Jenny McCarthy health struggles explored as Masked singer judge opens up about 9 surgeries

A Style report noted that Jenny McCarthy, who first made her name posing for Playboy in the early ’90s, had long since shifted to a broader media career. But behind the spotlight, Jenny McCarthy has dealt with a series of health complications in recent years. According to Us Weekly, the TV personality had been recovering after what she described as a frightening medical ordeal. “I’ve had nine surgeries this year on my mouth,” she said in an interview with People published on Wednesday, November 26.

“I had one infection that turned into another and another, and then I had these growths show up on my eyeballs.”

She explained that the trouble began after a ceramic dental implant failed, leading to the loss of several teeth.

“My teeth were falling out, implants falling out, they finally had to dig into my jawbone and chipped away, and found I had a deep bone infection. I’ve been on antibiotics for a year, and have had to eat soft foods only,” she recalled.

Because of the stitches in her mouth, Jenny McCarthy said she had been restricted to a limited diet. She was “able to chew again,” but added that she remained wary, since the problem had flared up repeatedly. After speaking about her suffering, she said:

“People should actually feel a little sorry for me!”

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Jenny McCarthy detailed weight loss, failed diet attempts, and two new surgeries in recent health update:

According to Us Weekly, Jenny McCarthy paired her health update with the release of the holiday card she shared with her husband, Donnie Wahlberg. The photo showed her standing in a red bikini, the weight loss evident. She admitted that her ongoing medical issues had made eating difficult and that she ended up needing additional procedures after the picture was taken.

“I had two more mouth surgeries even after that photo was taken, I’ve been pretty unlucky,” she shared.

Jenny McCarthy had already spoken earlier this year about navigating Hashimoto’s disease and leaky gut syndrome. Hoping to ease the symptoms, she tried committing to a vegan diet, something she now says overwhelmed her system. “I tried vegan, and I almost died,” she said on the Heal Squad podcast.

“I became so ill. I was exhausted and fatigued. I was a mess,” she explained.

Her body couldn’t handle it, she explained. Celiac disease, dairy issues, and a soy allergy made the diet untenable.

“Some people work [and] heal better on a vegan diet and some people don’t, it’s what you believe and you have to follow your intuition and then also follow what your blood says or what your body says. Your body will let you know, by the way,” she shared.

With her doctor’s guidance, she eventually moved to a “full carnivore” diet.

“And I’m like, ugh, OK. I’m from Chicago so I can handle it, but it just felt very low vibrational heavy for me. I was kind of a more eating salmon [type of person] and doing light things like this, but [I felt] I might as well give it a try; it was like my last resort diet. It has been f***ing incredible for me — and I stress for me,” she shared.

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Inside Jenny McCarthy and Donnie Wahlberg’s bond:

Even as Jenny McCarthy moved through a difficult stretch with her health, she didn’t face it alone. Her husband, Donnie Wahlberg, stood beside her throughout. Movieguide reported that the couple marked their 11th wedding anniversary this year, a milestone Wahlberg spoke about with unmistakable affection.

“I don’t know if I can answer how she’s supported it as much as I can answer how much — which is a million, billion percent, in every way, she’s a confidant, a cheerleader, a supporter. The way she describes it is that she will hold my kite strings and let me fly, and there are times when I’m going to hold her kite strings and let her fly and when she comes down for landing, I’m right there as her support on the ground. That’s just what we do for each other,” Wahlberg shared.

According to Movieguide, the pair had chosen to renew their vows every year, a tradition rooted in their desire to recommit to their marriage regularly.

“[We’ve had] 10 vow renewals. Our pastor reminisces about the year and gives us a thing to think about as the year goes on, there is something nice about it,” McCarthy shared.

Jenny McCarthy reflected in 2023 on how marriage had pushed them to grow.

“Anything that you need to work on will come out in your relationship. And we were both always willing and still willing to do the work when things come up. And it really is, it makes all the difference in the world,” she said.

Donnie Wahlberg added that the path they shared, balancing careers, family, and marriage, had been “fun.”