Parathyroid question

[LLV123]

Hi,
I have a question that I think is hard to answer, but if anyone knows, I would really value your input.
Does taking large doses of Vit D (2,000) and large doses of Calcium ( 3,000mg daily) SUPPRESS the little bit of parathyroid hormone I have (due to struggling parathyroid function) from working? Do the para's go to sleep? Because they don't have to work due to the calcium and D supplementation?
I have seriously asked this question on the board, and of my endo, but no concrete answer.
Do you know if it does? I want to wean off so much calcium and "make" my para's work.
Thanks so much, Bet I don't get any responses........
Sincerely,
Lori

[LLV123]

Hi all,
I just got my 24 hour urine results for calcium. The nurse said it was high at 370, normal is 100-300. I get to back down one pill per day which will put me at 2500mg Ca, and still 2,000 D daily.....so we will see, I PRAY it goes OK!!! Don't want to end up back in the hospital with low calcium, also DO NOT want another 10mm kidney stone!!
Also, does any one know the significance of high urine calcium and parathyroid function? Yep, here I go again.......just want to know if any one knows!! I have read on it, and I believe it could indicate hyperparathyroidism, which I am HYPOparathyroidism, still looking for that "glimmer" of hope!! Thanks a lot!!!!
Take care,
Lori

[LLV123]

Thanks for the comment, I get my blood drawn 1x weekly, so the endo is keeping a close eye on it. He says there is no corelation, but when I have my period, my level goes down. I will see this week on Thurs what the blod work shows. I also do not like taking so much calcium.
Good luck to your son, I can relate!!
Lori

[mish46]

My son lost 3 during his thyroidectomy and neck dissection two years ago.  He was put under watch after surgery due to his Calcium dropping fast due to this.  My understanding is the Para glands pretty much tell your body what to do with the calcium and how to absorb it. He was watched due to if his level dropped below his hands would tingle first than cramp and if too low it could cause issues with the muscles around the heart so it is important to watch your calcuim levels. My son takes 2100 in calcium and Vit D everyday. The vitD helps the absorbtion of the calcium besides Vit D is vital to all of our general health.  Not sure if I helped you but my advise is to get your Calcium levels from your tests and see where you sit before you change anything.  My son hates taking so much also but it is a must. Good luck with everything

[stella5349]

I can't say much on the calcium supplement but as for Vit D - in my treatment I take almost 14000 ius more than you daily.

[LLV123]

Thank you Stella, for commenting to me. I appreciate your thoughts and input. It is a confusing issue, I guess I just do not want to accept para damage 3 years later. One was accidentally removed, 1 reimplanted, and supposedly 2 were "fine". Now all these problems. And thanks for the analogy!! Also, where is the medicmommy? I have never heard of it. I will wait to hear from my endo I told them Fri. I wanted to wean off some of the calcium, to make the para's work. I have to wait for the results of a 24 hour urine test first. Do you think that 3,000 mg Cal. Carbonate is a HUGE dose? Or not too big? Also the D is 2,000 which I know a lot of folks take.
Thanks for your help!!
Lori

[LLV123]

Thanks gimel,
I did lose the bet....I owe ya!! Thanks for the links, they did work, but boy, it is confusing to me. I guess the D and the Calcium BOTH suppress the para's function. That is why I want to reduce my input, but endo said NO, not until I do a 24 hour urine, which was on Fri/Sat. So, I will wait to see what those results are and go from there.
Thanks again for responding to me!!
Lori

[stella5349]

PS - LLV..... I like your ana'lytical side of thinking. ;)

[stella5349]

I'll half to check out Gimel's links - but you ask a very interesting question and I can only comment by opinion or thought on it.

I guess the question would have to start out with "why" your parathyroids stopped working to begin with. Was there a removal involved?

If there was a removal then the Vit D and calcium would be "supplemented " for life do to the malfunction now.

But in the theory of "sleep" one could assume all glands are still intacked and just not functioning correctly.

Then the question would be - why? In this senerio the root issue of them not working is still questioned and the supplements - although - probably very beneficial - is now the art of supplying the body with the needed levels to maintain wellness. I would lean then to say - the parathyroids  would then mostly say amougst each other...

" Well - if what the body needs is coming in without me doing my job - then I can back off and not worry about it."  So - possible suppression may happen... then if you eliminate the supplement they may not want to respond to do their original job due to laziness.

Fo my thought process of the body that makes perfect sense - even comparing it to our real lives...

If I was rich and had money coming in without working for it - and then all of a sudden I went broke immediately... It would take me quite a while to build up the stamina and energy to get out there and work from 9-5 again... Also it would take me even longer to "bank" enough of that money I am now working for very hard -  to call me rich again to maintain the lifestyle I once had.

[gimel]

For further confusion, I hope this link works.

http://www.springerlink.com/content/f2p35lh5414hrv6g/

[gimel]

I don't know if this really helps answer your question but you do lose the bet.  LOL

http://www.jci.org/articles/view/114022