Parathyroid issue??

[ChrisGisch]

To Stella!!  Hello, I posted about a week and a half ago and you responded that you had been going through the same thing as me.  I suffered severe and sudden panic, rapid heart beat, sweats, shakes...all about 45 days ago.  Am on betablockers and anxiety meds that seem to help somewhat.  I have been hypo for about 12 years, but had not been on meds for the past 4 years or so.  My calcium levels were showing up High consistantly lately.  The past 4 bood tests I have had (all with in the past 45 days) my clacium was at 10.7.  When I posted, you replied that I should not have a nodule on my thyroid biobsied until I had ruled out hyperparathyroid issues.  Well, I insisted on a PTH test.  My PTH just came in at 29, and my calcium now is at 10.0. (just 1 week later than the 10.7 result).  I have read that when your blood calcium is high, your parathyroid glands should be "sleeping" and your PTH should be very low....ie...3-5.  Do you know much about this?  Although my PTH is in the "normal" range, should I still be concerned with the high calcium levels?  I see my Doc on Monday and want to be able to talk to him "intelligently" about this issue.....after all, he did not think I needed the PTH test and I insisted on it......and my PTH shows up normal (one more reason for him to think I am "nuts").  Any thoughts you have for me would be greatly appreciated.  Thank you for being the wonderful person that you are to this forum.  I know many people relly on hearing from you......I guess we should form a "Stella Fan Club!!" lol :0:

[stella5349]

I do not suffer from anxiety all the time - but the symptoms you are describing are exactly like mine. Yet I suffer from acid reflex miserable abdomnal discomfort and bloating. and a mild nagging headache.  Pretty sensitive to loud sounds and tightness either in muscles or bones. very tired especially today. but jittery and like you said knot in stomach. Really these symtpoms were not bothersome until after March 3 FNA - since then they are elavated.

Stay in touch

[ChrisGisch]

Do you suffer from anxiety symptoms all of the time?  Are your symptoms similiar to mine?  My Doc is not recommending a FNA because of the size of the nodule, it being less than 1cm.  Should I have someone else look at my US scan?  I currently see a PA because he has always been willing to work with me, and has been open to testing.  He tends to deal with my symptoms more than he does the "lab numbers", for the most part.  But, I am now thinking I need someone more educated going forward.  I am constantly in a "hyper" state, symptoms wise...always have the rapid heart beat, shakes, knot in stomach.  I find myself very sensitive to noise, activity, and heat and cold.  Just not sure where to go from here.  I hope you receive some answers from your new labs.  It sounds like the tests you are having done are pretty thorough for hyperparathyroid issues, but unfortunately, we all know the numbers sometimes lie.  I will let you know how things go with my Doc on Monday.....an definately taking some print outs from parathyroid.com pages.  Thanks for everything and take care of yourself...XOXO

[stella5349]

Well prior to my FNA the radiologist that was attempting to poke the "nodule" said to the tech before he started it looks like a parathyroid. The tech also was in agreement whatever that meant. At the beginning of the procedure - ANYONE - would be nervous so I really was not quite listening to the radiologist and there conversation .

As I said regarding the FNA procedure I was poked 9 times to try and pull a sample. This took well over 30 mintues with only a  local injected (like a numbing for a dental cavity) Normal FNA are less than 10 minutes for just the procedure.

After the ninth attempt I did get up and "freak out" on them. After I calmed down he said he tried to tell me at the beginning NOT to go though the procedure. with my nerves and such I just wasn't listening. He again strongly speculated to me that he believes this is a parathyroid issue and not nodule. And -  strongly encouraged me to get a calcium level check.

Now -- he only had ultra sound equipment present and even prior to the FNA he AND the tech spoke of the parathyroid..

I tend to believe if someone with experience and the actual location of the nodule is seen .. maybe it CAN be speculated on just the ultra sound after what I went through.

My whatever (nodule or tumor) is located on the lower left lobe way back inside. Speculated solid. After the attempt of the FNA procedure ---not only was I extremely bruised where the needle was going in and out - but I had a bruise all by itself near my left collar bone towards the isthmus of my lower throat the size of a pencil eraser.

I believe NO THYROID hangs that low even after RAI and I DO speculate I have something going on parathyroid related.  Now just to prove it with a normal calcium level. So here is my current situation

Ultra sound located nodule - MD  no concern

ENT surgeon - ordered FNA speculating papilliary cancer high risk

Two radiologists one preforming FNA another view report states hyperpapathyroid speculation - not nodule

Endo appt Friday states nothing about symptoms nodule or parathyroid - states I need serotonin for anxiety. But rans blood tests to confirm or deny hyperparathyrodism. and will address a possible FNA return in a month!!

Stuck now - too.

