Parathyroid Concern

[Bird127]

I have recently had some thorough testing by an endo.   There are some findings that I am concerned about.  I have read in detail www.parathyroid.com and feel I do have many symptoms that could be explained.

Calcuim 10.1 mg/dl
PTH   44.9 pg/ml

I was also found to be hypoparathyroid and started synthroid.

FT4   0.7 ng/dl
TSH   4.29
FT3   3.10  pg/ml  (I don't know what this number means)

I was also told to take 5000 IU vitamin D per week which goes against what i read about parathyroid.

Is it possible that the high calcium indicates parathyroid problem?  Or is it not high enough to warrant concern?  It is not clear cut.  Is additional testing indicated?

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

You probably meant hypothyroidism and not hypopara as the reason for starting synthroid....(as the TSH was a little high, so synthroid would seem appropriate for hypothyroidism).

The calcium is normal for most reference ranges, but if this is a little high for the lab you use, would repeat and consider testing ionized Calcium as well.  If these are elevated, then the PTH of 44.9 is inappropriately normal (assuming normal is up to 65 for your lab).  This would then be hyperparathyroidism --- lots of good ifo on parathyroid.com  The vitamin D dose is medium at 5000 -- unless you meant 50,000IU of ergocalciferol which is the prescription strength -- unless there was a low vitamin D, I am not sure why the rec to take more vit D.....

[Bird127]

Sorry forgot to add - I am a 45 year old female.   I am taking 1/2 of a 125 sythroid for a week then taking full dose starting next week.

Symptoms of extreme tiredness, unrefreshing sleep, some tingling in hands, general feeling of not being well,  suffered chronic sinusitis for previous 5 years but thanks to great ent this is now under control.

[hortonpnky]

i recently had a vitamin d test done also and i have to take 50,000 IU 3 times per week cause my level was 12 and normal is 33-100 i also have hyperparathyroidism and hypothyroidism my pth was 138 i have been fighting this for 6 years i go this week to another specialist so  maybe i will find out more info to help the both of us good luck!

[Texheart]

I too am fighting this mess.  parathyroid.com has too much information to digest by novices.  Even some doctors get confused reading it. My calcium ranges from 8.4 to 10.2 and this is still in normal range for the Labs I use. My PTH started at 88 (high)  last fall but has gone to 137 last month. My vitamin D was 4 (very low) last fall and with 50,000 uits of Vit.D , (RX)  3 times a week for one month, the D level got to 59. BUT, even with the D level at 59, the PTH went higher.  I understand that if you get the D level in normal range the PTH should be coming down to normal ranges.   Mine has not.  I had blood work last week and will know results tomorrow. There is a single parathyroid tumor seen on a scan (5 months ago) but since calcium is normal...I do not want this out unless I see calcium levels higher than 10.4 The docs I am seeing are scratching their bald little heads..Maybe some answers tomorrow.