Parathyroid recovery after thyroid surgery

[JenniZ118]

Hello All!  I had a total thyroidectomy in April for papillary carcinoma.  I lost one parathyroid in the process, but supposedly still have three left.  My PTH when I left the hospital was around 4.0, and had slowly raised to 7.4 over 3 months, but has since been going back and forth between 6.0 and 6.7.  I am taking calcium supplements and vitamin d, but just learned that I need to be taking activated vitamin d, (Calcitriol).  The problem is that Calcitriol gives me horrible stomach pains.  Does anyone know of any other activated vitamin d I could use?

More importantly, has anyone out there had their parathyroid function resume/completely recover after months of low parathyroid function?  It's been over 5 months since my surgery, and they still haven't kicked in.  My ENT surgeon still feels confident that they will recover, but the endocrinologist I recently saw doesn't think so.  I would love to hear anyone else's experience.  Also, if you did manage to have your parathyroid function come back, what kind of calcium and vitamin d and what dosages were you taking?

Thank you so much for your input!!!

[JenniZ118]

Thanks for your input.  Is there anyone out there that has had their parathyroid function recover 6 months or longer after surgery?  Thanks!

[Red_Star]

Give it a bit longer first to see how you feel.

Frequently Asked Questions (Thyroid/Parathyroid)...

"Will my parathyroid glands be taken out with my thyroid?

"If you are having thyroid surgery ("thyroidectomy") then every attempt is made to preserve all your parathyroid glands. Mostly they are left in place with their blood supply attached but, if that is not technically possible, they may need to be removed and transplanted into the adjacent muscle. Sometimes very small parathyroid glands are buried under the thyroid capsule and cannot be identified at operation and so get taken out with the thyroid specimen. Transplanted parathyroid glands take between 6 weeks to 6 months to recover, however the body can generally get by with just part of one parathyroid gland if necessary."