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low calcium after Total Thyroidectomy
I would appreciate hearing other's experiences with low calcium after TT (4 days ago in my case)for a multinodular goiter and how long, if ever, these levels returned to normal. My largest nodule was big (5 cm) so I am worried that some or all of the parathyroids were removed at the same time. I see the surgeon in 5 days. Is it a reasonable question to ask if she saw any parathyroid glands and also if any were seen in the tissue removed?. I know that there can be damage to the parathyroids as well as removal.
If I am delayed taking the calcium pill the tingling in my fingers starts and my lips become numb so there doesn't seem to be any improvement post surgery. Post surgery my ionized calcium levels were not below 1 though and I was told that was better than being below 1! Thanks for any help.
If I am delayed taking the calcium pill the tingling in my fingers starts and my lips become numb so there doesn't seem to be any improvement post surgery. Post surgery my ionized calcium levels were not below 1 though and I was told that was better than being below 1! Thanks for any help.
since the body doesn't really "bank" up calcium, we have to replenish every day. consider coral cal which has a higher obsorption percentage. i take both coral cal and the cheap cal carbonate through out the day (4 times a day or more depending if if feel my hands getting heavier/cramp start up). you should be taking the prescription vitamin D called calcitriol which i'm told is a more refined form which does not need to go through/burden the liver. ask your doctor. magnesium is a must for better cal obsorption - everyone know that (doctors should anyways). i find the orange juice with cal a great fast recharger for desperate need to ease the hard to bear cramps. a nutritionist is a good place to seek better overall foods/supplements to help you cuz the endos can only do so much. sometimes i'm told to take ADVIL for the cramps. it's a try/seek thing to gain our lives back. best wishes!
Also I apologize if I sound like I'm complaining after only 3 weeks but 48 hours of not being able to lay down to sleep has me in a state. I don't mean to be a whiner or complainer, I'm just trying to educate myself the best way I know how and what better way than to talk to others going through the same thing. Thanks for all and any help/suggestions.
I'm a 46 female living in Toronto who had a long history of over active thyroid even after RAD treatment. Biopsies predicted 98% chance of cancer so a total thyroidectomy was performed. Evidently my gland was massive so they had to cauterize substantially to stop the bleeding. (Which I’m now wondering perhaps affected the parathyroid glands and will follow up on tomorrow). I felt fine the first day and then had problems with low calcium (but no symptoms so was held an extra day) and put on Calcium and Vit D for a further 7 days. Upon stitch removal they said I was fine and only needed to take the thyroid supplement. They did no blood work at this time and none is ordered for 6 weeks to 8 weeks they said to get an accurate reading of my levels. Furthermore I’m not scheduled to see my endocrinologist until July several months from now. The best news is the gland was not malignant at all.
I had been feeling fine then the cramping started so I was put back on calcium/Vit D a bit less than a week after stopping. Good news as well was I had no numbness however I was suffering from daily headaches although I’m susceptible to headaches with barometer changes which have been occurring. My biggest problem that I don’t see on here is the massive cramping I’m still experiencing and I’m getting it everywhere. I take 2,000 mg of calcium with 500 i.u. (the pills I take are 500 calc/125 i.u. of Vit D per) of Vitamin D in two intervals with lots (10 to 15 ten oz glasses a day) at least 2 hours after my thyroid supplement and I’m still cramping. One day I’m fine and the next it’s out of control. Hugging someone goodbye can cause back, shoulder, fore arm and neck spasms. Picking my leg up can cause severe cramping in my feet, shins, legs, buttocks and even groin muscles that can last for 5 to 10 minutes and then occur periodically throughout the rest of the day or evening.
My endocrinologist had said to take 1500 calcium and 500 Vit d but I went with the 2,000 due to my age and intensity of the cramping. It still isn’t enough on certain days and I’m now 3 weeks after surgery. My headaches have come and gone on certain days, still no numbness but I have no clue about what to do about the cramping. I’m told too much Vitamin D is hard on the liver and kidneys and I’m not sure if there such a thing as too much calcium after reading the above stories. I have not been told to take any magnesium but was told to increase my potassium intake which I’m doing with fruit and vegetables but may look into supplements. I’ve cut out salt completely and reduced my 4 a day latte (90% skim milk and 10% espresso habit) to one or none a day. I have only gained 3 or 5 lbs (which I needed) and have had no change in bowel movements (sorry to be blunt). I’m not overly hungry due to the high intake of water making me feel full so I’m definitely not over eating or gaining weight.
Most of you above complain of hand cramping but that’s only one area I’m affected by and probably not the worst of the cramping I get. I’m at a loss other than to go see my Naturopath to get a better idea of what to take but she will probably tell me to see my endocrinologist. How are people checking their calcium daily are they going and getting daily blood work done? And why would I be fine for 4 to 6 days on nothing after stopping the calcium and Vit D to now be in a situation where I’m worse than ever? Will I build up or restore those levels so the cramping stops or are there any other suggestions. I didn’t see issues on severe cramping above so I’m quite confused on what route to take. I’ve been trying to follow all the rules and like I said one day I’m almost pain free and then a day like today I can’t even lie down and I took 2650 of Calcium and 700 i.u. of Vit D with 15 ten oz glasses of water. Any advice or similar situations and what you’ve done would be greatly appreciated.
