High calcium

[HughL]

Anyone have high calcium levels due to over active hyperthyroid? So now on low calcium diet.

[WYOAnne NKF Ambassador]

My calcium levels vary. It does seem that it is elevated when I am dehydrated.

[HughL in reply to WYOAnne]

Mine go up, each 6 month lab is higher than the last. Now I take phosphorus to hopefully to bring calcium level down.

[RhenDutchess123]

Are you speaking of overactive Thyroid or Parathyroids ?

[WYOAnne NKF Ambassador in reply to RhenDutchess123]

From what I understand, it's your parathyroid. My nephrologist has told me before that this issue is common with kidney recipients. Don't remember why but could be due to the long-term taking of immunosuppressants.

[TaffyTwoshoes27 in reply to WYOAnne]

I think it's all kidney-challenged patients. I had problems with it while I was on dialysis. I had to take phosphorus binders and cinacalcet while on PD. In other words, I don't think it is an issue for only transplant patients or immunosuppressants.

Thank goodness I don't have to take those phosphorus binders now! Every time I eat a piece of cheese, I think about those huge Tums-like Fosrenol tablets I had to chew. Yuck!!

[HughL in reply to TaffyTwoshoes27]

Thanks

[Alfredmynewkidney]

I had tertiary hyperparathyroidism. From kidney disease. It did not improve after transplant so I had to have 3 of my 4 parathyroid glans removed. Now I have to make sure to take calcium.

[Alfredmynewkidney in reply to Alfredmynewkidney]

It's very common with kidney disease

[Warrior1211 in reply to Alfredmynewkidney]

It happened to me as well. I had one removed in March. PTH was improved slightly but not in the normal range. However, calcium level is back to normal.

[HughL in reply to Warrior1211]

So you had 1 pth gland removed and it didn’t have any other effect on you?

[Denise-80]

My experience is similar to Alfredmynewkidney’s.

[TaffyTwoshoes27]

I have had high calcium pretty much since the transplant: January 2022. I was put on Sensipar or Cinacalcet - a prescription I was on during dialysis. I was on PD.

I do admit that once I had the transplant, I was eating more dairy than I was allowed during dialysis. I had not had milk for about 7 years while on dialysis, and then started eating cereal with milk about every morning after the transplant.

The Cinacalcet has helped to bring the calcium down. It is a 30 mg pill taken once a day.

[HughL]

Thanks for your reply