(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Missy Elliott has revealed her battle with the debilitating Graves' Disease.

The 39-year-old hip-hop star has been noticeably absent from the music spotlight in recent years and has now explained that is down to the autoimmune illness which has affected her thyroid. Missy was diagnosed with Graves' Disease in 2008, when it first began to affect her motor skills and she noticed her leg was "jumping" when she was driving.

The disease makes it difficult for Missy to complete simple everyday tasks.

"You live with it for the rest of your life," she said to People. "I couldn't write because my nervous system was so bad I couldn't even use a pen. I couldn't keep the brake down [while driving] and I almost crashed."

Other symptoms include mood swings, hair loss, racing heart, bulging eyes, dizzy spells and lumps in the throat.

The award-winning music star has received radiation and medication and insists she is beginning to feel better. She has also embarked on a fitness regime and has lost weight. Missy feels ready for her music comeback and is planning to collaborate with Timbaland.

"I'm 30 lbs. lighter because I've been exercising," Missy added. "My thyroid is functioning, so I haven't had to take medication in about nine months.

"My imagination is still so crazy, my ear ain't going bad yet!" (C) Cover Media