Missy Elliot Comes Back Despite Grave’s Disease

Hip Hop artist Missy Elliot has just announced that for the past 3 years, she has been suffering from Grave’s Disease, an autoimmune disorder that leads to overactivity of the thyroid gland.  Because the thyroid controls the body’s metabolism, Grave’s Disease can be in some cases debilitating.

Some three years ago, the performer of “Get Ur Freak On” and “Work It” fame seemed to have faded out of the music business.  She had at the time already won five Grammy Awards, two American Music Awards and a slew of MTV Music Video Awards.  She had made a name for herself in the recording world, yet it all came to a crashing halt in 2008 when, according to the 39-year-old, Elliot was diagnosed with Grave’s disease.

“I was [driving and] trying to put my foot on the brake, but my leg was jumping,” she said in an interview with People Magazine. “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.”

Elliot has made a strong recovery within the past three years.  She took a break from the music industry to focus on getting her condition under control.  She suffered from common symptoms of Grave’s Disease, including dizzy spells and mood swings.  While the radiation treatments have made many of these symptoms more manageable, it has also led to some hair and weight loss.

The symptoms of Grave’s Diseases may be treated, but there is no cure yet.

Still, the rapper remains hopeful.

““I’m 30 pounds lighter because I’ve been exercising. 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.”

After a three-year hiatus, Missy Elliot hopes to return to the recording studio, working on a new album with producer Timbaland.