Anyone else out there having a time with poor absorption of Calcium/Synthroid???

[DMLee]

It's been almost 3 and a half months since my TT and I am still battling the low Calcium and trying to get my Synthroid where he wants it.  Took blood the yesterday and my Calcium is 7.4.  VERY frustrating.  Endocrinologist just feels I am not absorbing the supplements.  Even with all the extra Magnesium and Rocaltrol.  So am switching from Oscal to Calcium Citrate.  Strangely enough I don't have that many symptoms--a little tingling in my fingertips once or twice a week.  Had it pretty consistently in the hospital.  Even went into tetany when it dropped to 6.3.  So would appreciate any thoughts/advice.  Looking to hear from Utahmomma--you sound very knowledgeable.

[utahmomma]

Hi there,

There are others much better with the labs and hormone vs. minerals issues.  I'm trying to remember, did you have a parathyroid removed or damaged??

My question would be, are you taking enough Vitamin D?  Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium.

I'm on high doses of calcium and 150% the RDA of Vitamin D because of the high levels of Synthroid I'm on and the fact that I lost one parathyroid during surgery.  (Oh, and having no estrogen)  :-)

You know, you might also ask about a bone scan after they figure out your calcium issue.

[MJ13]

I too had problems with my calcium after my TT.  Less than 24 hours after surgery, fingers started tingling than quickly spread to mouth and toes.  Within 48 hours after TT my hands started contracting so much I could hardly grasp a large cup.  To make matters worse, a computer malfunction caused a delay of almost 8 hours before I started getting calcium thru IV and pills.  And that was only after my doctors raised a roucous.  My calcium dropped to 7.2 (range 8.5 - 10.6), wouldn't come up for the longest time it seemed, then went up to around 8.2 only to drop back down to 7.2 again.  Finally on my 5th day in the hospital, my calcium continued to rise and Hallejulia,Praise God on the 6th day, I was released!!!! I've been on Oscal 500+D and Calcitroil for over a month now.  Just had calcium tested 11 Jan and it was 5.0 (range 4.5 - 5.6).  So I guess I'm absorbing it okay.  Can't imagine what it would be without the calcium supplements??

[DMLee]

The surgeon told me that he didn't have to mess with two of the parathyroids, reattached one, and had to discard the 4th one.  I would just think that these parathyroids would be kicking in by now.  Doing a 24 hour urine test to see if my body is absorbing anything or just discarding it.  We'll see after these results.

[DMLee]

Your "no estrogen" comment made me smile as I am 47 and am sure that this has something to do with it.  Which makes me wonder...when I did the blood test I was having a very heavy period and I am thinking that this could also affect the blood calcium test.  Will call him today and find out.  I told my husband that for my next life I am coming back a man.  Asked him if he wanted to come back a woman and he said "hell no".  :>

[R3b3kk431]

Hi guys, i had my TT a month ago, also lost 3 of my parathyroids we're waiting to see if number 4 survived, and was in for 12 days whilst they tried to stabilise my calcium, at one point i had a metacarpolic spasm that lasted 2 and a half hours, im now on 2 x 0.5mgs rocaltrol and 2x1000mg sandocal      . I was just wondering if anyone else, even after all the drugs and tests still has symptoms? I mean i havent had any spasms but my hands and lips are still tingling even though my most recent test showed my calcium was up at 2.3-also feeling sick all day, every day but i never vomit.  I was kind of hoping it was a side effect, or something.....getting truely fed up of feeling rubbish :o(

[lilypad300]

the calcium can be so frustrating. . .
i had my TT on 8/4 stayed in the hospital an extra day due to low calcium. . .was released only to be back in the ER 36 hours later with severe tetany all over and a calcium level of around 6.
I ended up back in the hospital for a week on an IV calcium drip.
I was then on massive amounts of calcitriol and calcium. . .luckily my parathyroids seem to have kicked back in and 3 months past surgery I'm off of the calcitriol and am on only 1500mg of calcium a day (not to mention my multi vitamin which does have vit. d in it)
i occasionally get tingly if I'm under a lot of stress, and i'm not sure if it's anxiety or calcium related, but I always keep a few viactiv w/ d in my bag just in case.

best of luck!

[deb73ny]

I just had my TT on May 9th 2011 and was only in the hospital for 1 day. My calcium level was 7.1 when I was released they told me to take a vitimin d tablet every 4 hours and 4 tums every 4 hours. I did all that and my calcium level dropped to 6.1 and my fingers and toes were falling asleep and had bad muscle cramps in my legs. This was a week after the surgery. I ended up in the hospital for 5 days and they gave me IV calcium infusions and started me on calcitriol and clacium supplements. My level went up to 8.4 and i was released from the hospital. now I have been home for a little over a week and my level has dropped again and now not only do i have numbness and tingling now I feel sick to my stomach to. Can't figure out why taking all these pills and my body is not absorbing them.