Missy Elliott: I Have Graves’ Disease
Missy Elliott just announced she has Graves’ disease — an incurable autoimmune condition affecting her thyroid. Elliott tells People, she was diagnosed with the disease in 2008 — and has been receiving radiation treatment to help alleviate symptoms like dizzy spells, lumps in her throat, mood swings, hair loss, and bulging eyes. Missy adds, “You live with it for the rest of your life.” According to Missy, the radiation was a help, but other medication made her pack on the pounds — which she’s been able to counter through exercise. The disease isn’t fatal — and after treatment, Missy claims things couldn’t be going better, “My thyroid is functioning, so I haven’t had to take medication in about nine months.”