Do I need surgery if I don't have symptoms? I am a 65 year old woman who was recently diagnosed with primary hyperparathyroidism. My calcium and PTH levels are both high. I have osteoporosis, but have not had any fractures, and otherwise I am very healthy. I don't have any of the symptoms that other people report. If I feel pretty good overall, do I really need the operation?

After parathyroid surgery, my thyroid became overactive. Was this caused by the parathyroid surgery?

Over the last few years my calcium levels have been a little low, between 8.8 and 9.1 mg/dl. My PTH levels have been very high, up to 200 pg/ml. I had a gastric bypass 7 years ago, and one doctor told me that the PTH was a result of that. Another doctor told me that I have primary hyperparathyroidism and need surgery to remove a parathyroid tumor. Do I have primary hyperparathyroidism? Do I need surgery?

Hi Dr. Boone, I had 3 glands removed earlier this year. My question is do I have to worry about my 4th gland? Do they ever go bad over time? Is the way to put my mind at ease to keep checking calcium and PTH levels, and not worry unless they both go high? But I'm taking vitamin D, which will lower my PTH result, right?

For personal reasons, I cannot have parathyroid surgery until next year. How often should I get my labs checked during that time to make sure that the disease isn't getting worse?

I have been on lithium for bipolar disease for over 20 years. Recently I was diagnosed with high calcium. One doctor says the high calcium is just a result of the lithium, while another thinks I have primary hyperparathyroidism. Which is it?

Do you need to correct your calcium based on albumin levels? My doctor told me that my high calcium level was actually normal once he corrected for albumin.

Why don’t you use intraoperative PTH? Another surgeon I saw said that he uses intraoperative PTH (ioPTH) to confirm that the patient is cured. You said that you do not use ioPTH. Why is that?

I have been feeling awful for the last 6 months. I'm 60 years old but feel like 90. I'm tired all the time, even after a nap (and I never needed naps before). The only abnormality I have on labs is a calcium level of 10.4 mg/dl, but my doctor tells me that this isn't high enough to cause symptoms. I don't have any other explanation. Could this cause my symptoms?

Hello! I'm planning on getting my Covid-19 vaccine before surgery but I'm a little nervous because I already have lots of symptoms from hypercalcemia like fatigue, gastritis, constipation, bloating and heart palpitations. My immune system appears fine on cbc tests though. Should I expect my symptoms to get tremendously worse in combination with the vaccine temporal symptoms or most patients report is bearable? Thank you!

Over the last 5 months my calcium levels have been above 10.0 mg/dl, up to 10.3 mg/dl. My doctor tells me this is normal. I'm 75 years old, and my calcium levels before this were always between 9.1 and 9.7 mg/dl. Why is my calcium rising?

Can I have surgery with a negative scan? I was diagnosed with primary hyperparathyroidism last year, but no one can seem to find a parathyroid tumor. I have had two sestamibi scans, a CT, and ultrasound but they were all negative. My surgeon says he will not operate until something is seen on the scan. I am having bad bone pain and want to get this done. How can we find this parathyroid?

Will having parathyroid surgery affect my thyroid? My thyroid function is normal, but I know someone who became hypothyroid after parathyroid surgery.

I have had high calcium levels for over 30 years, but have never been diagnosed with parathyroid disease. I’ve never had any health problems. Do I have primary hyperparathyroidism?

When can I expect to feel better after surgery? I’ve been feeling terrible.

Do you have any thoughts on why there are so many varying opinions on what lab values actually confirm a diagnosis? For example many very well respected experienced surgeons and endocrinologists correct calcium for albumin even when it’s not low. This can bring a high calcium down to normal or even low and possibly miss a diagnosis.

What is Parathyroid Disease?

My doctors can't figure out what is going on with me. My calcium levels have been between 9.8 and 10.5 mg/dl over the last year. My PTH was 25 pg/ml. My Vitamin D was 89 ng/ml. I was diagnosed with a Vitamin D deficiency years ago so I have been taking 5000 units of Vitamin D daily since then. My doctor isn't sure if I have a parathyroid tumor or not. I've been feeling all of the symptoms of parathyroid disease and think this is what is wrong. What do you think?

