Hyperparathyroidism Support Group
Hyperparathyroidism is overactivity of the parathyroid glands resulting in excess production of parathyroid hormone (PTH). Increased PTH consequently leads to increased serum calcium (hypercalcemia) due to 1) increased bone resorption, allowing flow of calcium from bone to blood, 2) reduces renal clearance of calcium, and 3) increases intestinal calcium absorption.
Constantly feeling tired is really getting to me! Amount of sleep doesn't matter! It's a struggle to get through each day and even when I try to nap in the afternoon I can't.
Your poor mother wasn't dealt a very good hand of cards was she, all those health problems. What a tragedy that she didn't take her diabetic medication.
There are some things you can do to help prevent diabetes one of which is to maintain a normal weight and not to overdo the sweets and carbs (white carbs are not good for diabetics). If you try and follow a diet taking into account the glycaemic index of foodsthat also helps. You may know that already. I read recently though that a study was done involving which fruits are best for diabetics to eat, and grapes and raisins and blueberries apparently are better from a sugar point of view. There is a pre-diabetic window (of a few years) where it's possible to detect it early and with lifestyle changes etc avoid actually developing it. You may know this already but thought I would mention it just in case.
My brother-in-law has diabetes mellitus (Type 2) and one of his son's has Type 1, my mother's brother and also a friend of mine also have Type 2. You have enough on your plate already to deal with so really hope you can avoid that and it's good to know that a healthy lifestyle can really help to prevent it.
It's a shame you are allergic as well. When I had my tumour I felt almost as if I had flu every day and it was a horrible feeling so maybe yours is caused by the PPTH also.
I have just been having root canal treatment for one of my broken teeth which actually came right out in one whole piece! and in 2 weeks I will be having a crown so at least I won't have a gap! It's very expensive treatment though. I have a couple of other dodgy teeth but will hang on to those as long as I can. I have actually just changed dentists as my previous one was neither good nor caring and the one I have now is really great. How are the dentists where you are? Not as scarce as the doctors hopefully.
I also have otosclerosis which was interestingly diagnosed very near to the time that my tumour started to grow. My recent audiologist said it's caused by a calcium problem! - pregnant women can develop it as they produce more calcium for the baby when they are pregnant but I have never been pregnant so it wasn't that in my case. I wear hearing aids but my new one for my right ear doesn't seem to be working so will have to go back - yet another appointment (yawn)!
Hope you feel well tomorrow - keep drinking the filtered water, it helps to dilute the calcium. By the way it's the high calcium (caused by the tumour removing it from the bones and putting it into the blood) that increases one's risk of developing certain cancers but it doesn't mean everyone will get them, but in my case it's in the genes. As they say, "Genetics loads the gun and the environment pulls the trigger".
Hope you have a good day tomorrow. Keep well.
Tampapatient
No my mother had a really difficult life. Her polio caused her to have problems with her legs and spine. Her spine was curved to one side crowding her organs on that side. Also the joint in one of her knees was so badly deteriorated that ti bent backwards! I don't know how she watched with the crutches with her knee and back like that! She used a scooter wheelchair to get around outside.
I'm sorry to hear so many in your family have diabetes! I've heard about low and high glycemic foods. Doesn't glycemic index have to do with how quickly the food can be broken down into glucose? Whole wheat is much better because it takes longer to digest. I never knew that grapes, raisins and blueberries were better for blood sugar. I do need to improve my diet since I don't eat as many vegetables and fruit as I should. I'm a vegetarian who eats fish and seafood. (pescatarian)
I'm sorry that you have to go through the pain of a root canal! The dentist here are much more numerous than family doctors. My dentist is very nice. I had a filling replaced and a chipped tooth bonded.
Wow, calcium has certainly caused you many problems! I had no idea it could interfere with hearing! I've heard that hyperparathyroidism is most likely genetic. I know that my grandmother suffered from hyperthyroidism and my mother had an issue with her thyroid as well. Not parathyroids but it could be related. Especially if I have MEN. (Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia)
I hope that I feel better tomorrow as well and that the rest of your day goes well! I'm not sure what the time difference is in England! I find your responses very helpful and enjoy reading them!