[ChrisGisch]

When I initially had the US scan done, I received a call from mu Doc office that there were several "small" nodules found and that it was nothing to worry about.  As far as my Doc was concerned, my thyroid scan came back just as he thought it would.  He wants to do a follow up scan again in about 6 weeks.  Here are the results of the US scan:
Both thyroid lobes measured 3.7 x 4.6, while normal in size, they both demonstrate marked hyperemia with color doppler interrogation and coarsened diffuse echo texture.  At the inferior pole of the right lobe there is an oval hypoechoic nodule measuring 7 x 7 x 5 mm.
Impression:  Small subsegmental hypoechoic nodule right inferior pole.  Colloid cyst favored.  Abnormal hyperemic thyroid gland with accompanying coarsened echo texture.
This may respresent thyroiditis or graves disease.
That is the sum of the US scan I had done.  I have wondered if that "nodule" could possibly be a large parathyroid gland??  Although, the tech that did the test did tell me they never see parathyroids on this type of test.  What are your thoughts?

[stella5349]

Get on that www.parathyroid.com website.

Where does this nodule FNA thing come into your story you just shared with me?

Did you have an US scan that shows a nodule? If so post the location of the "per say" nodule and tell me what the report says.

[ChrisGisch]

I never really suffered many of the typical "hypo" symptoms, although my TSH always ran a little high and I was on synthroid for years.  I took myself off of synthroid about 4 years ago because it seemed to GIVE me all the "hypo" symptoms.  Felt great for those four years.  Energetic, happy, full of life!! (even though my TSH levels still ran high).  I always thought that maybe my body was different and "normal" for me was a high TSH level.  Suddenly, out of no where, a month and a half ago, I had a severe and sudden "panic attack"!!  Rushed to the emergency room for fear I was having a heart attack and dying right then and there!!  My heart was pounding out of my chest, I was having trouble breathing, sweating, uncontollably shaking like mad, and vomiting.  The ER diagnosed me with food poisening and sent me home.  Three days later I was back in the ER (a different hospital) because the syptoms would not go away and I felt as though I could not go on like this much longer!!  They diagnosed me with anxiety (my TSH level was at 25.07 that night), put me on anxiety meds and sent me home.  A week later I was in to see my PCP, still with all of the same symptoms as stated above.  He told me I was experiencing "thyroid storm" and immediatly put me on betablockers, Armour, and anxiety meds and started running tests.  My TSH at this time was down to 12.05 with no meds.  It was also at this time that my calcium was high (10.7).  The "thyroid storm" issue confused me, everything that I have read about it seems to be related to a very low TSH level, but I now know that my TSH was dropping rapidly on it's own before I started the Armour.  TSH dropped from 25 to 12 in one week.  I started researching my calcium levels to see if that could have anything to do with the symptoms I have been having, and YES....hperparathyroidism can cause extreme anxiety issues.  I am just at a point where I am exhausted from constantly not being well.  My muscles are sore from always being tense and tight and shaking...I am afraid to do anything that might raise my heartbeat, and I am having a hard time eating as my stomach is always in knots.  Have lost 12 pounds in a month.  I am still confused about my PTH results being normal....so I know I have to dig in and start researching.  I think I will have a hard time convincing my Doc to go any farther with this seeing that my PTH is in normal range, but do plan on printng out any info I can find and bringing it to my appointment on Monday.  I will let you know what I find out, as maybe this could asist you as well.  You know, we all know when things are not right with our bodies......and I do believe that some people get better only due to their own diligence.....I will keep you posted....XOXO

[stella5349]

I am just inthe learning mode of the hyperparathyroid saga. Still getting all my blood tests and information together.  I am just a beginner in this whole thing b/c of the symptoms I ma having.

I have been in contact with Thypatient - she has gone through a parathyoid surgery and for me she also has held some very valuable advice.

I found ALOT of information that Kitty told me about on www.parathyroid.com. It is so easy to understand. Go to that web page and read!!! Here is just a sample of the reading from www.parathyroid.com on calcium. There is alot more:

Under normal conditions, a normal calcium level will be associated with a normal parathyroid hormone level. Also under normal conditions, a low serum calcium level will be associated with a high parathyroid hormone level; and a high calcium level will be associated a with low parathyroid hormone level. These are all appropriate ways in which a parathyroid gland will react to calcium which is circulating in the blood as the parathyroid glands attempt to regulate calcium in the narrow "normal" range. More detail about the normal function of parathyroid glands is covered on our "function" page. However, it is extremely rare for people to have high calcium levels in their blood... and not have a parathyroid tumor. If you have high calcium in your blood, chances are extremely high you have hyperparathyroidism, unless your PTH is VERY LOW.

What I know of the calcium levels, and I assume you had the typical serum calcium test, that a consistant high count IS NOT NORMAL under any circumstance.  Unfortunately, my serum came back normal so I AM being looked at like I AM NUTS.  LOL


I did see an endo yesterday that wasn't what I call helpful - BUT on a positive note he did run a onized calcium PTH Phosphorus and VitD test - from what I am reading he has covered all the basis to see if there is any situation I could be having an issue.

I strongly suggest you digging deep into www.parathyroid.com - please be sure to read the regards to an FNA procedure NOT being done. That is very important.

Please post your symptoms? I am wondering again what it was you felt like.