Hi Dr. Boone. I have recently been diagnosed with Vitamin D deficiency and have had a lot of symptoms. I am 34 years old and my Vit D level is 21 ng/ml, PTH 52 pg/ml, Calcium range from 9.8-10.2 mg/dl. Back in 2021 my Calcium level was 9 even. Is this a cause for concern or possibly just Vit D deficiency?

Will I need to take medications after parathyroid surgery?

Can celiac disease cause hyperparathyroidism?

Regarding surgery, many swear by intraoperative PTH while others say no. As a patient it would seem that having a confirmed appropriately lowered PTH while the patient is still in the OR would make more sense than waiting until they are in the recovery room. Can a surgeon really just look at a parathyroid gland and tell it’s abnormal even when it’s just at the beginning stages?

I've had high calcium levels for the last four years. Over the last six months I have started having more frequent headaches and body aches. Sometimes I feel really tired even when getting lots of sleep. I think these symptoms may be due to parathyroid disease, but on other days I feel just fine, so I think they may be caused by something else. Can symptoms of parathyroid disease come and go like this?

Is it safe to wait for surgery? I was diagnosed with primary hyperparathyroidism and told that I need surgery. Unfortunately I cannot get the operation done this month. Is it safe to delay the operation for a few months?

Is a parathyroid surgery out-patient? What is the recovery time? What are the risks?

Hi Dr. Boone, Can hyperparathyroidism cause MGUS? If so, are you aware of any patients whose MGUS healed after parathyroidectomy? Thank you.

My calcium is 11.9 mg/dl. Ionized calcium is 5.7. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is 65. Random urine calcium is 11.9. I have an overwhelming overall discomfort/pain. It’s so bad I can’t work anymore. Do I have hyperparathyroidism? I am 62 years old.

I recently had a very painful kidney stone and want to prevent that from ever happening again. I read that primary hyperparathyroidism can cause kidney stones. How can I figure out if that is what is going on?

I had parathyroid surgery three days ago. I felt great until yesterday, when I started noticing tingling in my hands. Today I feel weak and jittery, like I'm buzzing all over. I have been taking calcium. What is going on?

I have been having difficulty swallowing, along with a soreness and tightness in my neck. I can also feel a lump in my neck. I had a thyroid ultrasound, which showed a possible thyroid nodule vs. parathyroid adenoma. Could I be feeling the parathyroid adenoma?

This question is regarding Direct Visualization of all 4 parathyroids versus radioguided parathyroidectomy. When directly visualizing the 4 parathyroids, is it easy to tell a normal gland versus a hyperactive gland? I'm sure it is easy to tell if one is grossly enlarged but if it is going abnormal (producing too much PTH) but not yet enlarged, can that be seen or can it only detected by the radioactivity? If 2 of the glands are abnormal or will become abnormal, do they usually become abnormal at the same time? The reason I ask this question is that I see you worked at the Norman Parathyroid Center who uses the radioguided method while you prefer the direct visualization method. Do you still run a sestamibi scan before each surgery but simply don't take a sample of each gland to test individually for radioactivity? Is it just a difference in your views on sampling via visual and being able to tell by size or texture or other feature rather than radioactivity and consequential exposure for patients? Since 20% have more than one gland hyperactive, I'm wondering how certain the visualization is or if in certain cases you do test. I see your method is different now from what you did at Norman Center and just wondered why you changed.

Hi! Is there any food you have to avoid if you have high calcium and high parathyroid levels?

I am a 31 year old female and my calcium level just came back at 10.4. My albumin and chloride were also slightly elevated. Should I be worried about parathyroid or what next steps should I take as precaution? I'm on 5000 units daily of Vitamin D3.

The local endocrinologist diagnosed me with primary hyperthyroidism. Ultrasound showed a 22 mm thyroid nodule. Should I have a FNA prior to having a surgical evaluation at your center? My calcium is 10.6 mg/dl and PTH 116 pg/ml.

I've just been told that I have a parathyroid tumor. Cancer runs in my family. Could this tumor be cancerous?

My teenage daughter was recently found to have a calcium of 10.5 mg/dl. The lab says this is high, and her doctor says that she probably needs surgery to remove a parathyroid tumor. What do you think?