DarknessEmbraced
I'm glad you find my responses helpful. It's good to talk.
OMG your poor mother really had lots of problems, Bless her.
You need to look after yourself.
Do try and eat more fruit and vegetables, it will help. I have cut and pasted some info re the glycaemic index for you.
......."The glycaemic index (GI) is a rating system for foods containing carbohydrates. It shows how quickly each food affects your blood sugar (glucose) level when that food is eaten on its own.
High GI foods
Carbohydrate foods that are broken down quickly by your body and cause a rapid increase in blood glucose have a high GI rating. High GI foods include:
sugar and sugary foods
sugary soft drinks
white bread
potatoes
white rice
Low and medium GI foods
Low or medium GI foods are broken down more slowly and cause a gradual rise in blood sugar levels over time. They include:
some fruit and vegetables (but not dried fruit)
pulses
wholegrain foods, such as porridge oats
Are low GI foods healthier?
Some low GI foods, such as wholegrain foods, fruit, vegetables, beans and lentils, are foods we should eat as part of a healthy balanced diet.
However, using the glycaemic index to decide whether foods or combinations of foods are healthy can be misleading. Foods with a high GI are not necessarily unhealthy and not all foods with a low GI are healthy. For example, watermelon and parsnips are high GI foods, while chocolate cake has a lower GI value.
Also, foods that contain or are cooked with fat and protein slow down the absorption of carbohydrate, lowering the GI. For example, crisps have a lower GI than potatoes cooked without fat. But crisps are high in fat and should be eaten in moderation.
If you only eat foods with a low GI, your diet may be unbalanced and high in fat.
Find out more about eating a healthy balanced diet.
Can low GI foods help me lose weight?
Low GI foods, which cause your blood sugar levels to rise and fall slowly may help you feel fuller for longer. This could help control your appetite and may be useful if youre trying to lose weight.
However, as mentioned above, not all foods with a low GI are healthy. Therefore, relying on GI alone is not a reliable way to decide whether foods or combinations of foods are healthy.
Read more information about losing weight.
Can the glycaemic index help people with diabetes?
If you have diabetes its useful to understand the glycaemic index because eating foods with low GI ratings can help to control blood glucose. But other factors must also be taken into account. Research has shown that the amount of carbohydrate you eat, rather than its GI rating, has the biggest influence on blood glucose levels after meals.
It's also important to eat a healthy balanced diet that is low in fat, sugar and salt and high in fruit and vegetables. If youve been advised to make changes to your diet or you need advice, a diabetes dietitian can help you work out a plan for your diet. Speak to your GP about being referred to a dietitian".................
This is just a snapshot of info but hope it's useful.
I am just off out for a meal with 3 friends I used to work with at the doctors surgery where I worked until recently. I am going to try and eat plenty of protein this evening given my latest low blood result!
Re time difference - we are about 5 hours ahead of you so it's 6.15 p.m. right now.
Tried to sort out my hearing aid today but stiil not quite working right so going back again tomorrow (yet another yawn)!
Have a lovely evening!
Tampapatient
Thank you for all of the useful information! I do eat a fair amount of beans and lentils. I eat whole grain as much as possible and try to limit portion size, fat and calorie content. My biggest enemy is salt! I constantly crave salty foods! I know they aren't good for my blood pressure nor for bloating.
I still aren't feeling well. The same problems with nasal congestion, congestion, phlegm and headache. I used to use the neti pot but found it dried my sinuses out too much. I think that was made worse due to the antihistamine that I take. I go to the mall and a movie on Fridays. I'm going to try to go out tomorrow because I haven't been out at all this week! I'm hoping it will do me some good.
I hope that you can get your hearing aid and that you enjoy the meal with your friends!
Sorry to hear you are not feeling well and that you are congested. Have you tried a bowl of steaming water and holding your had over it with a towel over your head? I don't know what a neti pot is - is it a similar sort of thing?
