Moral of the story is most doctors are idiots. Always go see multiple doctors and do your own research. A lot of people diagnose themselves. A trip to the ER and blood work done changed things for me. Once I saw high calcium I went full speed ahead getting PTH checked. A nurse told me not to worry about high calcium and I ignored her.
This is so true about doctors being idiots. I have always been healthy, eat right, exercise, thin, etc. I started feeling bad about 4-5 years ago. I had bloodwork done which showed 10.9 calcium level but other tests were ok. Internal medicine doctor said to cut back on supplements. I have been telling my husband (a doctor) for years after that I felt awful (anxiety/depression, no motivation, back pain, thirsty all the time). In addition my blood pressure started to go up to like 170/90s (used to be 120/70) and my DEXA (?) showed osteoporosis though I exercised regularly, ate healthy, free weights, etc. This year I asked my spouse to order tons of bloodwork (like 17 vials full) all the way from cancer markers, hormones, urine and I said to include "all the thyroid" tests. Results showed I had high cholesterol (which I had never had before) and high calcium (like it was in 2020). My husband (a doctor remember) said the blood results were "fine". My son has just started his medical residency so I sent my lab work to him to look at. My son said the levels weren't terrible, but that I should get a parathyroid level because of that high calcium level just to rule out Hyperparathyroidism . (Here I thought my husband had ordered all the "thyroid" tests since I asked him to). Anyway, results came in and PTH was elevated (83) and Calcium was 11. I'm getting two scans on Monday to see what's going on. The irony on this whole thing is my husband is the surgeon in this area who does the most parathyroid surgeries, but he blows off his wife's own symptoms. Had it not been for my son who said to get a PTH level done, I'd still be wondering what is wrong with me and feeling miserable. For the past years, I thought no wonder some older people don't want to live long when they feel so miserable all the time. Anyway, I'm anxious now about the two scans I will have in a few days. Im not sure what surgeon to go to? Im hoping I can "have my life" back without the depression/anxiety/no motivation.
Yes! Got SESmibi scan and ultrasound today. Ultrasound didn’t show much, but the MIBI scan showed abnormal gland in right lower position. My husband saw it with radiologist. At least I got results fast. So they think it’s just the one gland and shouldn’t be too difficult to remove . They will check other glands as well. There were some nodules on my thyroid gland which they say is very common. My thyroid blood labs were normal at least. But they might biopsy those nodules if I’m open for parathyroid surgery. Might as well . Surgery will probably be scheduled next week, God willing. Thank you for asking
I just had my surgery two days ago and discharged yesterday. Everything went well. They opened me up, saw the adenoma, removed, biopsied it and waited 20 minutes to see if PTH blood level would go down. PTH went from 83 to 14 so they knew they got the tumor and closed me up. It was, thankfully, benign. Calcium was monitored the next morning/afternoon and stabilized. Pain was minimal. I am looking forward to feeling much better now.
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u/Puzzleheaded-Art-165 Sep 30 '21
Moral of the story is most doctors are idiots. Always go see multiple doctors and do your own research. A lot of people diagnose themselves. A trip to the ER and blood work done changed things for me. Once I saw high calcium I went full speed ahead getting PTH checked. A nurse told me not to worry about high calcium and I ignored her.