Let's play stump the doctor...
Saw my endocrinologist about my pesky parathyroid and calcium levels today. Darned if my PTH (parathyroid hormone) that he just ran two weeks ago wasn't normal at 49. Whaaaa? Let me get this straight in 2003 - it was 95 (abnormal). In December 2004, it was 60 (normal). In April 2005, it was 122 (high). These are all pre-WLS values. Now...it's 49 which is counterintuitive to what he would have thought. All during this time my calcium level has fluctuated from 10 to 11.4. 10 is barely normal and over that is high.
Jimney Cricket, what is up with that? He said we should just monitor it but his one concern is that my 24 hour urine collection showed calcium in it. Range should be up to 250 units (don't know the measurement) and mine was in the mid to high 300s. That means a risk of kidney stones - oh great! Just what I need.
The most likely cause of parathyroid issues is an adenoma (benign tumor) on one of the four parathyroid glands. It causes more PTH to be given off thereby raising calcium levels to abnormal levels.
But he said, even if they decided to do a scan on the parathyroid gland - with my levels as they are - and if they saw an adenoma - he probably wouldn't want to surgically remove it right now since my levels "aren't that bad" and can fluctate into close to normal range.
Of course, me being a WLS patient complicates things since I won't absorb as much calcium from supplements or food as a non-op.
He looked slightly baffled. But we agreed to continue to monitor this.
He said my bone density scan was within normal limits. Then why did the dang technician tell me I had osteopenia. I wish folks would look at the big picture and give me the right answers.
Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks! I feel better now.
Now, about this darned gallbladder....
So many annoying and pesky medical issues, so little time...
Kathy
Kathy 
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