Carrie Ann Inaba Opens Up About Challenges of Living With Invisible Illness

‘Dancing with the Stars’ Judge Carrie Ann Inaba Reveals Decades-Long Battle with Autoimmune Disease

Longtime “Dancing with the Stars” judge Carrie Ann Inaba is opening up about her struggles with Sjogren’s disease, a chronic autoimmune condition she has battled silently for decades. The 58-year-old dancer and television personality was recently rushed to the hospital following a mid-flight medical emergency while traveling to New York City.

In a candid Instagram post showing her being transported in an ambulance, Inaba described the frightening experience. “I suddenly felt quite ill,” she wrote. “And while it seemed like food poisoning, I also suddenly broke out into a cold sweat, got dizzy and my arms went numb.” Despite traveling with what she calls a “health tool kit” to manage her condition, the episode left her scared.

In an interview with Fox News Digital, Inaba revealed that her journey with Sjogren’s began years ago when she first experienced persistent eye problems. “My eyes were really, really dry and I kept having injuries to my corneas,” she explained. After an ophthalmologist dismissed her concerns, Inaba consulted a rheumatologist who directed her to a Sjogren’s specialist.

Following extensive bloodwork and specialized testing, Inaba received her diagnosis in 2013 – more than a decade after her symptoms first appeared. The delay in diagnosis is common with Sjogren’s, which can manifest differently in each patient.

Sjogren’s disease affects approximately four million Americans, with women accounting for 90% of cases. The chronic, systemic autoimmune condition can impact multiple organs and body systems. A survey of more than 3,500 people living with Sjogren’s documented 48 different symptoms reported over the course of a year.

For Inaba, symptoms extended beyond dry eyes to include severe pain in her neck and shoulders – which as a professional dancer, she initially mistook for normal occupational discomfort. Extreme fatigue also became a debilitating symptom.

“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. And during this chapter, when I was starting to figure out something was wrong, there were all these symptoms, and I didn’t understand how they were related.”

Medical experts note that Sjogren’s symptoms can include dry mouth, brain fog, anxiety, swollen glands and lymph nodes, skin rashes, fevers, night sweats, and neurological symptoms like numbness or burning sensations in extremities. If left untreated, the condition can progress to damage vital organs including the lungs and kidneys.

To manage her condition, Inaba has developed a comprehensive self-care routine. “I always have a lot of drinks. I’m always spraying things in the air to get moisture in the air. I have a humidifier I sleep with,” she explained. “I also do lots of meditation and reiki and body work to make sure I don’t get too flared up, because pain is always with me. I live with pain 24/7.”

The television personality has learned to carefully balance her professional commitments with health needs, particularly surrounding major events like “Dancing with the Stars” tapings. “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.”

Inaba is now using her platform to raise awareness through the “Sjout for Sjogren’s” campaign, an initiative aimed at educating the public about this frequently misunderstood condition. The campaign also focuses on building community among those affected.

“We want people to respect that it is a complicated systemic autoimmune disease that needs care,” she emphasized. “There is no FDA-approved treatment at this time, so it’s about managing symptoms.”

For others experiencing similar symptoms or already diagnosed with Sjogren’s, Inaba advises keeping detailed records of warning signs and being a strong self-advocate in medical settings. She stresses the importance of community support and validation.

“It’s an invisible illness,” Inaba 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 describes the disease as sometimes lonely and isolating, encouraging others to speak openly about their experiences.

Her most important message for fellow Sjogren’s patients is straightforward but powerful: “Don’t let people tell you it’s not real. And have patience for the friends who are trying to understand, but can’t quite. Because, most likely, you don’t believe it unless you’re actually experiencing it.”