I hope you have a lovely time at the mall tomorrow and enjoyable trip to the movies. Hopefully that will make you feel a bit better and a movie will distract you for a while from your symptoms but
I know how hard it is when you have all those symptoms.
I had a lovely meal tonight - I had sea bass with saute potatoes and peppers and a cherry and apple crumble with ice cream for dessert - it was really nice, followed by a floater coffee (where it's black with some cream floating on the top) - it was lovely! I had a 25% off voucher so we all had a discount off our meal which was better still!
Hope you manage to get some sleep tonight ready for tomorrow's day out.. Take care.
Tampapatient
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I have to be really diligent about taking my asthma medications especially the broncho dilator symbicort. Yes, steam does help or eating or drinking something hot. http://www.neilmed.com/usa/netipot.php You mix water and salt together in the neti pot, then lean over the sink and pour the solution into your nostril. You let it drain and then do the other nostril. It can really burn if the proper ratio of salt and water isn't used.
Your meal sounds delicious! I really love fish and the apple/cherry crumble makes my mouth water! I hope that you rest well tonight and have a wonderful day tomorrow!
I was just looking at the support group messages and somehow! (I'm still not too familiar with how to use the pages on this support group) and I saw that you have invited me to be a friend. I am delighted to say I have accepted. I hope you didn't wait too long for a reply, I'm not quite sure how I came to see the message or how recent it is. I will have to look at the different places on the site a bit more (I only joined very recently). Thank you for inviting me as a friend.
I saw your last message - you poor thing, you do have to take quite a few medications. The neti pot treatment sounds pretty horrid, oh dear! Believe it or not I can remember going to an eye hospital years ago (for my intermittent eye problem) and having to sit with my head over a bowl of hot water with a wooden spoon in order for my pupil to open up so they could look inside!! I think now they do it with dilating eye drops? I always thought that was pretty unpleasant. I have blue/grey eyes and apparently they dilate easier than brown ones, I have no idea why! I am also full of somewhat useless info (haha).
My meal was delicious I have to say. In this restaurant, when it comes to desserts, you can have a mini pudding (so less calories) and either a tea or coffee for a set price and it works out cheaper than having a large (calorie-loaded) pud and a separate tea or coffee.
I hope you managed to get out tonight to see a good film and have a wander round the mall. What film did you see?
It is very very wet here in England at present but not as cold as it would normally be. My cat decided he wanted to go out a short while ago so I let him out and will try to get him in before I go to bed (its 11.33 p.m. here now).
Have a good day tomorrow. We are not doing anything tomorrow but Sunday we are going with our nextdoor neighbours to their newly rebuilt church (he is a local pastor) to see it and for a few nibbles - they are holding it for their family and friends so that should be nice. The only drawback is that we have to get up early on Sunday to go with them! I am a bit of a late owl and not really an early riser and I also ache more in the mornings when I get up! (The osteopenia).
Take care and enjoy the rest of the w.end.
Tampapatient.
It's ok that you didn't see the friend request right away! :) I've only really used the forum on this site . I have never looked at the other tabs at the top of the page.
The neti pot wasn't very pleasant at all. I remember having to get my eyes dilated once! I hated it because by pupil became the size of the iris so I couldn't read anything for over three hours! My eyes are light brown. Yes they use dilating eye drops now! What you had to endure sounds even worse!
When I went to an ear, nose and throat doctor due to chronic hoarseness he was always putting the scope in my nose and down my throat to check my vocal cords! I had to ask him to numb it but even then I still hated it! I like the facts that you share because I find them interesting! I love learning new things!
I had a good meal at the mall. There's a place called Thai Express that serves wonderful food. I've had their vegetable and also their tofu yellow(mild) curry. Today, I had a peanut satay fish stir fry over rice! Delicious!!
I saw the movie Labor Day, The main actors are Josh Brolin and Kate Winslet who did an amazing job! Gaitlin Griffith who played the son of Kate Winslet's character was phenomenal as well! I really enjoyed it! Very good romantic drama!
