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)

Friday 24 June

By hellokittybarbiie97

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THIS IS NOT TO OFFEND ANYBODY BUT THESE TWO A.HOLES IF IST OFFEND YOU AND YOUR NOT THESE TWO A.HOLES SORRY

I FIND IT FUNNY HOW PEOPLE LIKE@RAUL AND LUI THINK THEY RUN EVERYTHING SMH YOU JUDGE ANYHTHING THATS NOT YOUR COLOR YOU DISRESPECT PEOPLE AND YOUR WHOLE FAMILY BY BEING RUDE AND NASTY PEOPLE LIKE YOU NEED TO ROT IN HELL .WHAT EVER GOD YOU BELIEVE IN MAD EVERYONE EQUALY AND IT MAKE ME SICK TO NO MY ANCESTERS WENT THROUGH ALMOST 500 YEARS OF SLAVERY FOR YOUR LAZYNESS AND HAD TO BE FORCED OF LAND THAT WAS RIGHTFULY OURS YOU WHO ARE YOU TO CALL ME A WELFARE BUM NOW IF I CALLED YOU A CRACKER I WOULD BE JUST LIKE YOU AND LET ME TELLL YOU COULDNT LAST A MILLASECOND IN THE HOOD YOU WOULD BE DONE FORE

THIS IS NOT TO OFFEND ANYBODY BUT THESE TWO A.HOLES

Saturday 25 June

By Gabriella Salinas

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Will you f u c k i n g idiots just shut up already? She is ill and most of you don't have a positive thing to say! Are you doctors? Did you get a Phd in medicine? No? Then STFU. All of you idiots are trolls. It's sad when a teenager must scold grown adults.

Missy Elliot I hope you get better soon!

Sunday 10 July

By east coastwest coast

There certainly is a lot of ignorance on this page...A lot of racism still VERY MUCH ALIVE AND WELL !!!
TO the idiots that have very little medical knowledge ....graves disease can be deadly...since you don't know....it is an autoimmune disorder which if you knew what you were talking about you would know all are debilitating ...some far worse than others...each person body is different.
Why does someone have to be looking for attention ??? she's been battling this for a few yrs...the general public just finding out...please!!!!
Alot of morons writing a bunch of crap....get a life !!!!!

Saturday 08 October

By Marilyn

Give up aspartame, seriously...... You may be pleasantly surprised that your symptoms improve so much so that you don't need as much thyroid medicine or none at all. Once I eliminated it from my diet, I could no longer tolerate my thyroid meds and had to stop taking them. My thyroid didn't go back to normal but I discovered L-Carnitine (fumerate form) works just as well as methimazole without all the negative side affects. My hair stopped falling out and blood pressure returned to normal. Been off of meds now for several months and doing wonderful.

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