parathyroid remval treatment

[labowski]

my step mom had her parathyroid removed by mistake. now she takes calcium tablets everyday, but her bones are crippling. her teeth are sooo easy to break. is there a way that she can get a new parathyroid?

[medicmommy]

How long ago was the surgery? Did she have a total thyroid removal that caused it? Or was there something else? There are 4 of the parathyroid glands in the body,and most surgeons NEVER remove all of them unless there is cancer involved (or something else that I'm unaware of). What is the amount of the calcium she takes? -And how does she take it? It should be 2000 mg at least and be calcium citrate or gluconate for the best absorption...She may need to go on Fosamax or something similar to get the calcium going into her bones quickly...for some reason she's either not getting enough calcium, or not absorbing enough...Hope this helps...                                               ~MM

[utahmomma]

I lost a parathyroid too during my cancer surgery.  I am on mega-amounts of calcium and, because of thyroid meds and no estrogen, I also have to take Boniva for my bones.  Your mother needs a specialist - preferably an endocrinologist who deals with thyroid/parathyroid issues.

[Thypatient]

"is there a way that she can get a new parathyroid?"  I don't believe so.

But humans usually have four of these glands.  I ask the same as medicmommy, did all four get effected?  The way to know is whether there is parathryoid hormone activity.  A blood test reveals this.  But honestly, from your question I get the sense there is no longer any activity.

I have these issues myself.  I had one parathyroid gland removed because of a benign tumor.  I now believe my remaining glands have died off because my last blood draw showed my calcium was too low - again.

It's quite the balancing act.  I have to increase calcium and vit d, which is what your step mom might need to do, in order to be doing better.  But that increase puts me at a risk for kidney disease down the road.  It's scary.

I agree with above.  Find a good endo who specializes in this issue.  I'm in the middle of researching/revamping my care in this same way.

Here's a site with information and a forum with folks who have the same experience (hope I'm allowed to do this; sometimes these things get bleeped):

hypoparathyroidism (dot) org (dot)

There are people on that forum who have hypoparathyroidism, or what's know as hypocalcemia, either as its own disease or as a result of surgery - like your step mom.

Hope this helps.  Good luck.

[Thypatient]

Want to add:  The site I mention is that of the Hypoparathyroid Association, out of Idaho Falls, Idaho.

Another web address for it is:

hpth (dot) org

[Linda1949]

The above web sight is very informative. I joined and was sent a very nice welcome package with alot of useful info. The org. has meetings yearly and links to trail tests for studies on our condition(hypocalcemia) Also Yahoo has medical groups for different conditions also. I do believe there is a movement to get pth hormone approved in USA. I was very lucky when I had my thyroidectomy that my surgeon was able to save 1 of my para-tyroid glands and I do show pht production. The trouble is that there is about 5 of these communities I could belong to. At my age( just turned 59) one would expect to have a few difficulties. Mine all seem to be endo related. I have arthritis, with 2 shoulder surgeries to remove spurs, and 1 month ago had gallbladder removed. Also had endometreosis when youger having a hysterectomy at 38. All in all my blood pressure and cholestoral are good. I'm thankful for that. Reading these posts helps 1 to appreciate what we do have and not focus on the negative. If you feel depressed just read on and there is always someone in a worse state of affairs. I'm so glad I found this web sight as it's been very helpful. Good luck to all.

Linda

[Thypatient]

Thanks so much for sharing your experiences.  And thanks for giving more plugs for that association.  It sounds like a much needed one, doesn't it.

I had my gallbladder out six months ago.  That operation threw off my calcium but I thought it was back to normal.  My most recent blood test showed my calcium was 7.5 (8.0 being the lowest in the range).  That scares me because I thought everything was fairly okay.  It's causing me to rethink my approach to my care and the management of my health.

Calcium is haunting my life.  First it was too high and now it's too low.   Anyway...

Again, thanks.  Oh, and I can relate to qualifying for membership to several support groups.

Keep sharing and take care.