Kristen Johnston of TV Land comedy "The Exes" recently opened up about her battle with the autoimmune disease lupus.
Johnston suffered from debilitating symptoms for months before she was finally diagnosed in November 2013.
Around September, Johnston began feeling sick and exhausted – struggling just to climb a flight of stairs.
"I went to 17 doctors, and nobody could figure out what was going on," she said in the most recent issue of PEOPLE. "I didn't know what was going to happen to me."
At one point, the former "3<sup>rd Rock From the Sun" star was so weak that she was in a wheelchair, and couldn't lift her head without wearing a neck brace.
"If I had to live like that forever, I would have killed myself," she admitted.
West Hollywood rheumatologist Dr. Daniel J. Wallace diagnosed her with lupus myelitis – a "neurological disorder caused by inflammation of the spinal cord."
Dr. Wallace described the severity of Johnston's condition.
"She's in remission," he told PEOPLE. "But if she'd waited a few weeks longer, she could have ended up quadriplegic."
Johnston, 46, was treated with chemotherapy and steroids. Although her health is improving, she stated that her fight against the incurable disease is far from over.
"Even though my lupus is in remission, I'll be dealing with it for the rest of my life," she said.
"Recently, I fell while hiking, and because my bones are so porous due to lupus treatment, I ended up shattering a bone in my arm."
In spite of her health challenges, Johnston expressed a positive outlook on life.
"Every day I'm amazed that I can lift my head, play with my dog Pinky and have the energy to act," she stated.
"When you go from your best friend having to give you a bath, being in a wheelchair and no doctor being able to diagnose you to feeling great a few months later, every single day is a gift, and I don't take one second of it for granted. I know I'm so lucky to be sober and healthy."
Season four of "The Exes" will premiere November 5 on TV Land.