I had been feeling fine then the cramping started so I was put back on calcium/Vit D a bit less than a week after stopping. Good news as well was I had no numbness however I was suffering from daily headaches although I’m susceptible to headaches with barometer changes which have been occurring. My biggest problem that I don’t see on here is the massive cramping I’m still experiencing and I’m getting it everywhere. I take 2,000 mg of calcium with 500 i.u. (the pills I take are 500 calc/125 i.u. of Vit D per) of Vitamin D in two intervals with lots (10 to 15 ten oz glasses a day) at least 2 hours after my thyroid supplement and I’m still cramping. One day I’m fine and the next it’s out of control. Hugging someone goodbye can cause back, shoulder, fore arm and neck spasms. Picking my leg up can cause severe cramping in my feet, shins, legs, buttocks and even groin muscles that can last for 5 to 10 minutes and then occur periodically throughout the rest of the day or evening.
My endocrinologist had said to take 1500 calcium and 500 Vit d but I went with the 2,000 due to my age and intensity of the cramping. It still isn’t enough on certain days and I’m now 3 weeks after surgery. My headaches have come and gone on certain days, still no numbness but I have no clue about what to do about the cramping. I’m told too much Vitamin D is hard on the liver and kidneys and I’m not sure if there such a thing as too much calcium after reading the above stories. I have not been told to take any magnesium but was told to increase my potassium intake which I’m doing with fruit and vegetables but may look into supplements. I’ve cut out salt completely and reduced my 4 a day latte (90% skim milk and 10% espresso habit) to one or none a day. I have only gained 3 or 5 lbs (which I needed) and have had no change in bowel movements (sorry to be blunt). I’m not overly hungry due to the high intake of water making me feel full so I’m definitely not over eating or gaining weight.
Most of you above complain of hand cramping but that’s only one area I’m affected by and probably not the worst of the cramping I get. I’m at a loss other than to go see my Naturopath to get a better idea of what to take but she will probably tell me to see my endocrinologist. How are people checking their calcium daily are they going and getting daily blood work done? And why would I be fine for 4 to 6 days on nothing after stopping the calcium and Vit D to now be in a situation where I’m worse than ever? Will I build up or restore those levels so the cramping stops or are there any other suggestions. I didn’t see issues on severe cramping above so I’m quite confused on what route to take. I’ve been trying to follow all the rules and like I said one day I’m almost pain free and then a day like today I can’t even lie down and I took 2650 of Calcium and 700 i.u. of Vit D with 15 ten oz glasses of water. Any advice or similar situations and what you’ve done would be greatly appreciated.
You may want to post a new question on the forum instead of replying to this older thread. You will get many more responses that way.
Thinking of you and your husband.
D
Thinking of you and your husband.
D
Hi all~
My husband had a total TT after his pathology came back showing malignant cancer of the papilary glands. His surgery was just over 3 months ago, and since then he has been feeling AWFUL and hasn't been able to go back to work yet(been almost a year since he's been feeling bad and not been able to work). He had low calcium at first, but seemed to have been stabilized by the time he left the hospital. He has had really bad pressure in his head, and feels like he is going to pass out, will start shaking all over and just feels like he is about to go crazy, This will come and go a couple times a day, and sometimes not at all, but its happening almost every day. he's been to his dr I don't know how many times, and they can't figure out what the problem is. There was a time he went a month in a half ago or so, and his horomone levels came back really low so they almost doubled the dose, and i am no dr, but i think that was part of the problem, just shooting up his dose like that couldn't have been good. He went to the dr, yet again last week and now they want him to see an ENT this week, so we'll see what they have to say, but I wanted to know if anyone else has had problems like these after surgery???
Thank you =]
My husband had a total TT after his pathology came back showing malignant cancer of the papilary glands. His surgery was just over 3 months ago, and since then he has been feeling AWFUL and hasn't been able to go back to work yet(been almost a year since he's been feeling bad and not been able to work). He had low calcium at first, but seemed to have been stabilized by the time he left the hospital. He has had really bad pressure in his head, and feels like he is going to pass out, will start shaking all over and just feels like he is about to go crazy, This will come and go a couple times a day, and sometimes not at all, but its happening almost every day. he's been to his dr I don't know how many times, and they can't figure out what the problem is. There was a time he went a month in a half ago or so, and his horomone levels came back really low so they almost doubled the dose, and i am no dr, but i think that was part of the problem, just shooting up his dose like that couldn't have been good. He went to the dr, yet again last week and now they want him to see an ENT this week, so we'll see what they have to say, but I wanted to know if anyone else has had problems like these after surgery???
Thank you =]
I had a TT December 2007. I am taking two Caltrate twice daily with Ca levels still below normal. Waiting 4 hours to take Ca after Synthroid sometime finds me out of the house so I carry Viactiv for those days, since Caltrate without food causes severe indigestion. I keep a huge bottle of Caltrate in the car. Something new, since my TT is muscle cramps if I stress a muscle. I've learned to relax and the muscle will relax. April 08, the surgeon told me my parathyroids are still stunned and will recover. I still have the buzzing across the upper back. My energy level is not up to my usual standards, but I walk every day regardless. I also have to watch calories which is a new problem, too. Thanks for listening to a whiner. Mesquite
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