Is there a link between Hyperparathyroid disease and inability to absorb B12

[onlythebrave]

I wanted to ask if anyone knew of a link or association between Hyperparathyroid disease and B12/Folate deficiency. I have had my parathyroid tumor removed successfully, but now have many symptoms of B12 deficiency, and wondered if there was a link?

[2FloorLuka]

Have you got your calcium levels checked?

[2FloorLuka in reply to 2FloorLuka]

Calcium imbalance can mimic a myriad of symptoms that overlap b12 deficiency. If it were me, i would check it first. You don't need an autoimmune disease on your plate. You already had enough. Good luck.

[Gambit62 Administrator]

honest truth is that I don't have a clue but suspect, given that the relevant hormone released by the gland controls absorption of calcium I think it is unlikely. Thyroid disease can impact on B12 absorption because thyroid hormones can affect the gut in general, but although thyroid and parathyroid are located in the same area they do control quite different areas of the body ... but there is probably also a lot about how the endocrine system as a whole interacts.

[pramela]

I had mine removed (a very large tumour that took them 18 months to decide on including a report from a London expert!!) and I have had PA since 2003 (wasn't picked up for a year until I was on my knees). Symptoms of hyperparathyroid are very similar to PA so I wasn't believed and had all sorts of tests until they found out.

I have had various things go wrong before removal and after, my gall bladder full of stones you could gravel a path with, teeth crumbling, white spots around my mouth - calcium deposits -, pains in my left arm bones and a double fractured arm (scapula and humerous that took 18 months to heal) all this has "Nothing to do with my hyperparathyroid".

So take it from one who has had both get your B12 levels checked because I think there may be a link. But getting your GP to understand is like banging your head against a wall. I have to take my husband with me as back up every time I see mine about my PA, he talks to him and ignores me. He also tried to stop my injections until a haematologist wrote on a blood test the injections are for life. I also get my husband to stab me once a week to help keep symptoms at bay.

Good luck. xx

[onlythebrave in reply to pramela]

Thank you pramela, It took several wrong diagnoses before they finally confirmed hyper parathyroid problems. After tumor removal, didnt thrive as well as was expecting. Had some blood tests several weeks later, and found my b12 was 275 and my folate was 2.1. (although I had taken B complex for 3 months) I also tested positive with H.Pylori. After treatment for the infection, I started to take supplements to up my B levels. This helped at first, but I couldn't keep myself from bouts of fatigue and tiredness, disturbed vision and some other symptoms The symptoms of Parathyroid and B12 seem to be very similar to me. I have now started self-injecting B12 (after having a few injections by a professional). A few hours after the 4th injection my get up and go returned, but by the next day, I had slumped again, so now I am trying injections every day to see if I can get my get up and go to return for longer, but nothing so far. With GP's not knowing that much about Hyperparathyroid or B12 it is hard to know if I am on the right track with B12, or is the possibility that I have Hyperparathyroid issues again

[Linde19]

I had hyperparathyriod and have had an operation. After operation I was so tired and felt enormous miserable also a lot of other neurological problems and problems with remembering etc. etc.

My GP then finely tested on B12 and found out that it was much to low (108) I was on weekly injections for a year but it did not succeed, then 3 injections a week but still not much progress.

Now I am on daily injections for almost 2 years and now I almost feel as my old me except for neurological symptoms.

I do not know if there is a link between hyperparathyriod and B12 deficiëncy

[onlythebrave]

Thanks for your reply Linda19, Wow daily injections for almost 2 years before you felt your old self! Over that 2 year period what kept you keeping on with the B12 injections, didnt you ever feel maybe this is not what's wrong? maybe its something else the doc has missed(again) What kept you sticking at it? Having asked all that, I am really pleased you made it and feel better, it seems its a long journey

[Polaris]

I'm glad operation was successful but so sorry you now have B12 symptoms. There does appear to be a link, as shown below, but, I'm afraid you may have problems getting a diagnosis :

Dr Joseph Chandy's book, "Vitamin B12 Deficiency in Clinical Practice", generously available to read chapter by chapter free here:

b12d.org/book

Chapter 7 (page 163) -"Autoimmune glandular disorders with special reference to APS and hypoadrenalism (Addison's)", :

Page 165 - Section 1 : "These patients also had other autoimmune glandular conditions such as diabetes, vitiligo, premature ovarian failure, hyper/

hypo parathyroidism and others...."