In February, Williams publicly revealed her Graves' disease diagnosis after coping for years with the autoimmune condition and hyperthyroidism. Her doctor ordered her to take a three-week break from 'The Wendy Williams Show.' Upon her return, she urged women to put their health first. Watch video
After three weeks of “rest, rest and more rest,” Wendy Williams returned to “The Wendy Williams Show” Monday morning following a doctor-mandated break from TV.
On Feb. 21, Williams announced that her doctor ordered her to take a three-week break from her show because of symptoms related to her hyperthyroidism, publicly revealing her Graves’ disease diagnosis.
Williams addressed her absence and return at the top of the show before diving into her usual celebrity-centered “Hot Topics” segment.
“It’s really good to be back, nice to be missed,” she said. “I had a very productive three weeks off.” Williams said she was subject to “a battery of tests” relating to her hyperthyroidism and Graves’ disease.
Hyperthyroidism is characterized by an overactive thyroid, while Graves’ disease is an autoimmune condition that triggers an overproduction of thyroid hormone, causing symptoms like eye bulging, weight loss, heart palpitations and anxiety. In February, Williams said her symptoms included sleeplessness, irritability, rapid heartbeat, trouble swallowing and heat intolerance.
MONDAY: Wendy’s back where she belongs! #WendysBack pic.twitter.com/HKcNgpk9Wb
— Wendy Williams (@WendyWilliams) March 18, 2018
Williams, 53, who lives in Livingston and grew up in Ocean Township, wiped tears from her eyes with cotton swabs in the middle of the segment, thanking staff and crew at her show for their support. (During her time away from the show, actor Jerry O’Connell subbed in for Williams.) She also thanked her husband Kevin and son Kevin.
“I had been having bats swimming in my head since maybe July, didn’t tell anybody, ’cause I figured well, it’s menopause, it’s a whole bunch of things going on,” she told the audience. “You know, I have more important things to do. I have to miss this doctor’s appointment because there’s more important things to do.”
Williams said she had missed doctor appointments in August and September.
“We put so many things ahead of ourselves and our health, it’s ridiculous.”
In October, Williams fainted on live TV during a Halloween episode of her show, staggering and falling down in her Statue of Liberty costume. After the incident, she said she was overheated and dehydrated.
When asked if Graves’ disease or hyperthyroidism had anything to do with the fainting episode, Williams again told “GMA” she had missed doctor appointments, but also that she had long suffered from vertigo.
“Please don’t ask me how I feel,” she said in the interview, addressing fans who might see her out in public.
Later on Monday’s show, Dr. Mehmet Oz, Williams’ network mate on Fox and fellow New Jerseyan, visited the show to talk about the health conditions Williams is facing.
Williams, who said she was diagnosed with both hyperthyroidism and Graves’ disease 19 years ago, tearfully recounted how her husband called Dr. Oz to assist the talk show host after her most recent bout of symptoms.
“All 19 years, Dr. Oz, everything’s been under control,” Williams said. Her previous treatment involved undergoing a procedure during which she drank radioactive iodine to strip her thyroid of its overactivity. Williams then took a daily thyroid pill, she said. But after nearly two decades, that was no longer enough.
“You saved your life, I’ll make it real simple,” Oz, who lives in Cliffside Park, told Williams. He said the symptoms she faced are not only common but also commonly untreated in women.
Grab a snack and come on back! #WendysBack #hottopics #wendywilliams pic.twitter.com/bYwjKWpFbm
— Wendy Williams (@WendyWilliams) March 19, 2018
“There are probably 20 million women walking around in America right now who have thyroid issues, related problems,” he said.
Oz, 57, said Williams also had low folic acid and the lowest level of vitamin D he’d ever seen. Both Oz and Williams urged those watching to put their health before other concerns.
“It’s been a long three weeks, but necessary,” Williams told “Good Day New York” in an interview that aired Monday morning. In nine years, she said, she hadn’t taken a sick day.
“They have saved me from myself,” she said of her doctors. “I will never put anyone else before my own health. Health scares are real. Fortunately I wasn’t hospitalized or anything like that.”
Wiliams said she used the break to revaluate her daily routine.
“I pressed reset on my approach to everything in my life,” she said.
“I’m better at taking care of people than I am at taking care of myself and that unfortunately is what happens to women, regardless of your economic status, your education, regardless. I find that one thing that women have in common across the board is we tend to take care of our children, our parents, our neighbors, before we take care of ourselves.”
At the same time, Williams said she was glad to be back dishing about celebrities.
“I miss being in the mix,” she said. “I’m not ready to sit at home all day.”
Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AmyKup or on Facebook.