Missy Elliott Battling Thyroid Disease

Missy Elliott says her absence from the hip-hop music scene was caused by an auto-immune disease affecting her thyroid gland.

It’s called “Grave’s Disease” and Elliott has been fighting it off since her 2008 diagnosis, reports People magazine. Since then, Elliott has undergone radiation treatments along with medications.

Photo: AP Photo
Marina Bay Circuit, Singapore

Commenting on the affliction, Elliott told the magazine that “You live with it for the rest of your life,” and said the disease affected her motor skills and caused dizzy spells, mood swings, hair loss, a fast heart rate, bulging eyes and lumps in her throat.

“I’m 30 lbs. lighter because I’ve been exercising, “Elliott told People. “My thyroid is functioning, so I haven’t had to take medication in about nine months.”

Click here for the complete article posted on People.com.