When you think of the ultimate reality TV queen, Vicki Gunvalson is a name that comes to mind. The self-proclaimed “OG of the OC” didn’t just star in The Real Housewives of Orange County—she defined it. Vicki was the one who brought the drama, the glam, and, let’s be honest, some of the most iconic moments in reality TV history.
But recently, Vicki found herself in the middle of a real-life drama that was far from entertaining. The kind of drama that had her staring death in the face.
Vicki Reveals She Was Wrongly Diagnosed
Vicki recently spilled the details of a near-death experience that would have any of us shaking in our stilettos. While she’s not part of RHOC Season 18, Vicki’s status as the OG isn’t going anywhere. She’s the woman who put the “real” in reality TV—famous for her no-nonsense attitude, sharp tongue, and of course, the “whoop it up” spirit.
But as she revealed on her My Friend, My Soulmate, My Podcast episode on August 26, life threw her a terrifying curveball that no amount of reality TV drama could have prepared her for.
It all started when Vicki’s health took a sudden nosedive. Initially, her symptoms were so bizarre that some people thought she might be having a stroke. But when she went to the hospital, the doctors gave her what seemed like a minor diagnosis: a sinus infection.
A little sniffle wasn’t going to slow Vicki down, so she popped some antibiotics and jetted off to Europe for a family vacation. But this wasn’t the relaxing getaway she expected. When she got back home, things took a turn for the worse.
Vicki began losing track of time—like, whole chunks of it. Imagine going from the salon to your office and not remembering a single thing in between. That’s exactly what happened to her. She also started spouting complete nonsense at work, leaving her coworkers seriously worried.
One person even told her that her emails were so jumbled they didn’t make any sense. And let’s be real: while it’s easy to mess up a sentence or lose track of time, Vicki’s experience was a whole other level of scary.
Vicki Says Her Boyfriend Found Her Unconscious
One of her clients, clearly alarmed, suggested that she might be having a stroke. It’s no secret that slurred speech and confusion are classic stroke symptoms. But the hospital, yet again, dismissed her fears and sent her home with the same sinus infection diagnosis. This wasn’t just frustrating; it was downright dangerous.
The real horror set in when Vicki’s boyfriend, Michael Smith, found her barely conscious in the bathtub. Yep, the same woman who’s survived countless RHOC feuds was now fighting for her life.
Michael recalled the terrifying moment on the podcast, saying, “One of the scariest things for me was when I walked in, for some reason, Vicki decided she wanted to take a bath… and she’s pretty much passed out.”
It wasn’t until 14 hours later—after what must have been the longest night of Michael’s life—that they sought more medical help. This time, the doctors finally figured out what was wrong.
It turns out, Vicki’s body was under attack from a severe infection that had her right lung filled with what she described as “junk.” Even after being discharged, she admitted she was still feeling incredibly drained.
Now, Vicki’s no stranger to controversy, especially when it comes to her past flirtations with antivaccine rhetoric. But thankfully, when it mattered most, she trusted the medical professionals who helped save her life. We’re all crossing our fingers that Vicki can put this terrifying ordeal behind her and get back to being the fierce, unstoppable force we know and love. Because let’s face it—Orange County just wouldn’t be the same without her.
