Carrie Ann Inaba is using a frightening recent health scare to shine a light on a condition she says many people still don’t fully understand.
The longtime “Dancing with the Stars” judge, 58, revealed she was rushed to the hospital after experiencing a medical emergency mid-flight while traveling to New York City. In an Instagram post, Inaba shared that she “suddenly felt quite ill,” describing symptoms that quickly escalated.
“And while it seemed like food poisoning, I also suddenly broke out into a cold sweat, got dizzy and my arms went numb,” she wrote. “Like many people who live with autoimmune disease, I travel with a health tool kit and am prepared for the worst, but this scared me.”
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That moment brought renewed attention to her long battle with Sjogren’s disease, a chronic autoimmune condition she’s been managing for years.
Inaba told Fox News Digital that her journey began long before her official diagnosis. Early on, she experienced severe eye issues. “My eyes were really, really dry and I kept having injuries to my corneas,” she said. At first, her symptoms were dismissed, but after seeing a specialist and undergoing extensive testing, she was finally diagnosed in 2013—more than a decade after her symptoms began.
Sjogren’s disease can be difficult to detect because it affects people differently. Inaba said she later developed persistent pain in her neck and shoulders, along with extreme fatigue. “I had no energy to move forward with things, which is unlike me,” she said. “I’ve always been a go-getter… I was physically active my whole life.”
The unpredictability of the disease has been one of the hardest parts. With symptoms ranging from dry eyes and mouth to brain fog, anxiety, and chronic pain, Inaba says it can feel overwhelming—and isolating.
“I live with pain 24/7,” she shared.
To manage her condition, Inaba has built a daily routine focused on minimizing flare-ups. She stays hydrated, uses a humidifier, and incorporates practices like meditation, reiki, and body work. She’s also learned to pace herself, especially around major events.
“I know that more than likely, I might be sick and I might have a few down days afterwards, and it’s worth the risk,” she said. “If I don’t have to be in a crowd, I won’t, because I want to take care of my health and prioritize myself.”
Now, Inaba is speaking out to raise awareness through the “Sjout for Sjogren’s” campaign, encouraging others to advocate for their health and seek proper care.
Her message is simple but powerful: take symptoms seriously and don’t ignore what your body is telling you.
“We want people to respect that it is a complicated systemic autoimmune disease that needs care,” she said, noting that there is currently no FDA-approved treatment and that managing symptoms is key.
Above all, Inaba wants people to understand that just because they can’t see the illness doesn’t mean it isn’t real.
“It’s an invisible illness,” she said. “I know when I’m out there doing whatever show I’m doing, you don’t think I’m sick, but I pay a price for doing that.”
She also offered encouragement to others walking a similar path. “It’s sometimes a lonely and isolating disease… I want people to feel confident enough to shout about what they’re going through,” she said. “Don’t let people tell you it’s not real.”
For Inaba, sharing her story isn’t just about her own journey—it’s about helping others feel seen, heard, and understood.
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