Jenny McCarthy is opening up about a frightening and exhausting medical ordeal that disrupted nearly every part of her life this year.
The television personality and Masked Singer judge says she is finally recovering after months of complications that began with a failed dental implant but escalated into infections, pain and multiple surgeries.
McCarthy, 53, revealed in an interview published Nov. 26 that the situation grew far more serious than she ever imagined.
What started as a simple dental procedure led to repeated infections and alarming symptoms that doctors struggled to control.
“I’ve had nine surgeries this year, on my mouth,” she told People. “I had one infection that turned into another and another, and then I had these growths show up on my eyeballs.”
She said the issues worsened even as she tried to heal. Instead of getting better, her symptoms grew increasingly severe. Eventually, doctors discovered there was a deeper problem causing the recurring infections.
“My teeth were falling out, implants falling out,” McCarthy said. “They finally had to dig into my jawbone and found I had a deep bone infection.”
“I’ve been on antibiotics for a year, and have had to eat soft foods only. Every time we thought it had cleared up, it came back again. I’d be in massive pain with my jaw swelling up.”
After months of setbacks, McCarthy said she has finally reached a turning point. She confirmed she is now “able to chew again” and slowly returning to normal life.
Her health ordeal has also shaped how she and her husband, Donnie Wahlberg, plan to spend the holidays.
McCarthy said the couple has been juggling demanding work schedules that have kept them apart.
“I’ve been shooting The Masked Singer in Los Angeles, he’s been in Canada with Boston Blue,” she explained. “So it’s been difficult, which means Thanksgiving and Christmas will mean more to us than ever this year.”
She added that their holiday plans will be simple and intimate. “It’s just me and him, at home in Chicago, me cooking a bird, and enjoying each other.”
Wahlberg, 56, shares sons Xavier, 31, and Elijah, 23, from a previous marriage. McCarthy shares her 23-year-old son Evan Joseph with ex-husband John Asher. The couple has been coordinating family time where they can, especially as McCarthy continues to regain her strength.
This is not the first time the actress has faced medical challenges this year. Earlier in 2024, she said she became seriously ill after attempting a vegan diet.
“I tried vegan and I almost died,” McCarthy, 52, said on Maria Menounos’ Heal Squad podcast in March. “I was exhausted and fatigued. I was a mess.”
She explained that the diet triggered a flare-up of her celiac disease, an autoimmune condition affecting her ability to digest gluten. She also struggled with the low-calorie intake associated with her vegan plan.
Her doctor ultimately advised her to switch to a high-protein diet. Once McCarthy began eating more “meat, eggs and seafood,” she said her energy returned quickly.
As she puts it, “Some people work and heal better on a vegan diet and some people don’t. It’s what you believe and you have to follow your intuition and then also follow what your blood says or what your body says. Your body will let you know.”
Now, with her jaw healing and her energy improving, McCarthy says she is focusing on gratitude, rest and time with her husband after a physically and emotionally draining year.