Parathyroid

[Rudegirl]

Had a call at work from my GP.. She said my vit D is too low & wants a parathyroid test done.. Fortunately I got the results of my Vit D while she was on holiday & stated supplementing straight away.. Thanks for the advice on that one folks!

[Parbrook]

If you have any questions about hyperparathyroidism, the following help forum may be useful.

hyperparathyroid.org.uk

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

Untold numbers of blood draws for parathyroid hormone get spoiled before they can be tested. Many involved do not understand that the sample needs to be rushed from arm to analyser! There are techniques that can reduce the spoilage such as cooling on ice. In general, it is a test that simply cannot be have the blood draw at most GP surgeries.

(Not being an expert in testing, there might be differences between one laboratory and another. Ask before you arrange your blood draw.)

[Rudegirl in reply to helvella]

Taken me 10 months to almost understand hypothyroidism.. I don't know what parathyroid is, just know it involves Vit d & calcium..

[gabkad in reply to helvella]

Thanks for that Rod. But it still doesn't explain why mine was below range every time (one time taken at the children's hospital of eastern ontario so I'm assuming it was a rush order. I wasn't even on vitamin D at the time. And white as a ghost. I just figured I won't get osteoporosis....ha, who knows.)

[Jo5454 in reply to helvella]

Hi helvella, I've recently had a hometest NHS vitamin d test which was in the deficient range. I've requested a calcium test and was kindly suggested on here and also given a parathyroid test. Does your above info mean parathyroid results potentially come back lower than they should be please? ( am waiting for all my results and presume if calcium comes back okay, then parathyroid will too? ) Thank you...And thank you Rudegirl as all this info has been really helpful as my result was nearly the same as yours...hope you soon see some positive results.

[Rudegirl in reply to Jo5454]

I'm actually feeling good right now.. Just a bummer when u think on you're getting there... Hope all goes well for u too!

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Jo5454]

I'd rather hope that a spoiled sample would be recognised as such and not tested. You'd really need a proper lab biochemist to answer though - it is a good question.

[Panda_26]

Rudegirl , I have hypoparathyroidism ( low calcium) prob caused by damage to the small glands( parathyroids) that are beside thyroid when I had TT. Have you had similar thyroid surgery ? It could be the reason. I'm on alpha calcidrol which is a form of vit d to assist bringing my calcium levels up.

I'm sure all will be explained to you by docs or check out hyperparathyroid .org as suggested above, there's lots of info on there.

[Rudegirl in reply to Panda_26]

Thanks for that .. But I've never had surgery, I was diagnosed hypo 10 months ago.. First time this has been mentioned!

[annie-7 in reply to Rudegirl]

If it's any consolation, I've just had to have parathyroid test, I also have low vitamin D. It sent me into a bit of a spin, only just got my head around Hypothyroidism!

[Rudegirl in reply to annie-7]

Yeh me too.. Thought I was on the road to sort myself out & now this.. Suggestion of surgery is from in me out.. :-0

[Rudegirl in reply to Rudegirl]

Freekin me out!

[annie-7 in reply to Rudegirl]

I think if your blood calcium levels are ok (not too high or low) then it's unlikely that there is anything wrong with your parathyroids. It's still scary though!

[Clutter in reply to Rudegirl]

Rudegirl, parathyroids are 4 small glands near the thyroid gland. They regulate calcium levels.

labtestsonline.org/understa...

Hypoparathyroidism, low calcium, is usually caused by damage or bruising during thyroid surgery. I think it is pretty much unknown outside of that.

parathyroid.com./hypoparath...

Hyperparathyroidism causes too much calcium to be produced, usually because of a benign tumour on one or more of the parathyroid glands and surgery is needed to remove it/them.

parathyroid.com/

[Rudegirl in reply to Clutter]

My boyfriends aunt had surgery because her teeth were falling out.. She was neither hypo, hyper or anything else.. Strange thing is this wee thing in our necks, that causes us such grief ..

[Clutter in reply to Rudegirl]

Rudegirl, Her teeth were probably falling out falling out because of calcium imbalance

Parathyroids are not related to thyroid, I think they are so named because of their close proximity to the thyroid gland.

[Panda_26]

Well its only a theory but I only found out recently and its 12 years since my surgery !

The end said the glands could be faulty & not raising my calcium enough .

I'm sure they'll explain to you what's going on in your case .

Good luck

[Barb1949]

My gp told me I am hyperparathyroid last month but she cannot tell me if it is primary or secondary as my blood results were inconclusive. As I am seeing the endo at Dundee in two weeks she has written to him about this. I am originally seeing him for my hypothyroid symptoms and very low B12. She is not treating the B12 but waiting for his input. She has put me on 4000iu Vit D because that was sweeping the floor, along with Iron and Ferritin for which she has given me 420mg Ferrous Fumarate. It seems to me lots of the symptoms of one also apply to the other, such fun. I think I am about to become a regular at the endo clinic!

Barb