It is quite common for an endocrinologist to confirm a diagnosis of primary hyperparathyroidism with lab work and then order one or more scans to look for an abnormal gland. It is important to understand that it is not necessary to see an abnormal gland on imaging before an operation to know that you have […]
The history of parathyroid surgery is pretty interesting. It started over a century ago, long before we had the advanced testing we use today. Back then, there was no way to measure parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels—only serum calcium could be tested. Patients often showed up with severe bone disease or kidney stones. Without a PTH […]
Understanding Hypercalcemia: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Hypercalcemia occurs when the level of calcium in the blood is too high—usually above 10.0 mg/dL. Calcium plays a key role in keeping bones strong, helping muscles work, and supporting nerve function. However, too much calcium in the bloodstream can interfere with these systems and lead to serious health […]
Your parathyroid glands help control how much calcium is in your blood and bones. If one or more of these glands makes too much hormone, it’s called hyperparathyroidism. This hormone tells your bones to release calcium into your blood. Over time, your bones can lose too much calcium and become weak. This can lead to […]
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 […]
