Bethenny Frankel is urging her followers to advocate for their health after receiving a “major” misdiagnosis.
In a recent Instagram video, the 55-year-old entrepreneur shared that a team of specialists re-examined her health data and determined she had been misdiagnosed with a “pretty major” condition. She chose not to name the specific illness that doctors ruled out, but she made a point to clarify that the clinical group that caught the error was “very legitimate.”
“I’m very confused because I was sort of operating with the idea that I do have this,” Frankel admitted in her video. She added that she felt an obligation to speak out so others would stay proactive with their own health care.
She also warned her audience not to rely on AI chatbots or online trends to figure out what’s wrong with them.
“Don’t believe everything you hear on the internet. Don’t believe everything that chat tells you, but I do believe that whether it’s gluten intolerance or an allergy, or gut. Everybody’s sort of saying that they have everything,” she said.
A History of Chronic Health Struggles
Frankel has been open about her ongoing health journey for years. In 2023, she announced that she was diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), an autonomic nervous system disorder known to cause varying symptoms, including dizziness, fatigue, and a fast heart rate.
“A while back, I shared what has been a serious battle with POTS,” she captioned an Instagram post after receiving scrutiny over her appearance. “This is an autoimmune disorder that seems to have been drastically exacerbated since COVID. I know there are many of you out there, so thanks for all the information. It’s certainly a condition to manage.”
She added: “PS: When you comment on someone’s physical appearance, you may not know exactly what they’re enduring personally, physically, and emotionally.”
Frankel also has stage 3a chronic kidney disease, which according to the National Kidney Foundation, is “mild to moderate” kidney function loss.
“Just left the kidney doctor, he said I actually have stage 3A chronic kidney disease, which is right in the middle,” she said in an Instagram video in February.
She previously told Page Six that staying hydrated is a top daily priority. She called water her “medicine” and explained that stage 3a kidney disease can often be managed through daily choices.
Ultimately, her decision to talk publicly about her misdiagnosis comes down to encouraging people to become their own advocates.
“I just think there’s nothing we should be more thorough about than our medical care, our health, and just think about it,” Frankel said. She advised her followers to request complete bloodwork and work directly with licensed doctors instead of trusting internet searches.