Cats always seem to be on their own schedule. The weather here is slightly cold but not as cold as it has been.
I hope that you enjoy your time at the church Sunday and have a wonderful day tomorrow!
How are you feeling today?
I hope you had a good day without too many problems from your symptoms.
My husband I and went to the new church I told you about today - we were out for hours - and our pastor friend gave a really lovely service and I saw a few people I knew and also someone I used to work with. We then had a lunch afterwards which was really nice - I am now full of chocolate and cream! The sooner I can get moving properly again, the better! but still feeling stiff every day but then Dr Norman said it would take a long time to improve. I'm off to the doctors tomorrow morning.
Hope you are ok.
Tampapatient
I've been feeling fine the past few days. Just a quiet weekend here. I can't believe it's February already!! Every year seems to go by faster! I'm glad you enjoy your time at church and lunch afterward! Good luck at the doctor's tomorrow!
Glad to hear that you have felt ok for the past few days, that's good. Does it normally go like that or do you think eating less calcium-rich foods helps?
I feel really stiff today. I saw my doctor about my latest blood results. I think I told you my calcium and PTH are now in the normal range but I have a high ESR (inflammatory/cancer marker) and my doctor said she still thinks I also have polymyalgia rheumatica, diagnosed by my Rheumatologist before she found the high calcium and also diagnosed PHPT. I also have a low serum albumin which my other GP said means I need to eat more protein. I am considering emailing Dr Norman to ask his advice, he's normally good at answering.
Tomorrow morning going to get a mould done for my new hearing aid which doesn't fit and hurts my ear!
I know what you mean about the time going fast - I can't believe it's already February. Luckily we have escaped snow so far but it's getting colder.
I really hope you continue to feel better over the next few days.
Mind how you go. Off to drink my tea now!
Tampapatient
I think I'm feeling better because the allergens that trigger my allergies are lower right now. I still always feel tired. I don't really eat too many calcium rich foods. I eat yogurt or have a glass of milk or milk in my cereal. I'm sorry that you're feeling sore and stiff!*hugs* I'm sure Dr. Norman will be able to help. We get a lot of snow and ice here unfortunately! Winter isn't always good for my mood. I do eating soups and drinking hot chocolate though.
Thank you for the 'hugs' - and back to you!
My doctor thought it was a good idea to ask Dr Norman about my ESR so I will email him tomorrow.
Be careful in the snow and Ice, as we have bone loss we need to be more careful about falling over. It's a bit hilly where I live and so I have to take care. Winter isn't good for most people's mood (unless they like skiiing)! Sounds like you suffer from SAD, (Seasonal Affective Disorder) - I think I do a bit too, I just love the sun and heat makes me feel so much better! Every night I take a hot water bottle to bed for my aches and pains as I find it helps.
My naughty newly-adopted cat brought another mouse into my porch last night! Luckily it was all in one piece and he couldn't find it among the boots and shoes there. I caught it in my humane trap and this time I released it in the bottom far corner of my back garden so I think I foiled him finding it again this time. The little monkey! That must be what he gets up to when he disappears for hours at a time! I have never had a cat before so interested in mice.
Anyway hope you have a good day tomorrow. I just can't wait for the Spring - not too long to go now.
Oh by the way, I saw a programme on tv tonight regarding sink holes in Florida and when I came to Tampa for my op and latterly stayed in Fort Myers, there was a restaurant we used to go to sometimes for dinner called Nervous Nellies on the sea front and apparently they had a sink hole there in 2011 ! Glad we missed it!
We just heard today that a sink hole appeared in an area about 10 miles from where we live in England and were amazed to hear about it, it's near where we go shopping sometimes. A large hole just opened up right outside someone's house and swallowed up their car! Luckily no-one was hurt!
I was going to ask you - I saw your hand photos recently when I 'got lost' on the pc - is that caused by your allergies? I just wondered. I found before I had my op the PHPT caused me quite a few skin problems but they have magically all cleared up now.