I had a recent CT scan of parathyroid that was reported normal. I was put on low calcium diet for next 2 months then repeat tests. Can CTs be false negative & can diet change results and help confirm need for surgery or is it a waste of time? Seems surgery is needed now? Thank you from Ontario, Canada. Calcium is 2.83 mmol/L (11.3 mg/dl) and PTH 14.2 pmol/L (134 pg/ml). I am 68 years old.

I have both high pth (140) and high calcium (10.4). A Scan of my parathyroid glands showed normal. What should I do to lower these?

I had parathyroid surgery four days ago. I had some tingling yesterday and took extra calcium, and that has resolved. My issue is that I'm having loose stools and abdominal cramping. Do you know what is causing this?

What are the most common symptoms of primary hyperparathyroidism?

Does parathyroid disease run in families? I just had parathyroid surgery. Do I need to have my kids check their calcium levels?

I had a parathyroid tumor removed three weeks ago. I feel fine, but my surgical site is concerning me. At the incision site, the skin is red and bumpy, and feels hard. There isn't much swelling, and it doesn't hurt, but it really doesn't look good. What can I do?

Did lithium cause my parathyroid disease? Many years ago, I took lithium for several months. Recently I was diagnosed with primary hyperparathyroidism. Is the lithium to blame?

Do I need to take Vitamin D? My latest calcium was 10.7 mg/dl and PTH 60 pg/ml. My doctor is very concerned about my Vitamin D of 15 ng/ml, and says that I should get my Vitamin D level up with supplementation before undergoing parathyroid surgery. Someone else said I should not take Vitamin D. Should I take it? (I am 50 years old.)

Hello Dr. Boone, I have low vitamin D 25 (19), high vitamins D 1-25 (79), high end of normal calcium (high 9’s), and PTH typically in the high 40’s (same blood draw). I am a 42 years old. I also have calcium phosphate kidney stones. However, due to all of my labs being “normal” other than vitamin D, I have been told I do not have hyperparathyroidism. Can low vitamin D mask the disease? Vit. D supplements make me terribly sick from and I develop stroke symptoms when taking. Therefore, I stopped taking the recommended vitamin D. Without taking the vit d I feel significantly better. Any help is appreciated. Thank you.

What causes primary hyperparathyroidism?

My calcium is always noted to be “high-normal” but doctors are not concerned. Could I have parathyroid disease?

I have had hypothyroidism for many years. Recently I was diagnosed with hyperparathyroidism. Are these related?

Why do you look at all four parathyroid glands during the operation? Doesn’t that pose a risk to the glands?

I had parathyroid surgery last year. I am still on calcium and Vitamin D supplements but wondering if I can stop. My calcium has been normal. When can I stop the calcium?

I had surgery two days ago. The area around my incision is extremely itchy. The skin is red and bumpy around it. I feel fine otherwise, but can't take this itchiness any more! What should I do?

I'm in my early 50s. My calcium has fluctuated between 10.1 and 10.5 over the past two years. My PTH was high normal until this past winter. Now it's above normal in the 90s. My vitamin D has stayed around 29. I am delaying surgery due to Covid and finances. My endocrinologist told me to take 2000 IU of vitamin D daily to lower my PTH. Does supplementing with vitamin D lower PTH and is it safe with hyperparathyroidism? I do know that when I've taken D I feel very tired the next day.

For those with primary hyperparathyroidism, are the symptoms of a parathyroid tumor different from hyperplasia?

I was just told that my PTH is 90 pg/ml (normal up to 65 pg/ml). Does this mean I have parathyroid disease?

Is this primary hyperparathyroidism? Over the last year my calcium levels have been: 10.5, 10.9, and 10.6 mg/dl. My PTH was 57 pg/ml. I'm 75 years old. My physician said that my PTH is normal and so this cannot be primary hyperparathyroidism.

I had parathyroid surgery one week ago. My fatigue has improved, but I've been getting daily cramps in my legs. Is this low calcium? What should I do?

