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Looking for experience and direction on severe cramping due to lack of calcium following Thyroidectomy

I'm a 46 female living in Toronto who had a long history of over active thyroid even after RAD treatment. Biopsies predicted 98% chance of cancer so a total thyroidectomy was performed. Evidently my gland was massive so they had to cauterize substantially to stop the bleeding. (Which I’m now wondering perhaps affected the parathyroid glands and will follow up on tomorrow). I felt fine the first day and then had problems with low calcium (but no symptoms so was held an extra day) and put on Calcium and Vit D for a further 7 days. Upon stitch removal they said I was fine and only needed to take the thyroid supplement. They did no blood work at this time and none is ordered for 6 weeks to 8 weeks they said to get an accurate reading of my levels. Furthermore I’m not scheduled to see my endocrinologist until July several months from now. The best news is the gland was not malignant at all.

I had been feeling fine then the cramping started so I was put back on calcium/Vit D a bit less than a week after stopping. Good news as well was I had no numbness however I was suffering from daily headaches although I’m susceptible to headaches with barometer changes which have been occurring. My biggest problem that I don’t see on here is the massive cramping I’m still experiencing and I’m getting it everywhere. I take 2,000 mg of calcium with 500 i.u. (the pills I take are 500 calc/125 i.u. of Vit D per)  of Vitamin D in two intervals with lots (10 to 15 ten oz glasses a day) at least 2 hours after my thyroid supplement and I’m still cramping. One day I’m fine and the next it’s out of control. Hugging someone goodbye can cause back, shoulder, fore arm and neck spasms. Picking my leg up can cause severe cramping in my feet, shins, legs, buttocks and even groin muscles that can last for 5 to 10 minutes and then occur periodically throughout the rest of the day or evening.

My endocrinologist had said to take 1500 calcium and 500 Vit d but I went with the 2,000 due to my age and intensity of the cramping. It still isn’t enough on certain days and I’m now 3 weeks after surgery. My headaches have come and gone on certain days, still no numbness but I have no clue about what to do about the cramping. I’m told too much Vitamin D is hard on the liver and kidneys and I’m not sure if there such a thing as too much calcium after reading the above stories. I have not been told to take any magnesium but was told to increase my potassium intake which I’m doing with fruit and vegetables but may look into supplements. I’ve cut out salt completely and reduced my 4 a day latte (90% skim milk and 10% espresso habit) to one or none a day. I have only gained 3 or 5 lbs (which I needed) and have had no change in bowel movements (sorry to be blunt). I’m not overly hungry due to the high intake of water making me feel full so I’m definitely not over eating or gaining weight.

Most of you above complain of hand cramping but that’s only one area I’m affected by and probably not the worst of the cramping I get.  I’m at a loss other than to go see my Naturopath to get a better idea of what to take but she will probably tell me to see my endocrinologist.  How are people checking their calcium daily are they going and getting daily blood work done? And why would I be fine for 4 to 6 days on nothing after stopping the calcium and Vit D to now be in a situation where I’m worse than ever? Will I build up or restore those levels so the cramping stops or are there any other suggestions. I didn’t see issues on severe cramping above so I’m quite confused on what route to take.  I’ve been trying to follow all the rules and like I said one day I’m almost pain free and then a day like today I can’t even lie down and I took 2650 of Calcium and 700 i.u. of Vit D with 15 ten oz glasses of water. Any advice or similar situations and what you’ve done would be greatly appreciated.

Also I apologize if I sound like I'm complaining after only 3 weeks but 48 hours of not being able to lay down to sleep has me in a state. I don't mean to be a whiner or complainer, I'm just trying to educate myself the best way I know how and what better way than to talk to others going through the same thing. Thanks for all and any help/suggestions.
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Avatar universal
Bad night again last night but I don't think I drank enough water so today I tried waiting 3 hours after my thyroid pill before eating/taking 1st session of calcium and I won't try cutting down on the calcium yet and see if that brings back the days I had no problems (Monday and Tuesday). Plus I'm taking oranges with the calcium as mentioned. So far so good.
Helpful - 0
219241 tn?1413537765
I too have low calcium issues even a year and two months after the TT! I go to my doctor and get my own blood test request about every 4 weeks to check to see if the dose I take is enough. If I forget even one capsule out of the five I take every day, I notice tingling in the forearms and the lips, and I get moody! So for me that is when I know I need more! You too will learn how to recognise the symptoms of your own dose. Never think you HAVE to wait to see the doc to change the dose up...especially if you are cramping badly or are having tingles. You can always drop down later.
  But ususally 6 weeks when you get your thyroid levels checked is when you can ask for a corrected calcium level. Corrected calcium means they know you take a supplement and how it is in your blood.
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Avatar universal
Glad you're feeling better - that's great!

If your dr told you it's okay to wait only two hours then I'd go with that.  He/she certainly knows your situation and med better than I do.

I don't recall giving the advise about the OJ but it's sounds helpful no less.  And on behalf of whoever recommended that, I'll say, 'Your welcome.'

Keep in touch.
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Avatar universal
Hey I think it was you who told me about the orange juice and believe it or not I have found two things that seem to help in the past couple days since my original note (before I re-posted it) ONE: if I get sufficient sleep the cramps are less and TWO: if I take oranges with the calcium/Vitamin D I seem to get more use of the calcium so that has been helpful. I've had some cramping but nothing compared to last weekend when I was in so much pain I thought I was going to become one big cramp and seize up so your advice was very helpful.

In terms of the four hours I had not heard that, rather I had been told two hours. My doctor said to take my thyroid pill when I get up and to not eat or take anything in other than water for the first two hours ideally and then to eat and take the calcium (1st dose) as I'm on 1,500 calcium and 500 Vit D and I have pills that are 500 mg of Calcium with 125 i.u. of Vitamin D so I take it twice in the day (which gives me 2,000 calcium/500 Vit D but if the cramps stop I'll drop back to 3 pills) with two pills each time, so I'll try adding two hours onto my wait time and see if that also helps.

Thanks again for the orange advice as that really did seem to make a difference and even with the minimal cramping I had last night I ate half an orange and it seemed to quiet the cramps then as well so it may be my lucky charm.

I'll keep you posted as to my progress.
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Avatar universal
Thanks for starting a new thread on this.  A couple of things here...

You'll want to wait at least four hours between when you take your thyroid medication and when you take the supplements for the low calcium issue.  Those two things taken too close together can cause the supplements to start absorbing the thyroid medication before your body has a chance to.  Hence, leading to problems on the thyroid side of things.  Even though the calcium issue is pressing right now, the thyroid part still needs to be watched.  Please read the thyroid med's product insert for more info on that.  I'm not sure which med you are on but I believe they all have the same recommendation (if yours is different, pleae share that here).

Also regarding calcium supplements:  Yes, there is such a thing as too much.  Overdoing it can become a risk to the kidneys, so you'll need to be careful.  Honestly, I'm told and have read mixed things, but 1000mg to 1500mg of elemental calcium seems to be the daily limit.  Elemental calcium is usually 40% of what's in any calcium carbonate tablet.

With cramping, I'm one who mentioned in the other thread that I got/get a lot out of having magnesium tablets around for when that starts to act up.  Don't try that without your dr knowing so first, but you might want to consider it.  The cramping I get is exactly the same as what you describe.

Hope your next blood draw shows things are improving.  If you really start to feel things are declining between now and then, call the dr or go to the er.

Keep in touch.
Helpful - 0
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