Filed under: Black Music Month
Hip-hop star Missy Elliott has revealed that she has been suffering from Graves' disease, an incurable autoimmune disorder that affects the thyroid.
After keeping her condition private for years, the 'Work It' singer has disclosed that she was diagnosed with the disease in 2008. However, when she experienced a sudden loss of muscle control recently, Elliott admitted that she's been undergoing treatment.
"I was [driving and] trying to put my foot on the brake, but my leg was jumping. I couldn't keep the brake down and almost crashed," the Virginia rapper-producer reportedly told 'People' magazine. "I couldn't write because my nervous system was so bad -- I couldn't even use a pen."
Elliott said she has endured several other debilitating hyperthyroid symptoms, including mood swings and hair loss, and has revealed that she turned to radiation treatment. The solution improved her condition, but cannot cure her of the disease.
"I'm 30 pounds (13.6 kilograms) lighter because I've been exercising," she continued. "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."
While Graves' disease is rarely life-threatening, it is five to 10 times more likely to affect women. Though almost 2 percent of the female population are known to have the disease, its causes are not known.
Elliott, who turns 40 on July 1, has been on the comeback since her diagnosis. She is working on new music with longtime collaborator Timbaland, and will be featured on the June 29 season premiere of VH1's 'Behind the Music,' where she will reportedly further discuss her condition, as well as the sexual abuse she suffered as a child.