Jackie O’s ex-husband ‘Ugly’ Phil O’Neil reveals his shock heath battle: ‘I cried for 10 hours’

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Jackie O’s ex-husband ‘Ugly’ Phil O’Neil reveals his shock heath battle: ‘I cried for 10 hours’

By Kinta Walsh Cotton for Daily Mail Australia

Published: 08:33 BST, September 14, 2022 | Updated: 08:36 BST, September 14, 2022

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Jackie O’s ex-husband ‘Ugly’ Phil O’Neil has revealed his secret battle with multiple sclerosis.

The WSFM radio host, 59, told: Jess Rowe’s Big Talk Show He was diagnosed with the debilitating disease six years ago and described the moment he found out as the most “scary” and “confrontational” time of his life.

O’Neil said he “cryed for about 10 hours” and was “drunk” on that fateful day in 2016.

Jackie O's Ex-Husband 'Ugly' Phil O'Neil Revealed His Secret Battle With Multiple Sclerosis

Jackie O’s Ex-Husband ‘Ugly’ Phil O’Neil Revealed His Secret Battle With Multiple Sclerosis

After several months of unsuccessful testing, the former Hot 30 Countdown host finally went in for an MRI scan after his arm and one side of his face went numb.

“I went home, cried for about 10 hours. Got drunk. I cried for about 10 hours,” Phil recalled.

1663141223 754 Jackie Os ex husband Ugly Phil ONeil reveals his shock heath

1663141223 754 Jackie Os ex husband Ugly Phil ONeil reveals his shock heath

The WSFM radio host, 59, told The Jess Rowe Big Talk Show that he was diagnosed with the debilitating illness six years ago and described the moment he found out as the most “scary” and “confrontational” time of his life.

He went on to say that he was “petrified” and “had no idea what was going to happen” and immediately searched Google for answers.

“I broke,” he said. ‘I cried. sam [my wife] cried. For about 10 hours. The next morning I woke up and said, “Well, this is the first day, I’m going to see my neurologist.”‘

Despite the fear he felt, Phil said his journey from that point on has “saved my life in many ways.”

1663141223 682 Jackie Os ex husband Ugly Phil ONeil reveals his shock heath

1663141223 682 Jackie Os ex husband Ugly Phil ONeil reveals his shock heath

He said he “cryed for about 10 hours” and “got drunk” on that fateful day in 2016. (Pictured with Jackie ‘O’ Henderson, far left, when they hosted the Hot 30 Countdown)

The UK-born radio DJ made huge lifestyle and diet changes in his life after discovering he had the disease.

He even went so far as to explore spirituality and Buddhism before attending a church, which he said changed his whole outlook on life.

In February 2022, 20 years after he and Jackie ‘O’ Henderson divorced, Phil married iHeartRadio producer Samantha Clarke.

WHAT IS MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS?

Multiple sclerosis (known as MS) is a condition in which the immune system attacks the body, causing nerve damage to the brain and spinal cord.

It is an incurable, lifelong condition. Symptoms can be mild in some, more extreme in others and can cause severe disability.

MS affects 2.3 million people worldwide – including about one million in the US and 100,000 in the UK.

It is more than twice as common in women as in men. A person is usually diagnosed in their 20s and 30s.

The condition is more commonly diagnosed in people of European descent.

The cause is not clear. There may be genes attached to it, but it is not directly hereditary. Smoking and low vitamin D levels are also linked to MS.

Symptoms include fatigue, difficulty walking, vision problems, bladder problems, numbness or tingling, muscle stiffness and spasm, problems with balance and coordination, and problems with thinking, learning, and planning.

The majority of patients will have episodes of symptoms that go away and come back, while some will have some that get progressively worse over time.

Symptoms can be managed with medication and therapy.

The condition shortens average life expectancy by about five to ten years.

In February 2022, 20 years after he and Jackie 'O' Henderson divorced, Phil married iHeartRadio producer Samantha Clarke (left)

In February 2022, 20 years after he and Jackie 'O' Henderson divorced, Phil married iHeartRadio producer Samantha Clarke (left)

In February 2022, 20 years after he and Jackie ‘O’ Henderson divorced, Phil married iHeartRadio producer Samantha Clarke (left)

He announced the news on Instagram with a photo of the newlyweds holding their marriage certificates and captioned, “Officially Mrs. Ugly.”

On her Instagram page, the bride shared a photo of the couple in an elevator and captioned the post: “We did the thing. We took the cat with us.’

Phil was the first husband of KIIS FM star Jackie O, who married photographer Lee Henderson from 2003 to 2018.

1663141223 596 Jackie Os ex husband Ugly Phil ONeil reveals his shock heath

1663141223 596 Jackie Os ex husband Ugly Phil ONeil reveals his shock heath

On her Instagram page, the bride shared a photo of the couple in an elevator and captioned the post: “We did the thing. We took the cat’

Phil was the first husband of KIIS FM star Jackie O, who married photographer Lee Henderson from 2003 to 2018.

Phil was the first husband of KIIS FM star Jackie O, who married photographer Lee Henderson from 2003 to 2018.

Phil was the first husband of KIIS FM star Jackie O, who married photographer Lee Henderson from 2003 to 2018.

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