Hi there. I am 56, diagnosed with osteoporosis in 2019 to the tune of -3.5. Initially I ruled out parathyroid disease.....sent my labs to Norman Clinic etc. They said they thought it was unlikely. My question is: Does a DXA showing that my forearm is worse than my spine or femeral neck indicate that there could still be a parathyroid issue? During the course of getting a bunch of labs, I did ask for a right arm dxa.....and it was indeed, worse than the other locations. I have been treating with Tymlos for two years.....with not much improvement so thinking of trying a new med (Evenity) but still have this question in the back of my mind if the osteoporosis could be the result of a parathyroid issue. My calcium before Tymlos was 9.7 mg/dl and PTH ranges from 24 to 50 pg/ml. Any insight? Thanks!

Two of my sisters and I all have been diagnosed with primary hyperparathyroidism. I had parathyroid surgery at age 55 (two parathyroid tumors removed), my younger sister at age 58 (three parathyroids removed) and we are realizing my older sister has had it for years. We are now all mid 60's, early 70's. My younger sister who had 3 removed still has issues with the remaining gland...she doesn't know what to do. I believe we probably do have a genetic link and years ago I was told that my ovarian/uterine very early stage cancer at 43 could also be connected to some kind of genetic link to the parathyroid issue...is this the MEN 1 gene and if so where do you go to get tested for that?

Why do you not use the radioguided technique?

I believe I've had primary hyperparathyroidism for at least 12 years. I am 73. I also have low Vitamin D in the 26 range. Twice over the years and currently I've been prescribed high doses of vitamin D which does raise my Vitamin D level to 40 ng/ml or within normal range, but each time it also raises my PTH. I was given 50,000 IU of D weekly for 2 months and my PTH went up to 140 pg/ml, not down. I'm now on 4,000 daily of Vitamin D and my PTH has gone up to 174.2-147.4. Why would my Vitamin D going up also cause my PTH to go up? My Calcium stays consistent at 10.2-10.5 mg/dl.

What type of doctor do I need to diagnose primary hyperparathyroidism?

I am set to have surgery for primary hyperparathyroidism in the near future. So far testing has not been able to detect the location of a hyperparathyroid tumor. I have been told that during the exploratory surgery if the parathyroid glands cannot be located, my thyroid will be removed in an attempt to lower calcium levels. I was also told that if a tumor appeared in the future additional surgery would be necessary. I would like to know if the removal of a thyroid is the normal course of action when parathyroid glands cannot be located.

Can excess parathyroid hormone cause loss of energy?

Why would my serum calcium be high but Ionized calcium low? Does low ionized calcium mean no parathyroid issue? Should I follow-up or wait for next year annual blood work? I'm 66 years old. Recent blood work showed: Serum Calcium: 10.5 mg/dl Follow-up 1 week later (non-fasting): Ionized Calcium = 1.08 Vit D = 32 ng/ml PTH = 37.8 pg/ml

I’m 67 and my Calcium is at 10.4. I’m breast cancer survivor 20 years. What should I do?

My blood report reads: Calcium 10.4, PTH 85.3, Vitamin D is 58.5, Albumin 5, Calcium Ionized 5.19. I am 58 years old. I have stopped taking 5000mg of Vitamin D, tho my doctor said I should have an MRI to see which thyroid needs to be removed. Does this make sense? Thank you very much.

We are concerned that I have primary hyperparathyroidism. My calcium levels have been moderately high since 2019. I also began having high blood pressure, vitamin D deficiency, and became diabetic around the same time. I am 52 and since July of this year, my calcium has been 10.9, 11.6, and 10.9 mg/dl. The last two readings were two days apart and my doctor ordered tests for ionized calcium (5.5, but at the highest point of normal) and PTH intact as well. PTH was 33 pg/ml. Vitamin D 25-OH is 32 ng/ml. Many things I read comment on high PTH levels or low, but this confuses me. I have taken my total exhaustion for the last few years as just the 5 kids, but I have literally almost no energy whatsoever and I started having migraines in July pretty regularly. Is my gut feeling that it requires surgery the right way to go? I ask, because my doctor never said anything about my calcium levels over the last few years and it has been 10.4 or higher since 2019. It was only after it hit 11 that she wanted me to take extra tests.

My confusion seems to be increasing. Could this be due to my having hyperparathyroidism?

I'm an adult female and have had elevated serum calcium for a few years ranging from 10.4 - 10.8 (mg/dl), however my ionized calcium from the same blood draws has been either normal or only the slightest bit above normal. My PTH ranges from normal to in the 80s (pg/ml). Which calcium is more accurate in my case - the serum total or the ionized? All other serum values are normal (metabolic, phosphorus, D.) Thank you!

