Carrie Ann Inaba, the longtime judge on ABC's Dancing With the Stars, is recovering after a frightening medical emergency forced her to be hospitalized following a flight to New York City.
Inaba, 58, detailed the harrowing experience in an Instagram video posted on April 16, showing her being transported in an ambulance. "Yesterday was quite a day," she wrote. "I was on my way to NY for something I am very passionate about. But had a small 'medical emergency' on the plane."
She described a sudden onset of severe symptoms. "I very suddenly felt quite ill," she explained. "And while it seemed like food poisoning, I also suddenly broke out into a cold sweat, got dizzy and my arms went numb."
Inaba, who lives with Sjogren's disease—an autoimmune disorder—said the situation escalated to the point where she needed to seek help, despite her usual self-reliance and a personal health kit she travels with. "This scared me," she admitted.
The situation was complicated by in-flight turbulence, which required the flight attendants to remain seated. "I didn't want to have anyone else put themselves at risk... but when my arms went numb, it was time to ask for help," Inaba said.
In a statement to USA Today, she expressed gratitude for the assistance she received. "I received some assistance on the plane from the flight crew and a doctor onboard, which I am very thankful for, and went to the hospital upon landing, as well as received fluids."
She also thanked the paramedics who cared for her after her blood pressure dropped during the ambulance ride. After being stabilized at the hospital, Inaba continued receiving intravenous fluids at her hotel.
"I'm resting up and looking forward to getting back into my advocacy work soon," she shared. "I'm so grateful to the people who took care of me and helped me through such a scary experience."