Missy Elliot Battling Graves' Disease

By Kiki Von Glinow Posted Jun 23rd 2011 02:10PM

For three years now, Missy Elliot has been battling Graves' disease, the hip-hop artist divulged to People. The disease, which takes a dramatic tole on the autoimmune system and thyroid, has been so debilitating to the star that she has had to dramatically change her everyday life.

"I was [driving and] trying to put my foot on the brake, but my leg was jumping," she recalled. "I couldn't keep the brake down and almost crashed. I couldn't write because my nervous system was so bad -- I couldn't even use a pen."

But the disease has not only had a physical affect on the star, it has also taken a told on Eliott's mental facilities. The 'Work It' singer was also plagued with mood swings and hair loss while undergoing radiation for hyperthyroidism.

Unfortunately, as of yet, there is no cure for Graves' disease, but if caught early, as in Elliot's case, it can be maintained so that the carrier can live as close to a normal life as possible -- though the health of those with the disease can deteriorate over time.

"I'm 30 pounds lighter because I've been exercising," she explained. "My thyroid is functioning, so I haven't had to take medication in about nine months. [But] you live with it for the rest of your life."

And Eliott isn't letting her health hold her back, she recently announced that she will produce a comeback album with the help of Timbaland.

Tags: missy elliot

Comments

(24)

Thursday 23 June

By Steve

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Graves disease does not "take a toll on the 'autoimmune' system. It takes a toll on the body because the immune system attacks the body and IS an autoimmune disease.

By Tina

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Lots of us have thyroid disease... You have your blood work, take your meds and listen to the dr...

By Marie

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Tina you are being pretty nonchalant about this. Maybe your thyroid disease is not Graves disease. Well I had Graves disease almost 20 years ago and it was a BIG DEAL! I had to have surgery on my eyes twice. That was no picnic!! It was trying, but not what I would call a battle. Thankfully it has been in remission for many years now. IDIOT!!!

By MG of IL

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Yes, Graves disease is a lifetime struggle, I know. First I had an overactive thyroid, medicated for nine months and surgery to remove one side and most of the other side of my thyroid gland. Went for many years (flucuating weight, mostly a battle to lose) and then my thyroid became very sluggish - hypothyroidism and now take replacement therapy. This has been ongoing for 37 years. It is something you can life with - it's just hard to remember being "normal" feeling, weight, emotional, etc. Keep positive!!

By J. GILBERT

YOUR STUPPIDITY IS SHOWING AS USUAL!

By ashley

@Lui coloreds who use that word anymore

By RAUL

Coloreds is the polite word for niggrahs ! Those baboons want to be called something new every 10-15 years. SCREW THEM , WE ARE DONE CODDLING THOSE LOWLIFES.

By Estrella Dia

I wonder if Missy Elliot is open to using natural supplements. My friends and my family are taking Body Balance,a liquid supplement made up of organic aloe vera and nine different kinds of sea vegetables. This product boosts your immune system.
Google aloe vera and sea vegetables or seaweeds and you will find amazing benefits of this two wonderful plants provided to us by nature.
I just want to share something good.Missy,you don't have to suffer.Take a look.

Friday 24 June

By auntdebboise

No, supplements will not help this condition.

By esquirrel the mighty

Do you tongue kiss your mother with that mouth?

By Mike

Feel better, Missy! You can still "put your thang down, flip it and reverse it!" You are missed!

cloreds who uses that word anymore

By Raul

ashley, most all non-niggruhs use that word. its nicer than jig, spook, koon, jungle bunny, aids carrier, crackhead, obama-type, ghetto slug, welfare bums, etc.

By Jay Steven

'Battling'????? Really???? Sounds like someone was desperate for a story. I had Graves in 1989, it runs in my family. Had most of my thyroid removed because I could not take the anti-thyroid meds. Now I take synthetic thyroid hormone. Yes the dosage gets adjusted from time to time but I - along with my mother and two siblings - do not 'suffer' or 'battle' nor do we consider this to be debilitating. It's a tiny little bump in the road. Barbara Bush had Graves also and I don't think it slowed her down either. Cancer, HIV/AIDS and flesh-eating bacteria - those are real health catastrophes.

Saturday 25 June

By Stephanie

You have got to be kidding me, really! I am 38 yrs old and I had Graves disease, radioactive idodine treatment then had surgery last yr to remove. I have struggled since 2009 and still continue to battle this dusease. I have thyroid eye disease, pretibal myxedema, carpul tunnel in both hands, aching body, swelling hands plus eyes. So please dont think that just because you did struggle with this disease, others have. Look up pretibal myxedema and tell me uf you would like yo live your life like this, can't wear shows and your feet shift in width all the time.

By Leila

Ya, just call it like it is - you're ignorant!

By Jamie

Lui, you and your boyfriend Raul need to go back to playing with each other's teeny peenies and stop posting irrelevant ignorant cr*p.

@raul you're ignorant

By Grayson33

The lack of internet etiquette is amazing!! It's like some can never publicly get away with how they really feel, so they post it. Then they don't have to deal with the social consequences for announcing how they really feel.

Marie:
Excuse me, but if anyone is an IDIOT, it's you.. You don't know me, you don't know what I have... I also have Graves... Before you open your mouth, think first.

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