Wendy Williams to Take Three Weeks off From Talk Show After Revealing Graves’ Disease Diagnosis

Talk show host Wendy Williams is taking a three-week hiatus from her show after revealing she suffers from Graves' disease. The 53-year-old shared the news with her viewers on the Wednesday, Feb. 21 episode of The Wendy Williams Show.

"Graves' disease squeezes the muscles behind your eyeballs," she explained. She added that it can cause a rapid heartbeat, irritability, and difficulty sleeping.

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After posting her message on Twitter, fans wished her a speedy recovery. "So much empathy for you Wendy!" one person wrote. "These '50s' for us women are not for the wimpy! You are our 'friend in our head,' so take good care!" Another added, "You know, Wendy — every time I am pissed or frustrated or annoyed about something, I watch you and immediately feel better. You make me laugh. You are so authentic. I love your presentation. From a 60-year old man, that's saying a lot. Bottom line – YOU ROCK. Get well soon!" A third chimed in, "YES get that break you deserve, Miss Wendy! Hope you feel better soon, You'll be missed!"

The feisty star has battled a thyroid condition for years, however, she told viewers her thyroid had been acting "totally cattywampus." Despite the signs, she attributed her symptoms to menopause and the stress of helping her son, Kevin, apply to college. But it got to the point where she could no longer ignore the symptoms. She also credited viewers with picking up on key indicators. "You caught it before I did," she said.

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The news comes just weeks after Wendy was forced to cancel the rest of her shows because she was feeling "flu-ish." In an Instagram video on Feb. 14, she told fans, "It's not the flu yet, but I feel flu-ish. It's not a five on a scale of one to five, it's not even a four, I do go to the doctor's today to find out exactly what it is," she explained with a dramatic sniffle. "But you know, I feel awful."

Unfortunately, her recent diagnosis means her doctors are ordering her to take a three-week break effective tomorrow — and she's less than thrilled. "I'm gonna fix that," she said. "I'll be back in two. I'm not an heiress. Who's gonna pay my bills?" Here's to hoping she'll be "douhhhn" better soon!