Wendy Williams Says Her Graves' Disease Felt Like 'a Storm' in Her Body
Back in February, Wendy Williams revealed that she has Graves' disease and took three weeks off to care for her health. But the television host returned to The Wendy Williams Show on Monday and appeared to have recovered well. In light of her return, Williams spoke about her diagnosis with People, sharing that she is “a hundred percent better" than she was a few months ago. "I had a storm going in my body is the best way I can explain it," she described.
Williams was initially diagnosed with Graves' disease—which is an autoimmune condition that causes the thyroid to become overactive (aka hyperthyroidism)—19 years ago, but her symptoms were under control. But after skipping a recent doctor's appointment so that she could attend a business meeting, her symptoms returned. “It came from me neglecting my six month endocrinology appointment," she said.
And even after symptoms (including mood swings and high blood pressure) started to arise, she chalked them up to menopause rather than her thyroid disorders. “With the menopause I wasn’t pointing a finger to any particular thing. I was just feeling like, 'Alright, well I’m 53 and this is I guess how it’s supposed to be,'" she said.
Williams said her first priority from now on will be her health.
“I love doing the show, but I love me more. So I’m going to take care of me, so I can be there for them,” she told People. She echoed the sentiment in Monday's episode of Good Morning America, adding that women in general tend to put other people's well-being before their own. “We, as women, particularly if we have families, you know, we’re taking care of children, we’re taking care of, you know, home, our husbands, we take care of everybody but ourselves,” she said on Good Morning America, reported People. “And it’s really unfortunate."
Maria Menounos also spoke recently about failing to put her health first and prioritizing the needs of the people around her. Menounos, who underwent surgery to remove a brain tumor last year, had put off the test that eventually caught her tumor three times.
Now, Williams is done putting other's needs before her own, especially when it comes to her health. “I’m not doing that anymore," she added. “Wendy first."
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