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.
Greetings,
So my endo called today and said that my active vitamin D along with all the other "D:s are all normal. My PTH is still low at 14, but at least it is somewhere. So she wants me to continue with the HCTZ to encourage calcium retention, and to take mega calcium every day since my calcium is still low. I do remain puzzled, though. Why can't I get my calcium up despite having good D levels and taking calcium? Why am I apparently not absorbing the calcium when all sysyems should be making retention a breeze? What about the "jettisoning" process of taking supplemments? I mean, doesn't your body only absorb so much and the rest is given the boot out of the system? Doesn't your body only absorb so much at any given time? Am I supposed to take 400 mg. every 2 haours 24/7? If I take 1,000 mg at a time, isn't alot of it just gotten rid of? This is discouraging. I still get the tingling and my hand still cramps when I take my blood pressure. :-( And, I still feel like I have been beaten with an idiot stick.
Regards, Brenden.
So my endo called today and said that my active vitamin D along with all the other "D:s are all normal. My PTH is still low at 14, but at least it is somewhere. So she wants me to continue with the HCTZ to encourage calcium retention, and to take mega calcium every day since my calcium is still low. I do remain puzzled, though. Why can't I get my calcium up despite having good D levels and taking calcium? Why am I apparently not absorbing the calcium when all sysyems should be making retention a breeze? What about the "jettisoning" process of taking supplemments? I mean, doesn't your body only absorb so much and the rest is given the boot out of the system? Doesn't your body only absorb so much at any given time? Am I supposed to take 400 mg. every 2 haours 24/7? If I take 1,000 mg at a time, isn't alot of it just gotten rid of? This is discouraging. I still get the tingling and my hand still cramps when I take my blood pressure. :-( And, I still feel like I have been beaten with an idiot stick.
Regards, Brenden.
So, it seems to me that you had surgery and are struggling like I was? You body absorbs 500mg of calcium at one time. Which is kind of crazy because surgeons/endo's have you taking doses in the thousands after the whole process. A lot of it isn't really getting pushed out of your body, your bones is absorbing A LOT of it because of the way PTH functions in your body! Hungry Bone Syndrome appears to be what you are facing. The PTH will remain low because you are getting the Calcium you need from supplementing it!
It can be discouraging at times man, trust me, I know! I came out of surgery and felt fine for one day then it was right back to ALL the symptoms plus more! If you ever need to get anything off your chest, let me know! Send me an inbox message and I will share what I know/figured out! I went through the same exact problems and confusions! It may have been worse because I am still a youngin' and had no idea what was happening to my life and my body!
Just remember this: Inwha. It means "everything turns out perfect and beautiful!" Keep pushing and you will make it!
Tyler
Regards, Brenden.
My doctors want me taking 600mg calcium twice a day. But, since my calcium levels are normal and I feel awful when I take both doses, I've switched to just taking a daily multi-vit which has 500mg of calcium.
It took a very long time for my calcium levels to even out and for the cramping and tingling to subside. I still get it from time to time, but not as often or as noticeable. Mostly cramping and muscle spasms in my arms. It was at least 7 months after my surgery before I felt somewhat "normal" again.
I just got my latest labs, and they are at least a little better. The PTH finally came up to 18. My serum calcium is now 9.2. The ionized calcium is still low, but I think it was something like 4.5 with 4.6 being the minimum value. My Vitamin D is 47 which is decent. Hopefully this will continue. I still wish that this surgery had given me the total relief I had hoped for, but at least my blood pressure has leveled out and I only take a fraction of the BP meds I used to.
Regards, Brenden.