Keep well and have a nice day tomorrow,
Tampapatient
No unfortunately summer is even worse for my allergies due to pollen, mold, grasses and humidity. (humidity makes my asthma worse so does cold air) The asthma educator said my lungs are hyper sensitive now so there will be more things that trigger it. I always felt out of breath running around as a kid. I think that was undiagnosed asthma.
I've had a heart murmur since I was a baby. The tests just show that I have 1% mitral valve regurgitation which means that a little bit of the blood leaks out. I hope it never gets worse. One of the blood pressure medications that I take is helpful for my tachycardia. My heart used to speed out of control even at rest or with minimal exertion. It still does sometimes but I think it's due to my asthma medications and caffeine. I get palpitations sometimes where it's like my heart is quivering or flopping around. They go away if I rest. I get chest pain once in a while but it always goes away. The stress test and echocardiogram just showed a fast heart rate and the murmur.
I hope you have more energy tomorrow. I used to be more of a night owl but because of my boyfriend's work schedule(he works overnight) I go to bed a little earlier so I can get some rest. He sleeps during the day.
Yes, I do have osteopenia so I am very careful about the ice. I walk very slowly and always watch where I'm stepping. It is scary though! I might have SAD a little bit but not severely. I know that I feel better when the sun is shining.
Your cat sounds like quite the character!!!
Sink holes are terrifying! I'm glad that they didn't happen when you were in Florida! Scary that it happened where you go shopping! I'm glad you are ok!
The hand photos were back when I had a really bad fall over the summer! I was running to get across the street before the walk light changed and tripped over a crack in the road! I was running full speed and put my hands out to stop me. I slid along the pavement badly scrapping my left hand. I also scrapped the right hand but not as badly and my knee. My left hand was bleeding and had gravel in it. It took a really long time to heal and was infected for quite a while. I have scars on the palm of my left hand from that fall. The hand pictures were pictures of what it looked like while it was healing.
I hope you have a wonderful night and rest well! Sweet dreams!
The weather is horrible, dull and it's pouring with rain. I was going to meet my friend for coffee this afternoon but have decided not to go out and change it to another day. The cold and wet make me feel worse and I expect it makes you feel worse too.
Sorry to hear you have so many allergies, that must be quite difficult to manage and sorry to hear about your heart murmur. You poor thing (big hug). I had palpitations before my surgery and a fast heart rate but both of those symptoms have gone since my op thank goodness. It's not a nice feeling at all.
That was a very nasty fall you had to your hands, ouch, how awful We have to be so careful. Lucky you didn't break a wrist though what with the osteopenia.
I did email Dr Norman about my high ESR and my doctor still saying she thinks I have polymyalgia and - he said categorically my blood results are perfect (calcium, PTH, Vit D) and to stop worrying about the ESR as it is a "dumb test". He said that I do NOT have polymyalgia and to STOP going to the "dumb doctor" - his words not mine. So therefore he still believes that these bone and muscle aches and pains are a continuing result of the hyperparathyroidism and he did say in an earlier email that these symptoms could take 1-2 years to go away. So I will take his advice and stop going to the doctor! All my doctors have said I cannot take steroids any more anyway which is what they give you for polymyalgia and the steroids caused me lots of problems. I just read somewhere recently that steroids "eat away your insides" - charming! So I don't intend to take them again (unless I'm nearly one foot in the grave)!
Got lots of housework to do now. It's difficult when you are stiff and cannot bend hardly and everything takes 10 times longer as a result (sure you find this too).
I didn't have to get up early this morning and took some painkillers before I got up so felt slightly better and had a better night's sleep but I find it difficult to get to sleep. Would like to say I had "sweet dreams" but oddly I don't dream much and if I do it seems to be just bits of dreams at the moment - I wonder if the calcium is still taking a while to clear from my head/central nervous system. My memory seems to be improving although still not as good yet as it was before thanks to the all the excess calcium I've had in the last 6 years.
Have a nice day and keep well.
Tampapatient