Reality television personality Bethenny Frankel presented a picture of vitality during a Miami beach stroll on Monday afternoon, just days after disclosing a significant health diagnosis to her followers. The 55-year-old former star of The Real Housewives of New York appeared tanned and stylish, dressed in a low-cut corseted blue top paired with white slacks and beige sandals, while sporting a summer hat that completed her fashionable ensemble.
Health Revelation Amid Sunny Setting
Despite her outwardly healthy appearance, Frankel had shared concerning news with her audience via a TikTok video last Thursday. In the emotional clip, she revealed she has been diagnosed with stage two chronic kidney disease, a condition where the kidneys gradually lose their ability to filter waste from the blood effectively.
The media personality was accompanied during her Miami outing by a dark-haired mystery man dressed for the sunshine in a collared shirt and blue shorts, who carried a chic tote bag. This sighting comes after her engagement to Paul Bernon ended earlier this year, following a relationship that began in 2018.
Proactive Health Monitoring Leads to Diagnosis
Frankel explained in her video that she had been proactively undergoing comprehensive blood tests and medical screenings in recent months. "Months ago I decided I was going to be very proactive about blood tests, bone density, all the things I had heard people talking about," she shared with her followers.
Each time she received her blood test results, her kidney function markers consistently showed low readings, establishing what she described as "a pattern" that eventually led to a specialist appointment. "Then today, I was told I had a doctor's appointment with a kidney specialist and I didn't even want to go," Frankel admitted, though she ultimately attended with encouragement from her team.
Understanding the Diagnosis and Treatment
The specialist informed Frankel that her stage two chronic kidney disease could potentially stem from multiple factors. These include damage from a severe allergic reaction years ago that nearly proved fatal, or possibly an autoimmune disorder. The doctor also noted connections to urinary tract issues, which Frankel has experienced previously.
Medical advice for managing her condition includes:
- Significantly increasing water intake, with her doctor emphasizing that "water is your medicine"
- Avoiding certain medications including ibuprofen, Aleve, and Advil
- Steering clear of turmeric and other specific substances
- Continuing to monitor her health through regular blood work
Interestingly, the specialist confirmed she could still enjoy occasional treats like ice cream, which Frankel demonstrated during her video announcement.
Additional Health Challenges
Frankel has been navigating other medical issues alongside her kidney diagnosis. She disclosed that she experiences low blood pressure and problems with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), a condition causing symptoms like rapid heart rate, dizziness, and fatigue when transitioning from lying down to standing up.
The reality star also mentioned struggling with severe dehydration, which she discussed openly with her kidney specialist to develop a comprehensive management plan. "So, I'm trying to tell him everything so we can sort of try to be ahead of it and maybe get my levels back up," she explained. "Maybe this is something I will have to deal with forever."
Health Advocacy and Lifestyle
Frankel has previously shared her approach to wellness in interviews, emphasizing balanced living rather than extreme measures. Her routine includes walking 10,000 steps daily, prioritizing sufficient sleep, and moderating alcohol consumption.
Regarding diet, she told Women's Health last year: "I believe in balance, and I've taught that to my daughter too. I'm not educated on every single thing. I barely know what seed oils are. I just do my best."
In her TikTok announcement, Frankel stressed the importance of regular medical check-ups for her followers: "Get all your blood work done, all of it, be thorough and then do the follow ups for anything that seems like an outlier. And frankly, get your blood work done maybe six months and then six months later. Because different stuff can come up and sometimes it's an aberration and sometimes it means something."
The television personality concluded her health update by expressing gratitude for her supportive fan community, whom she affectionately called "part time doctors," while acknowledging the uncertainty of her medical journey ahead.
