Television personality Jenny McCarthy has bravely revealed the details of a severe health crisis that dominated her past year, involving multiple surgeries and a painful bone infection originating from a dental issue.
A Year of Agony and Multiple Surgeries
The 53-year-old Masked Singer judge explained that her medical nightmare began with what seemed like a routine mouth infection. The situation rapidly deteriorated, ultimately requiring nine separate surgical procedures on her mouth. McCarthy described watching in horror as her teeth began falling out during this frightening period.
"I've had nine surgeries this year, on my mouth," McCarthy confessed during an interview with People magazine. "I had one infection that turned into another and another, and then I had these growths show up on my eyeballs."
The Root Cause: A Failed Dental Implant
Medical professionals eventually identified the source of her escalating health problems: a failed ceramic dental implant that triggered a cascade of complications. "My teeth were falling out, implants falling out," revealed McCarthy, who is married to 56-year-old actor and singer Donnie Wahlberg, known for his roles in Blue Bloods and Boston Blue.
The damage extended far beyond surface level issues. "They finally had to dig into my jawbone and chipped away, and found I had a deep bone infection," McCarthy shared. The diagnosis led to an extensive treatment regimen that included a full year of antibiotics and a restricted diet limited to soft foods.
Recovery Challenges and Hopeful Outlook
Even after posing for their annual holiday card with Wahlberg on November 25, McCarthy underwent additional procedures. "I had two more mouth surgeries even after that photo was taken," she noted, explaining that her slender appearance in the festive image resulted from being unable to eat properly due to mouth stitches.
The recovery process proved frustratingly unpredictable. "As of now, I'm able to chew again, but every time we thought it had cleared up, it came back again," McCarthy described. "I'd be in massive pain with my jaw swelling up, and at the same time I was getting these growths popping up on my eyeballs. People should actually feel a little sorry for me!"
Despite the ongoing challenges, the media personality remains optimistic about spending quality time with her husband during the holiday season. Their work schedules have kept them apart, with McCarthy filming The Masked Singer in Los Angeles while Wahlberg works on Boston Blue in Canada.
"Thanksgiving and Christmas will mean more to us than ever this year," McCarthy expressed. "It's just me and him, at home in Chicago, me cooking a bird, and enjoying each other." Most importantly, she hopes to finally enjoy a proper holiday meal, declaring: "I think I'm past the storm. I'm about to chow down!"
