Missy Elliott has been keeping a secret within for the past couple of years.

The rapper/producer revealed to PEOPLE magazine in a recent interview that she has been fighting a battle with Graves disease, an auto-immune disorder.

“I was [driving and] trying to put my foot on the brake, but my leg was jumping,” she revealed. “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.”

She continued: “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.”

No wonder she’s been off the scene for quite some time now. Good to know she’s doing a lot better though!

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