Carrie Ann Inaba, best known as a judge on Dancing With the Stars, is speaking candidly about her ongoing battle with Sjogren's disease, a chronic autoimmune disorder that she says brings "constant pain" and fatigue into her daily life.
In a recent interview, Inaba revealed that her diagnosis in 2013 has fundamentally changed how she lives. "I look like maybe I'm feeling fine," she shared, "but I live with constant pain, constant dryness in my eyes and mouth, constant fatigue. Sjogren's is always with me—it's invisible, but it's always there."
The 58-year-old explained that managing her energy has become crucial. "My life is all about energy management now," she said. This has even affected her personal relationships. "I've lost a lot of friendships because I don't have a lot of energy to give to another person," Inaba admitted. "As the years progressed, it was sadness because I recognize what I'm losing by having this disease."
To cope, Inaba now meticulously plans her schedule around her condition. She sets aside dedicated time to be "peaceful at home" before DWTS tapings and schedules quiet recovery days afterward. "It's about how I manage that pain," she emphasized.
Inaba also addressed a recent medical emergency that occurred during an April 15 flight to New York City. She clarified that the incident was due to severe food poisoning that caused dehydration and a dangerous drop in blood pressure.
"Normally I handle most of my health things on my own," Inaba said in an Instagram video. "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."
She described how her arms went numb while trying to compose herself in the airplane bathroom, prompting her to seek help from the flight crew. Reflecting on the experience, Inaba told reporters, "It taught me the importance of listening to and trusting my body when something doesn't feel right. I'm so grateful to the people who took care of me and helped me through such a scary experience."
Through sharing her story, Inaba hopes to bring awareness to the challenges of living with invisible chronic illnesses while demonstrating how she's learned to adapt her life around her health needs.