Primary Parathyroid issue since 2016. Endocrinologist wants me to take Sensipar. I have osteoporosis on wrist on dexa scan. I am debating what is the best option for me as I got told that I might have all 4 glands involved. On scan it looks like left upper one but images are not great. In past I follow Mayo clinic and just wait and watch game. Do you have any advice for me? I am from Iowa. My calcium level is not high but in range of 10-10.5 mg/dl, Vitamin D is always low. PTH between 80 to 129 pg/ml. I am 75 years old.

My calcium is 10.5 mg/dl, my PTH is 53 pg/ml, my Vit D 25-hydroxy is 21 ng/ml. My doctor wants to start me on Vitamin D daily. Everything I’ve read says not to treat the low Vitamin D, if this could be primary hyperparathyroidism. Not sure what to do! How is taking Vit D going to lower my calcium level? I am 47 years old.

Dear Dr. Boone, I reached out to you earlier this year when I suspected I had parathyroid disease. I have just recently been definitely diagnosed. I am presently researching and planning to have the surgery in the near future. The doctor here in Chicago with whom I consulted uses General anesthesia but I have read that others use a "light" anesthesia (with no intubation required). What type of anesthesia do you typically use when you perform your surgeries? Thank you!

I had a parathyroid adenoma removed when I was 37 years old. I am now 73 years old and have been diagnosed with a second parathyroid adenoma (calcium is 10.8 mg/dl and PTH 78 pg/ml) which will require surgery. How common is this and are most doctors aware it can reoccur?

I had my thyroid removed 10 years ago due to cancer (followed by radioactive iodine) and when I contacted the doctors to find out if my parathyroids were also removed, they didn't know. What kind of problems can I expect if they were removed and what can I do? (NOTE: I have had Chronic Fatigue Syndrome since this surgery that is progressively getting worse)

Hello! Thank you for your time! My 22-year-old daughter has had the following calcium levels over the past year: 10.0, 10.4, 9.9, 10.0 and 10.3 mg/dl. She is taking 5000u vitamin D and her last check of Vit d 25-OH level was 60 ng/ml. She has Hashimoto's and takes armour. Her albumin stays around 4.9. Is there any need for concern or need to test her PTH level? Thanks so much!

I have very high urine calcium, 455 then 433 mg/24 hr. Serum calcium level of 10.3 mg/dl and PTH 44 pg/ml. I'm 58 years old. Little bump by jugular vein. Pressure at times behind my thyroid. Do you think it’s primary hyperparathyroidism?

I am 35 yr old female. Recently I just received a slightly elevated calcium result at 10.3 mg/dl. I opted to retest 2 days later, the level dropped to 9.6. Could the higher test be a fluke? The day of the test, I did not drink much water and the test was late in the afternoon. My retake was first thing in the morning with plenty of water. My previous levels are listed below: Oct 2022-9.5 Apr 2023- 9.0 Nov 2023-9.2 Feb 2024- 9.9 Mar 2024 - 10.3 Mar (2 days later) 2024- 9.6 Thanks so much for your input.

Hi I'm a 21 year old male my height is 6'1 and my calcium levels over last three months checked at an interval of 10-15 days have been: 10.5, 10.4, 10.0, 9.6 mg/dl.. I'm worried I might have hyperparathyroidism. My calcium levels hover between 9.6 and 10.5 whenever checked.

I’m a 32 year old female. I have extreme fatigue and mood swings that are abnormal. It prompted me to ask my PCP for blood tests to try and determine cause. My vitamin D 25-hydroxy came back low at 12 ng/ml and my calcium at 10.4 mg/dl. My PCP prescribed me 50,000 iu of D3 once a week for 12 weeks and told me my calcium was low and to find a daily supplement with calcium in it. The more I read online about calcium and vitamin D, I feel like the root cause of my issues are related to parathyroid. I’m also concerned about the recommendation to take calcium when my mychart shows my calcium on the higher side of the bar chart.

