Bethenny Frankel Says She Received Major Misdiagnosis

Former reality television personality Bethenny Frankel disclosed that she received an incorrect diagnosis for what she described as a significant medical condition, prompting her to encourage others to pursue comprehensive medical evaluations.

The 55-year-old former Real Housewives of New York cast member shared the revelation in an Instagram video posted Monday, August 3, explaining that she had enrolled in a specialized medical community featuring teams of physicians who analyze patient health markers, laboratory results, and longevity factors.

"So I joined a medical community and it has teams of doctors that sort of cross reference your markers, your labs, longevity," Frankel told Us Weekly in the video, comparing the service to the Mayo Clinic while noting its accessibility from her residence.

"It's not just some vanity BS concierge doctor," she told Us Weekly. "It's very legitimate."

Frankel stated that this alternative medical approach uncovered that she had been "misdiagnosed with something pretty major." The television personality declined to provide specific details regarding the condition in question or the circumstances surrounding the alleged misdiagnosis.

Instead, she focused her message on advocating for thorough medical care and the importance of consulting multiple healthcare providers before accepting a diagnosis.

"Be very thorough in your labs, your check ups, your second, third opinions, your crowd sourcing of opinions," she told Us Weekly.

Frankel also cautioned against accepting medical information found online at face value, noting that individuals frequently claim to have various conditions without proper verification.

"Everybody is saying that they have everything. I'm very confused because I was operating with an idea that I do have this and I don't want to throw anybody under the bus. I tried to do the right thing and it's very confusing," she told Us Weekly. "I just think there's nothing we should be more thorough about than our medical care, our health and just think about it."

The entrepreneur emphasized the value of maintaining detailed records of symptoms and medical consultations, drawing a comparison to the diligence people apply when researching restaurants or shopping decisions.

"Get a notebook out and whatever it is you think you have or someone said that you have or symptoms you are experiencing," she told Us Weekly. "We are so thorough about restaurants, shoppings and other things … I think we need to be thorough about our health."

While Frankel did not specify which diagnosis proved incorrect, she had previously announced earlier this year that physicians diagnosed her with stage 2 chronic kidney disease.

In a January Instagram video, she discussed potential causes for the kidney condition. "[The doctor] said it could be a function of this traumatic experience I had years ago when I almost died from an allergy attack," she explained. "It could have done damage to the kidney. It could be autoimmune."

One month later, Frankel provided an update indicating the diagnosis had changed to stage 3A chronic kidney disease.

"So, right now, this is a step in the wrong direction, but not to be totally alarmed and to come back and get tested in a couple of months," she said in a February video. "I have a little bit of anxiety and I'm sick to my stomach, but I'm remaining calm."

The connection between her recent misdiagnosis revelation and the previously disclosed kidney disease remains unclear based on her public statements.