Here is a letter I recently received from a patient who had been suffering with typical symptoms of high calcium for about 4 years, with a calcium level that was “only” in the low 10’s. She recently underwent a simple outpatient operation to remove the overactive parathyroid gland and get her calcium and PTH back […]
Did you know that there’s an estimated 1-7 cases of hyperparathyroidism per every 1000 people? The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism reports that “Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is a relatively common endocrine disorder… It is believed to be the most common cause of hypercalcemia, predominantly affecting elderly populations and women two to three times as often as […]
Hyperparathyroidism can steal your quality of life. My mother was diagnosed with hyperparathyroidism 4 years ago and has spiraled downhill since. She was told to stay hydrated and that would control her serum calcium level because she was not a candidate for surgery. As time went on, my (now) 90-year-old mother was slowly losing her […]
Hyperparathyroidism is a disease that is underrecognized, underdiagnosed, and undertreated. It is typically manifest as a slight elevation in your calcium level, and your doctor might even overlook it, maybe not even aware themselves of how big an impact that slight elevation in your calcium level may have. But the truth is, calcium impacts so […]
Does this statement describe your situation? “My calcium level is above the normal range. I asked my doctor and they said it’s nothing to worry about, and we can just keep an eye on it. Is that okay?” Short answer, no, it’s not okay. So why do some doctors not follow up on an elevated […]
