does any one know anything about the parathroid? Please Help!

[lisacanto]

I am a 44 year old woman, who has no energy, tired all the time and clear thinking is just not happening I am a personal trainer and even a quick woroutt is very hard to do.  I went to an endocronoligist yesterday and he wants to put me on medication to absord calicum, I do not think this is getting to the root of the problem. These are my results
TSh 0.956
T4 6.3
T3 (uptake) 27
PTH 29
blood calcium 11.6
24 hour urine calicum test 388.7
From what I have read it seems as though it is my parathyroid that is the problem.  The doctor seems to only be concered with kidney stones and wants to put me med for that.  Help!  Any suggestions/thoughts will be appreciated.
thank you,
Lisa

[Nicki1433]

I'm sorry I do not know anything about the parathyroid except that if they remove it your calcium drops significantly!  It seems to me that you TSH is a little low too.  Maybe that's really the problem.  I'm sorry, I don't have much information for you, but I will say a prayer for you!

Good luck!

Nicki

[ChitChatNine]

OIC your blood calcium level is high, too ......... do you get muscle cramps? That can happen with high calcium levels in the blood.

C~

[ChitChatNine]

Parathyroid glands if not working properly can form CALCIUM OXALATE kidney stones.  Perhaps your 24hr  urine suggests this ? I'm not sure on the #'s ....

I am a former of calcium oxalate stones and the one thing they tested me for extensively was 24hr urine along with parathyroid functions, etc., etc. and all mine are normal but I still form stones.  

Kidney stones are not fun and mine tend to get stuck deep in the kidney and stay there years causing pain on a daily basis but not moving out!   Also I would get numerous bad urinary tract infections from them that req'd a month or two of antibiotics to knock it out of my system.

I lucked out that 12 days post op for my thyroid surgery (had nodules), I passed a good sized stone and then about a month later a truckload passed so I'm only left with a few small ones, now.  I am not allowed to take calcium supplements for bones unless specifically indicated on a bone density screening test and then my Uro will decide which one to take.  

What meds do they want you to take?  Magnesium Citrate and B6 or something like that?  Or Urocit-K prescription maybe ......?

LMK how you make out ................Cheryl  (PS:  I have unrelated gallstones too .... how much fun is that?)

[cq48455]

I had multiple problems over a long length of time - including ulcers from joint pain meds, large kidney stone that blocked my ureter , tiredness, brain fog etc.  I lucked out and found a GREAT urologist that tested me for hyperparathyroidism -which I had. I was 45.  Then after getting the kidney stuff straightened out it took me over 6 months to find the right doctor to find my enlarged parathyroid (he found it in less that two minutes on ultrasound - after going to 2 other endrocrine specialists who put me through extensive tests-they knew I had it but couldn't find it) He took it out in the morning - I ate lunch out with my husband a few hours later.  PTH doesn't have to be elevated very much over normal neither does the calcium.  Blood tests - I had ionized calcium and PTH - have to be spun in a quick time frame after being drawn to be accurate and amounts are usually high early morning - drop later in day.  By about 2 months after surgery I felt like I had done years before - I quit having problems with my joints, feet, tiredness etc. I found my endrocrinologist myself - researched him and the disease.  Disease info is on www.endrocrineweb.com.   I went to U of M medical center - a local large university teaching center. Oh and surgery scar is there on neck but in crease - no one notices it unless I point it out.

[ras48]

parathyriod.com is a great site. It will give you lots of information. I wish you best of health.                              Regina

[Thypatient]

That's an amazing turn-around, morning for lunch, for that surgery.  And that your problems were seen on u/s - that's unusual.

Sounds like you had a big success.  Thanks for sharing.

BTW - Where is 'U of M' located?  Just curious.

[Thypatient]

Meant: "...morning to lunch... ."

[cq48455]

If you have Hyperparathyroidism adding calcium won't help at all - read the web site.  Most doctors don't understand it at all- it can get very confusing.  As far as the doctor that found it quickly with ultra sound - He knew what to look for - he does these surgeries commonly - I researched and called and asked questions before I went to him.  The blessing was the urologist who recognized what it was from the beginning. My regular doctor didn't  - he and others had done blood tests over the years so the calcium level was on and off high - that's the other variable.  Also if the facilty that does the tests on you does not do them very often - may not be able to find it. I had all sorts of tests done with the first endrocrine surgeon - after lots of money spent and he couldn't find it he thought the first doctor was wrong.   re:  U of M is the University of Michigan.  Oh and the stones usually found are calcium phospate not calcium oxalate, or so I have been told.  Mine was never tested for type since cause was known, so I can't say for sure in my case.  Lunch was easy - cut is over thyroid area - and only a few inches long  PTH had already fallen so felt LOTS better when I left and since it was surgery couldn't eat before>:>))  

[medicmommy]

Some thoughts...I'm looking at your labs wondering if they were drawn on the "bobble" side..Meaning, when your parathyroids had just dumped a huge load of hormone to make your bones release their calcium stores, and then readjusted their levels, thus showing a normal range...(In healthy parathyroid functioning, the two levels should always be opposite of each other...When one is too high, the other should be low...If one is normal, the other should be too)...For a long time (years!), most HPT patients bodies compensate by doing this...these folks have kidney stones, gut problems, frequent headaches, frequent urination, (for lack of a better word) bitchiness, heartburn and unexplained muscle and joint pain that worsen as the disease advances. I was having frequent hot flashes and was told I was perimenopausal at age 38 (I had an egg-sized Parathyroid tumor removed at age 42)...(GGRRR) I finally had a kidney stone get stuck (#7 stone in 2 years) which, at the time, I could've sworn it was the size of the top of MT St Helens! Anyhow, this lead to the hypercalcemia diagnosis, which FINALLY lead to the HPT diagnosis...-I had researched for information (parathyroid.com), and found I had 11 of the 16 symptoms of HPT...My Dr was reluctant to order the PTH test and I had to refuse to leave until she did so...It can back at 165...
There are other things, like MENS syndrome and pituitary problems that can also cause PTH and calcium problems, but, were I you, I'd have the PTH checked again (labs mess up things too) to verify the level. Even though your PTH seems in range, I believe it should be MUCH lower in relationship to your calcium level which would mean your poor Parathyroids are trying to do their job, but something is interfering......Oral supplemental calcium will just be urinated off if you are HPT and you'll just have more expensive urine...:) ...By the way, any problem with gall stones? -I was "blessed" with those too...Oh, get your ionized calcium levels checked..It will measure the true amount of calcium that is free in your blood...A Sestamibi scan may show if you have malfunctioning HPTs, but the trick is to get the Dr to order it...Good luck...
Oh, 2 hours after I had the tumor removed, I could already feel the difference. All joint and muscle pains were gone and I wasn't urinating every thirty minutes! -I was able to go home 3 hours after the surgery, and stayed home from work for a few days because I couldn't turn my head to drive...It is now 2 years later, and no kidney stones, I can remember things, and no hot flashes or "PMS" issues...Perimenopausal my backside...Puh.   ~MM