Jamie-Lynn Sigler talks reason behind secret MS diagnosis

NEW YORK, Jan. 27 (UPI) -- Actress Jaime-Lynn Sigler said she kept her multiple sclerosis diagnosis secret because an industry professional advised her to when she was 20-years-old.

Speaking to Matt Lauer in an interview on Today Wednesday morning, Sigler, 34, said she took the advice because, "I was scared and I thought that was the best thing."

But after revealing her diagnosis last week, Sigler said she feels "relief," after revealing the truth after 15 years.

"I lived with this secret that caused me to have so many feelings of shame and guilt and fear for so many years, so I think to finally sort of feel like I'm claiming my power back and being confident with the person that I am, I feel a great weight off my shoulders," she said.

Sigler opened up about her diagnosis in the latest issue of People magazine, where she said she kept her condition secret because it was "hard to accept."

"Things are manageable now," she is quoted as saying about her symptoms -- which include the inability to run, limited ability to walk and difficulty climbing stairs. "It takes a fighting attitude to deal with all this. This disease can absolutely take over your life if you let it."

Sigler is also recently married, having recited vows to now husband Cutter Dykstra in mid-January. The Sopranos actress told People because of her son and new marriage she's "a new me."

"I don't want to hold a secret where it feels like I have something to be ashamed of or have something to hide," she said. "It's part of me, but it's not who I am."