to be active again and didn’t want it to look bad.

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

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 growing up, many of us are told that periods are supposed to be painful, and that pain is just something women have to deal with. This often leaves us feeling like we’re suffering in silence with something incredibly common.

 

In July 2025, the actress from Daisy Jones & The Six revealed she’d been hospitalized for a hernia, which is a gap in the abdominal or groin muscles. She said it was caused by wearing very tight pants.

Someone messaged Suki on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, asking why she hadn’t posted recently. The message jokingly explained the silence by saying the sender had suffered a hernia six months prior from wearing very tight pants and had been afraid to mention it.

The former star of Beverly Hills, 90210 shared in April 2025 that he was recovering from surgery because his appendix was close to rupturing.

Brian shared in an Instagram video that he recently experienced stomach pain which led him to the emergency room. He explained he had a perforated appendix – it hadn’t fully burst, but was very close to it.

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 the Seattle Reign on September 14th at Lumen Field in Seattle, a midfielder for 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, before suddenly collapsing. Trainers were immediately called to assess her condition.

Savannah was given immediate medical attention on the field and 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 today.

“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 explained that his pain is intermittent, saying, “My body has a few quirks and isn’t quite working perfectly.”

A former contestant on The Bachelor went to the hospital in extreme pain, literally crawling because his back hurt so badly. The pain flared up during a road trip with a friend while they were traveling in an RV.

He described a strange tingling sensation that still lingered in his knees and toes as of a March 2025 podcast episode of Trading Secrets. He explained that just a few weeks or a month prior, he was able to squat 295 pounds, but now he couldn’t even do a basic squat or stand on one leg without falling. 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 doing okay.

In March 2025, the actor known for 30 Rock experienced a medical issue at a New York Knicks game and had to be taken out of Madison Square Garden in a wheelchair.

The comedian later posted on social media to explain he’d actually been sick with food poisoning, but 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.

In an Instagram post, she explained that she was accidentally shot in the face by someone else at a party. They fired a gun unsafely, and she was hit five times, with one bullet narrowly missing her right eye. @thebrendanrooney quickly helped her, providing first aid and rushing her to the hospital.

The former Kim Possible star explained that a small piece of something got stuck behind their eye. Doctors have advised against surgery to remove it right now, but they’re keeping a close watch on the situation. Thankfully, their vision is currently normal.

The actress expressed immense gratitude for surviving. She shared how much she loves her daughters, husband, family, and friends, and urged everyone to cherish their loved ones. She described experiencing a life-or-death moment and emphasized how quickly things can change, encouraging people to hug those around them whenever possible.

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” in photos, she faced criticism online. Surprisingly, doctors began commenting, expressing concern that she might have Cushing syndrome, a condition often linked to high cortisol levels or steroid injections. This prompted Amy to realize she’d received steroid injections after a breast reduction and C-section. She later learned she had a form of Cushing syndrome that would resolve on its own, which she called “the greatest news imaginable.” Amy is now relieved to be healthy and credits the online scrutiny with leading her to a diagnosis she wouldn’t have otherwise received.

During a December 2024 game, an AHL player was accidentally cut in the face by another player’s skate and needed 25 stitches. After his son made a full recovery, New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald told 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. Though these symptoms eventually passed, 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). 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 has since undergone a successful procedure to close the PFO 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 was becoming 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. He explained that while in Atlanta, he suffered a severe headache and asked for aspirin. Before he could take it, 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, they discovered he had a brain bleed that caused a stroke.

After surgery, Jamie woke up in a wheelchair on May 4th, unable to walk. He then went to Chicago for rehabilitation and therapy. He expressed his gratitude for the prayers he received, saying, “I needed every prayer.”

The reality TV star shared that she temporarily stopped breathing while running a mile during the initial 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.

Oh my god, I was absolutely devastated when I read Emilia Clarke’s essay. It’s called ‘A Battle for My Life,’ and it details everything she went through! Apparently, while filming Game of Thrones, she started getting these terrible headaches. She described being at the gym, suddenly needing to rush to the bathroom, and then just
 collapsing, being violently sick. The pain was excruciating, and she knew something was seriously wrong with her brain.

It turned out she’d had a subarachnoid hemorrhage – a type of stroke caused by bleeding around the brain. She’d had an aneurysm, an artery had ruptured! They rushed her into surgery, but even that pain was ‘unbearable,’ she said. And then, while recovering, she started having trouble with her speech, just muttering nonsense. Thankfully, that passed after a week, and she was able to leave the hospital after a month.

But it didn’t end there! A scan in 2013 showed another growth, and it had doubled in size! She needed another surgery, and the first attempt failed. She woke up screaming in pain, and the doctors told her things were incredibly dangerous if they didn’t operate again. This time, they actually had to open her skull! It’s just
 unbelievable. But the best part is, she says she’s now at 100 percent! I’m so incredibly relieved and amazed by her strength. She’s a true warrior!

Cori Broadus, Snoop Dogg’s daughter, recently shared how thankful she is for her family’s support after experiencing a stroke in January 2024. She immediately reached out to them, sending a text and a photo, and they quickly came to her aid, as she told TopMob News’ Will Marfuggi in December 2024. While she could have gone home after the stroke, other health issues kept her hospitalized longer than expected. Cori, who also stars in “Snoop’s Fatherhood: Cori and Wayne’s Story,” explained that her lupus was flaring up and her kidneys were failing. Fortunately, Cori is now recovering well. “I’m doing great,” she said. “I just needed to work on regaining some motor skills, but overall, I’m fine.”

Shailene Woodley struggled with significant health issues throughout her early twenties. In a September 2024 podcast interview, she described a time when she was losing her hearing, unable to walk for more than five minutes without needing to rest for hours, and experiencing stomach pain with everything she ate. She faced conflicting diagnoses from various doctors. Determined to find answers, Woodley, who prefers to keep her specific condition private, combined traditional medical care with holistic and herbal remedies. This search for well-being lasted for a decade. The physical discomfort led to deeper issues, including fear of food and struggles with body image, identity, and feeling comfortable in her own body. Ultimately, Woodley’s health improved, and she is now very healthy and happy to share that she has resolved the issues she faced.

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2026-02-20 18:50