Celebrities with Graves' Disease and TED

Since being diagnosed with Graves' and thyroid eye disease (TED), I have become aware of how many people struggle with autoimmune diseases and also how the symptoms have such a negative impact on everyday life.

Other people in my circle with autoimmune conditions

Last semester, I was taking a Spanish class and one of the speakers went off track from his presentation to announce that there is a new treatment for vitiligo! He has been dealing with this condition for years and could not contain his happiness! There was hope for reversing the effects on his skin and in his life!

Recently I was walking with a neighbor who has Graves' and TED - but it is more than that. She explained she has both Graves' and hypothyroidism! I could hear her frustration as she explained how her thyroid levels vacillate between hyper- and hypothyroidism which makes her management even more complicated!

It seems there are so many people walking around with hidden autoimmune diseases and they have nobody to talk to. They have few people to understand their struggles and concerns. I feel lucky to have found this community! It has given me permission to talk about my struggles and celebrate my triumphs with people who understand.

Reflecting back on First Lady Barbara Bush

I remember many years ago watching President George H. Bush's wife, Barbara Bush on TV and wondering what was wrong with her eyes. They looked so stern and wide!

When my eyes started looking the same way, I did some research and found out she was diagnosed with Graves' disease in 1989. She was suffering from swollen eyes and a sudden weight loss of 18 pounds in 3 months. She had a recurrence of it in 2010 which led to radiation therapy for her eyes.

The Bush family was pretty private about this health problem which is understandable.

Finding this out made me wonder about other prominent people or celebrities who are diagnosed with Graves' and/or thyroid eye disease. I thought it would be interesting to see how they used their celebrity platform to raise awareness of these diseases.

Below are 3 celebrities who did just that.

Celebrities with thyroid eye disease

Daisy Ridley

In her interview with Women's Health in 2024, Daisy Ridley, the Star Wars actress, stated she wanted to put a spotlight on her Graves' disease because it affects 1 in 100 Americans and mostly women over the age of 20.

She explained her symptoms as fatigue, hot flashes, racing heart, weight loss and hand tremors! (I think many of us here can identify with those symptoms). I thought her explanation of the time she had her symptoms and was undiagnosed was so typical of many of us.

Daisy stated, "It was funny. I was like... oh I just thought I was annoyed at the world, but turns out everything is functioning so quickly, you can't chill out!"

After being treated for Graves' Ridley said the following about her symptoms: "I didn't realize how badly I felt before. Then I looked back and thought, how did I do that!"

How many of you in this community look back and wonder the same thing? I know that before my diagnosis I just kept trying to live beyond my symptoms. Looking back, I can't even imagine doing that again!

Missy Elliott

Missy Elliott, hip-hop singer, songwriter, and producer, told People Magazine in 2011, that she had been suffering from thyroid disease since 2008. Elliott found out she had Graves' after experiencing tremors. She stated, that because of her tremors she almost had a car accident. "I couldn't keep the brake down and almost crashed."

She also stated that because of the tremors, she could not even use a pen to sign her name. Her other symptoms included anxiety, sleep problems, fatigue, weight loss, a lump in her throat, sweating, sensitivity to heat, hair loss, and a racing heart. Missy lamented that, "There were physical changes, extreme headaches, and extreme weight loss."

She added, "What that does to a person being a public figure and knowing people are looking, judging? That's a tough thing!" Because of her diagnosis, Missy Elliott stepped out of the spotlight for nearly a decade to focus on her health. At this time she is managing her Graves' disease through diet and exercise. This illness really took a toll on her public and private life and I somehow found it comforting to hear Missy being so honest about it.

Wendy Williams

Former talk show host, Wendy Williams' struggles with Graves' disease and TED, took place before our very eyes.  Viewers were writing in to her show asking about her bulging eyes. In reaction, Wendy put out a statement saying, she had been struggling with Graves' disease for years and it was the cause of her wide eyes.

She also pleaded, "Stop asking why my eyes bulge! I have Graves' disease...can we connect on a more cerebral level?"  

However, in 2018 her doctor advised her to take 3 weeks off due to trouble sleeping and irritability caused by her Graves' disease. During that time off, Wendy was hospitalized to get rest and get the symptoms under control. I can't help but admire Wendy's braveness. She was on camera and watched daily by millions of fans!

My reaction during the active phase was to hide from selfies or any kind of pictures! I know that Wendy Williams is suffering from many more health issues and my heart goes out to her.

No right way to cope with TED...

I am glad that these 3 celebrities used their platform to put the spotlight on these autoimmune diseases, including Graves' disease and thyroid eye disease. They each handled their symptoms a bit differently which reinforces to me that there really is no right or wrong way...just our own way.