Hi Dr. Boone, I am so grateful to have come across your website, it has brought me clarity and understanding in a subject very foreign to me. My question is, my sisters have MEN1, I have a genetic appointment in May for my testing. They all have hyperparathyroidism and have had surgery. My calcium level is 9.8 and my doctor said she corrected it due to albumin. My albumin was normal at 4.6 and my calcium was 9.8, this brought it to a 9.3. she tested my PTH at 43.7. She didn't test my vitamin D because she said she didn't feel she needed to. I have horrible bone pain too, but she said she didn't know that. She is sending me for a pituitary MRI due to high prolactin and vision problems. Why would she correct my CA if it didn't need to be corrected? Thank you so much!

My PTH is high (118 pg/ml), but my calcium is normal at 9.6 mg/dl. My urine calcium 24hr is 207. What would this indicate? Normal? Way weird?

What makes my parathyroid level go up? My PTH is 91 pg/ml.

I have a calcium of 11.1 mg/dl (age 55, female). We still need to order other labs. I have so many symptoms consistent with hyperparathyroidism. A lot of the reading I’ve done seems to say that they don’t do surgery under 12 as it “should” be asymptomatic. Can an 11 level cause symptoms?

I'm a 36 year old woman, and my calcium levels have been trending up for the last 4 years and my health has been in a rapid decline. I now have osteopenia. The fatigue and brain fog is so bad most days I can barely concentrate or function. My recent calcium was 10.5 mg/dl and I haven't had my PTH checked recently but last time it wasn't elevated. I am waiting for new lab orders. Before the increasing calcium the last few years I lived in the low 9s and that is where it seemed to stay (9.2-9.4 mg/dl) and looking at the trend it is now consistently high 9s with the highest being 10.5. I am terrified my health is going to keep declining. Do you do consults for people in my position?

My endocrinologist suspects hyperparathyroid. She just did a blood test of PTH without calcium. It was 22. Is this a normal test and result? I had other labs showing calcium of 10.5 mg/dl and PTH 88 pg/ml. I am 65 years old.

Does parathyroid surgery have to be performed for primary hyperparathyroidism if I don't have any symptoms? Can nutrition or natural medicine correct hyperparathyroidism?

I have been feeling very sick. My PTH intact level is 134.4 pg/ml and my calcium is 11 mg/ld. Also I have blurry vision and just feel really sick.

I had a calcium level of 10.6 and then 10.4 on a recheck a week layer. PTH is 58. I am 56 years old. I will discuss with doctor. He might say it is normal and to monitor. Any thoughts?

During parathyroid surgery for primary hyperparathyroidism (high calcium preoperatively), I was found to have hyperplasia. My calcium is now normal but I have read that patients with hyperplasia have a higher chance of developing recurrent disease. What are the chances that I will get this again?

Three years ago I had a parathyroid tumor removed. I did very well, but recently my PTH has gone up to 85 pg/ml (normal range up to 65 pg/ml). Do I have another parathyroid tumor? My last calcium was 9.1 mg/dl.

My brother is 33 years old. Last year his calcium level was 10.4 mg/dl and this year its 10.3. Should we be concerned since it is above 10? Should we request the doctor to do more lab tests?

Thank you for taking time to answer questions. I had 3 1/2 parathyroids removed six months ago. A month after surgery my PTH was 42 pg/ml, Vitamin D 25-OH was 38 ng/ml, but I’m confused what my calcium was as there were two results on the same day. One calcium level (in the metabolic panel) was 9.7 mg/dl and the other one that was listed with the PTH was 10.2 mg/dl. This confused me, but I felt better than I had in years so I wasn’t worried. However, it didn’t last long. The bone pain, fatigue and brain fog ( to name a few) returned and consistently have gotten worse. I have been taking calcium with vitamin D and magnesium as instructed after surgery. About 3 weeks ago I stopped taking it because the bone pain has gotten worse and I feared my calcium was high again. I am right back to feeling like I did pre surgery. I’m very disappointed and discouraged. My most recent lab results show that my calcium is 10.2 mg/dl. My vitamin D is 23 ng/ml and PTH is 17 pg/ml. I am 53 years old. What would cause my calcium to still be high and my other numbers to be so low? I’m so confused. I should probably mention I have an identical twin sister who has had a parathyroidectomy as well and still doesn’t feel well either, but she had a one sided surgery. Thank you for your time and I look forward to your response.

