I am supposed to have 2 parathyroids, so why is my Calcium still low?

[DMLee]

3 and a half months after my TT I am still with a low Calcium.  7.4 at last count.  The surgeon said he didn't mess with two parathyroids, reattached one, and had to get rid of the fourth.  Anyone else have such slow, lazy parathyroids?

[lrm568]

I have had low calcium for the past 13 years after TT. Today is one of my bad days. I have heard from my endocrinologist that they never repair themselves(Parathyroids)  Once they are damaged they are never the same. I have to deal with this everyday of the rest of my life.
I have been in ICU numerous times for this problem.. needless to say I had never recieved a bill from the surgeon.

[Lightsmsb]

I guess I was lucky that I have 3 and remained stong for me.  I didnt know I lost one until I saw the path report 1 week after the surgery.  My levels stayed around 9 and the doc was happy for that.
Scott

[DMLee]

Yup, am taking all that plus extra Magnesium, and am on 4000 Calcium.  Today is a good day though.  No twitching or tingling.

[bizwiz12751]

Unfortunately, depending on the proximity, the parathyroids sometimes take quite a beating during TT. Thankfully, mine were quite a ways away from my thyroid so it didn't affect me at all. You don't seem to be that lucky. I was told that it takes a long time for the parathyroids to get back to their normal production. Hang in there and good luck.

[hazelhurst]

I still have low calcium (TT in July '06), and I have three parathyroids, possibly 4 (fourth was reimplanted). Are you on calcitriol (Vitamin D) and hydrochlorothiazide, in additon to calcium? How much calcium per day?  I'd love to compare notes. My calcium is in the low 8's, and parathyroids are functioning, but low. Some people have to remain on calcium supplements for life. It's funny, of all the things I worried about pre-surgery, this was not one of them!

[worried]

My parathyroid outcome after surgery was the same situation as yours. My calcium level was the same as yours as well for a few days after surgery but came back up about a week after. Don't despair yet, I was told the one that my surgeon put back or "reseeded" would take some time to begin functioning correctly. So you are probably still going on the untouched 2- when normally you have 4. Hopefully #3 will grow back well so you'll end up with 3. My doc mentioned something about not taking too much calcium suppliments as it could impeed the results of the reattatched one-- something like if your body senses that your calcium levels are fine then that parathyroid gland won't work as hard to recoup?? dunno, ask your doc about this theory?