Parathyroid problems?

I am about 8 months post-op (10/12/05). I am now at 155 lbs down from starting weight of 313 (I am 6ft 2in). I feel great but when I do my blood draws every three months or so at the request of my surgeon, Dr. Coster of Grinnell; they always come back with elevated parathyroid levels (the nurse said 95...which haven't the foggiest what the means). Anybody else have or had these problems? Symptoms, long term effects, etc. Any advice would be great. Thanks in advance.

Wow I cant believe they havent referred you anywhere!! at the request of my doc, Eibes, at one year out I had my first parathyroid drawn. At that time it was in the low 50's. I was in the process of other surgeriees, the tummy tuck, etc, and didnt think much about it. At 2 years out I moved down to another town and have a new PCP. We drew it again, and it was in the 50's again, and since I was not doing any more f/u care much with Grinnell, they had me to go U of I to the Endocrinologist. Basically, I am supposed to be taking Rocaltrol, and extra extra Calcium and Vitamin D. The first year they had me on 50,000 mg of Vitamin D prescription, then 3000 mg of Calcium OTC. at this point I am a bit worried, so it is funny you brought this up. It has been 3 years now since my surgery, and I had not had the parathyroid drawn since last summer, so was doing my yearly physical and had her draw it again. Now it is up to 109!! normal is 0-5 or so!!!! Oh, I forgot to say, last summer, when we first discovered that it was still elevated,my PCP had me do a thyroid ultrasound, etc, and the glands were not swollen. There are few symptoms to hyperparathyroidism, but a main one is fatigue. I did some research on WebMD.com and learned a lot. I am still a bit worried, so she wants me to go back to the Endocrinologist at U of I, but if Coster knows yours is up to 95 and isnt worried, then maybe I shouldnt be worried! I go back to see Stefanie, the new NP at Grinnell, as I am trying to get thigh plasty done and she is helping with that on Thursday of this week. Any other questions, email me, as I have been doing "some" research on it, plus I work in the medical field Judi. 5/15/03 gastric bypass 12/23/04 belt lipectomy with hernia repair and 13 lbs of skin tissue removed and now hopefully thighplasty x 2 this summer (they are doing it in 2 sets, first the inner thighs, then the outer) started at 375, lowest was 200, now back to 250, since I cant exercise due to SERIOUS excess thigh tissue

PTH level normal value is 5-65. Mine is 92. Just had it checked. Last year I was evaluated at Mayo Clinic. Had several scans done and they showed 4 gland hyperplasia. They have no idea why. The endo thought it was from the WLS but it was elevated before I ever had surgery only it wasn't recognized at that time because the normal value was higher (no change in testing procedure only recognized that PTH levels S/B lower). My calcium level has remained normal. I have osteopenia but am on Fosamax and my bone density has increased 18%. From my research, there really aren't any symptoms. Maybe some vague ones but nothing that really stands out. If you haven't been scanned, you should be. If there is a nodule on one of the 4 glands, it's an easy fix. But if it's 4 gland hyperplasia, it's not. The key here is to continue to moniter the PTH level every 6 months or so along with your calcium levels. If you haven't had a bone density, you need to have one. My understanding is that it needs to be a lot higher than what ours are to really cause any problems. I wonder, if years from now when they have more info about the long term effects of WLS, they will find this is a problem. While I'm not a doctor, I don't think you have anything to worry about. Just be vigilant and get your labs done. Lyn

I forgot to address the Vit D issue. Your doc should have you on a trial of D3, a high dose Vit D. If it's a Vit D issue the PTH should come down. Mine actually went up a little while on the Vit D and my Vit D levels have always been good. But then, my body does some really strange things.

Well, I talked to Stefanie, the new PA at Grinnell, and she said 105 wasnt that bad. and you are right, the high limit is a lot higher than I thought. I was loooking at another level on that sheet, that was 0=5,and mine was 11 actually Anyhow, she just said I haev to get on a STEADY routine of Calcium plus D at least 3 times a day minimum (on top of my prenatal multi-vitamin twice daily) to keep that calcium coming in. I have become lactose intolerant in the last 1 year or so, so drinking milk all the time is out! Thats how I got my protein and vitmains after the bypass! I drank milk!! 1% or skim.. but it had protein and stuff in it and vitamins so, I just wanted you to know its all good for me for now. i have had the ultrasound and that was OK. now, I am sure I will have to have a bone density scan sometime soon though if these levels dont come back down though Judi