Should I be taking Vitamin D? I am a 53 year old man. I had parathyroid surgery in 2/2023. Prior to surgery, my calcium levels had been high, 10.1 to 10.9 mg/dl for the previous 3 years. Upon diagnosis I was told to take Vitamin D3 (3000 IU) daily. In 6/2023 I began having neck pain and dizziness. My PTH was measured at 121 pg/ml, with Calcium 10.7 mg/dl. In 10/20/2023 I stopped taking Vitamin D3. In 11/23 I was feeling abnormal. Dysphagia came back, very frequent urination etc. I requested labs as a result and my blood calcium came back as 10.7 and PTH was 53, the lowest in 2 years (since being measured). Yet, I feel worse than ever. Should I resume D3? I just do not know. Thank you.

I am 6 weeks past parathyroid surgery. Prior blood tests showed 12.3 calcium, 425 PTH. One large tumor was removed and the other 3 parathyroids were checked as normal and left in situ. PTH one hour after surgery was 33. Blood test today is 9.3 calcium and 131 PTH. Is it normal for the PTH to fluctuate for awhile? Or, do I need additional calcium or Vitamin D? I am taking 650mg calcium and 25mcg of Vit D daily since surgery.

Hi, last week I learned my calcium level was 10.6 mg/dl, my pth level is 49 pg/ml, vitamin d level 29 ng/ml. My doctor wants me to start taking 1000mg of vitamin d. I’m reading that this is dangerous and most likely it’s parathyroid disease/tumor. Could you help me with this? I’ve never taken calcium or vitamin d. I’m 68 years old.

I just received my test from my bloodwork and wanted to know if I should be worried about a calcium level that was 10.3 mg/dl?

After surgery is done, how many days off do you need to recuperate before one can go back to work?

My blood test showed my calcium at 9.5 but a 24 hour urine test my calcium was 523. Why the difference?

Hi, Dr Boone, Thanks so much for accepting questions! I found you through Lani Simpson's Master Class. My PTH has been between 24 and 44, calcium between 9.1 and 9.5, phosphorus between 3.9 and 4.3 and vitamin D between 47 and 64 over the last 4 years (I've been on vitamin D supps for at least 2 decades). I could dig up numbers from the years before, but I don't think there was ever much difference. Reason I'm asking is that I lost 19% of my forearm bone density over the course of those 4 years (11% at spine, and 1.5% at hip). No gastric bypass, I'm an omnivore, no diarrhea. Kidney function normal. I take only 40mg calcium in the form of bone meal. The reason I take so little is that 2-3 years ago, when I did a 24h urine calcium test while taking 400mg calcium supp a day and DIDN'T stop taking it when doing the test, I was at 301 (whatever the unit is). Then I repeated that test 2 months later, and didn't take any calcium supp, and the result was 205. Both my doctors told me it was unnecessary to take calcium supps in that case. I "compromised" and kept taking 40mg. I just want to cover my bases by making sure whether or not I'm losing so much bone because of my parathyroid, since this affects any kind of treatment plan.

Do you know what causes the parathyroid tumours to grow in the first place? What if the tumour grows back? Do you have to keep getting surgery to remove them?

I have thyroid nodules. One has grown. Do I need a biopsy before having parathyroid surgery? I want all of them removed. Thank you.

I had parathyroid surgery last week - two glands were removed. The biopsy came back as hyperplasia instead of adenoma. My understanding is that if it is hyperplasia, all FOUR glands are affected. My surgeon did find a 3rd gland "lumped in" next to one of the enlarged glands and he originally took it as well, upon further inspection, realized it was not part of the bad gland and appeared normal, so he re-implanted it. He did NOT look at the 4th gland at all. My question is, since the pathology came back as hyperplasia instead of adenoma, will I need another surgery at some point to remove the other gland?

How soon after surgery are calcium and vitamin D levels checked? Who follows the patient after surgery to check calcium/vit-D levels (primary care doctor, endocrinologist, Dr. Boone), and how often and how long should a patient be followed after surgery to check these two levels? Thank you.

