Missy Elliott Battling Graves Disease Since 2008

Missy Elliot has revealed she has been quietly battling a major autoimmune disease.

In 2008, the rapper-producer was diagnosed with Graves’ disease – a disorder which affects the thyroid – and she admits the symptoms came on so fast, she almost lost her ability to do everyday things like drive and write.

“I was (driving and) trying to put my foot on the brake, but my leg was jumping,”she tells 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.”

After suffering a number of other side effects, including hair loss and mood swings, Elliot turned to radiation – which ultimately improved her condition.

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