Serum parathyroid hormone

[serenfach]

Finally, after a year of the labs refusing to test Vit D, I finally had it tested, and as suspected, it was below the bottom of the scale - 23. So back on tablets and spray, and hopefully my leg muscles will start working again... The lab refusing to test has made me ill...grumble, grumble.

Anyway, the GP tested the parathyroid hormones - any idea why? It was 3.3pmol/L with the range given as 1.60 - 6.90pmol/L so seems OK. I just want to know why he tested this. My calcium was a bit low, goodness knows why as I get through more milk than a new born calf!

So, oh wise ones, any ideas?

[RedApple Administrator]

Congrats to your GP for seeming to understand that there's a relationship between Vit D, Calcium and parathyroids.

This page might help you to make some sense of it 😊 parathyroid.com/low-vitamin...

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

Too much to do justice in a few sentences from someone who doesn't know much, hence try these links:

Hyperparathyroid UK (HPT UK)

hyperparathyroiduk.com/

Parathyroid UK

parathyroiduk.org/

A bit thin but better than I remembered it!

nhs.uk/conditions/hyperpara...

[SlowDragon Administrator]

calcium will always be low when vitamin D is low

It will naturally increase as vitamin D improves

You will need to supplement vitamin D daily forever

No good improving levels then stopping supplements

Aim to maintain at minimum of 80nmol and between 100-125nmol may be better

NHS Guidelines on dose vitamin D required

ouh.nhs.uk/osteoporosis/use...

GP will often only prescribe to bring vitamin D levels to 50nmol.

Some areas will prescribe to bring levels to 75nmol or even 80nmol

leedsformulary.nhs.uk/docs/...

GP should advise on self supplementing if over 50nmol, but under 75nmol (but they rarely do)

mm.wirral.nhs.uk/document_u...

But with Hashimoto’s, improving to around 80nmol or 100nmol by self supplementing may be better

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/218...

vitamindsociety.org/pdf/Vit...

Once you Improve level, very likely you will need on going maintenance dose to keep it there.

Test twice yearly when supplementing

Can test via NHS private testing service

vitamindtest.org.uk

Vitamin D mouth spray by Better You is very effective as it avoids poor gut function.

There’s a version made that also contains vitamin K2 Mk7.

One spray = 1000iu

amazon.co.uk/BetterYou-Dlux...

It’s trial and error what dose we need, with thyroid issues we frequently need higher dose than average

Vitamin D may prevent Autoimmune disease

newscientist.com/article/23...

Web links about taking important cofactors - magnesium and Vit K2-MK7

Magnesium best taken in the afternoon or evening, but must be four hours away from levothyroxine

betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...

medicalnewstoday.com/articl...

livescience.com/61866-magne...

sciencedaily.com/releases/2...

Recipe ideas

bbc.co.uk/food/articles/mag...

Interesting article by Dr Malcolm Kendrick on magnesium

drmalcolmkendrick.org/categ...

Vitamin K2 mk7

betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...

healthline.com/nutrition/vi...

[Sparklingsunshine]

They should test calcium, vit D and parathyroid together. I had high parathyroid levels a couple of years ago, but with in range vitamin D but slightly low calcium. Often low or hypo parathyroid levels go hand in hand with low calcium or low vitamin D. I dont eat much dairy so calcium can be low.

Conversely hyperparathyroidism can be caused by high levels of calcium. When mine was tested again calcium had risen to normal levels and parathyroid levels had come into range. Sometimes you can have a parathyroid gland (s) that doesnt work or goes into overdrive or can have a benign tumour. Obviously neither too low or too high levels are desirable.

The body tries to maintain safe levels by drawing more calcium and vitamin D from bones. Sometimes you can have kidney problems that can cause parathyroid issues and sometimes parathyroid problems occur secondary to another issue.

[serenfach]

Thank you so much! Lots of stuff to read and absorb. I ran out of spray in the middle of lambing and forgot all about it as my brain tends to go to mush at that time. GP has written a prescription for Vit D (calci something) but will add this to the spray to protect my arteries.

[PRJ20 in reply to serenfach]

Would it by any chance be Cholecalciferol?

That's what I'm on for life...for the second time! (GP forgot the first time he said that's what I needed) due to consistently low (like very low) Vit D levels.