I am 69. My calcium levels have run consistently 10.8 range for the past 2 years. It has been 11.9 and 11 as recently as a few days ago. My PTH was 86 in September 2021 but is normal range now. However I feel really bad. Fatigue, difficult concentration, tingling lips, constipation, absolutely no appetite with weight loss, nervous internally and eye sight changes. Could I have parathyroid issues even with a normal PTH? I have seen doctors but they just say they don't know why my calcium is high or what is causing my symptoms. My whole life has changed. I'm desperate for answers and where to find them. Please help.

What does it mean when your Calcium is 10.7 mg/dL and your Albumin is 4.9 g/dL?

Is it common for PTH levels to fluctuate after removal of 1 parathyroid gland? I had surgery and a week later, my PTH was at 96.7. Calcium and Vit D were closer to normal.

Does a high level of calcium cause you to become crazy?

I have been diagnosed with Primary Hyperparathyroidism and Osteoporosis. I had a 4D CT on the parathyroids and it was normal. Do you think a Sestamibi scan or another test will be better for diagnose or should I wait until my next blood check to see if my Vitamin D3 helped. My endocrinologist said I don't need to take calcium supplements and just keep taking the vitamin K and my ENT doctor said I'm not a good candidate for surgery based on the 4D CT results. I will have the surgery If I can get better. What do you think about my tests levels? My calcium is 9.1 mg/dl and PTH 91 pg/ml. Based on your Analysis Tool I have Secondary Hyperparathyroidism not Primary. Can you please help me?

Does anyone who has had this illness have issues falling down? Not losing consciousness but just collapsing and falling due to weak legs.

Others have said that calcium levels do not change with age. Why do you say that they do?

Hi Dr Boone. I have high calcium. Does it mean I have parathyroid disease? Also your website doesn’t mention primary parathyroid disease. Is it by design? Thanks.

How do I know if I have parathyroid disease?

How is parathyroid disease treated?

I just found out on routine bloodwork that my calcium is 12.4 mg/dl. I know I need parathyroid surgery but I won't be able to see the surgeon until next month. Since my calcium is so high, I'm worried that my health is going to deteriorate before I get this operation. How quickly do I need to get this done?

I have all of the symptoms of parathyroid disease. I'm exhausted, can't concentrate, have back pain, can't sleep at night, and just feel awful. I discovered parathyroid disease and it seems to account for all of my symptoms over the last year. My calcium level, though, was normal at 9.8 mg/dl. My doctor checked a PTH and it was 43 ng/ml. She says I don't have parathyroid disease. Could I still have it, even with normal labs?

What is a normal calcium level?

What are the risks of parathyroid surgery?

Are there medications to treat primary hyperparathyroidism?

Last year I was diagnosed with parathyroid disease. My doctor recommended just watching it. Last year my calcium was 10.5, but now it is 9.8 and my doctor says that I don't have parathyroid disease. Does it sometimes go away without treatment?

My calcium level has been high-normal for the last two years. My PTH level is high (85 pg/ml). My doctor says I do not need to be concerned because the calcium is still normal - around 10.2 mg/dl. I'm a 73 year old woman. Do I have parathyroid disease?

I had parathyroid surgery last week, and I'm feeling worse than I did before the operation. I'm exhausted and feel weak. What is wrong with me? My calcium is normal but it seems like the operation did not help.

I have been following my calcium levels for the last few years, and they seem to fluctuate a lot. I read that this could indicate parathyroid disease. My calcium levels over the last four years were as follows: 9.7, 9.2, 9.1, 9.8, 9.9, 9.1. Do you think I have parathyroid disease? I'm a 52 year old man.

I'm really worried about becoming hypOparathyroid after parathyroid surgery. How do you prevent that?

How is parathyroid hyperplasia different from a parathyroid tumor? I had a parathyroid operation for primary hyperparathyroidism and was told that I had hyperplasia. Am I going to have the same benefit from surgery as someone with a tumor?

Is surgery going to help my symptoms? I am exhausted, and just don't feel like myself any more. I have had high calcium levels for the last four years. My doctor recently diagnosed primary hyperparathyroidism but said that I don't need surgery. He doesn't have an explanation for why I feel so bad. My doctor does not think these symptoms are related to the parathyroid, or that parathyroid surgery will help.

My calcium levels have been normal (around 9.5 mg/dl) but my PTH is consistently elevated, between 60 to 80 pg/ml (normal range up to 65 pg/ml). Do I have parathyroid disease?