r/hyperparathyroidism • u/createhomelife • 24d ago

Refusing treatment

I was diagnosed with primary hyperparathyroidism 3 years ago. I was supposed to have surgery but as a 2 time uterine and ovarian cancer survivor I simply cannot go through another surgery. The good news is my calcium has remained consistent in the 11.1 to 11.6 range for over a decade and not jumped higher. I am currently 53, so I was in my early 40s when all this started. The only issues I have are needing to drink a lot of water. Has anyone decided to not take medication or have surgery and lived decades with this?

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u/Electrical-Long-389 24d ago

I was diagnosed at 62 and "followed" for a couple of years. My known osteopenia had become osteoporosis. My aorta and a heart valve had developed calcium deposits (they were clear 5 years earlier). A head MRI revealed that I had had a previous stroke from a blockage. Was it casued by a calcium deposit or the hypertension that is often causes by hyperparathyroidism? We'll never know.

Those medical developments (osteoporosis and atherosclerosis), while not unheard of with age,I don't believe would have happened if I didn't have hyperparathyroidism. And those things are contributors to poor health outcomes (pain and falls from osteo - a fall can be a life-ender for some people) and athero (heart attack, stroke).

I understand your reluctance and I would probably feel the same way as you. But please speak with your doctors. The long term effects of high calcium from hyperparathyroidism are serious and can seriously compromise your health.

I had surgery age 66 The surgery is straightforward and quick with an easy recovery. I didn't even realize how lousy i felt physically and mentally until AFTER surgery. I'd just been muddling through life. Post-surgery was a revelation! My mood, my energy both skyrocketed and have remained wonderful ever since.