I am a 33 year old woman with Hyperparathyroidism, diagnosed at the age of 30.
Normal blood test routine showed high levels of calcium which with hyperparathyroidism, causes high levels of parathyroid hormone and usually low vitamin D levels. This was my first blood test routine. It is very important to take blood test regularly, but, more importantly have your results carefully inspected by a professional.
Some people may think that having high levels of calcium is good for the body. Unfortunately it is not true! I had done several scans of the neck to find the gland and after several tries I eventually went up to Italy to do another scan, and there it was!
Some people present with symptoms but in my case I never had any symptoms that I know of. I do however have weaker bones compared to someone my age, something which a bone density scan confirmed.
This disease is only cured by surgery, so hopefully I will experience a difference after the surgery. This disease can damage your body slowly and it also leads to osteoporosis and other medical conditions if not taken care of.
What Exactly Is Hyperparathyroidism?
Hyperparathyroidism is when your parathyroid glands create too much parathyroid hormone in the bloodstream. These glands, located behind the thyroid at the bottom of your neck, are about the size of a grain of rice. The parathyroid glands produce parathyroid hormone. This hormone helps maintain an appropriate balance of calcium in the bloodstream and in tissues that depend on calcium for proper functioning.
Two types of hyperparathyroidism exist. In primary hyperparathyroidism, an enlargement of one or more of the parathyroid glands causes overproduction of the hormone. This causes high calcium levels in the blood, which can cause a variety of health problems. Surgery is the most common treatment for primary hyperparathyroidism.
Secondary hyperparathyroidism occurs due to another disease that first causes low calcium levels in the body. Over time, increased parathyroid hormone levels occur.
Hyperparathyroidism is often diagnosed before signs or symptoms of the disorder are apparent. When symptoms do occur, they’re the result of damage or dysfunction in other organs or tissues due to high calcium levels in the blood and urine or too little calcium in bones.
Symptoms may be so mild and nonspecific that they don’t seem related to parathyroid function, or they may be severe. The range of signs and symptoms include:
- Osteoporosis
- Kidney stones
- Excessive urination
- Abdominal pain
- Tiring easily or weakness
- Depression or forgetfulness
- Bone and joint pain
- Frequent complaints of illness with no apparent cause
- Nausea, vomiting or loss of appetite
One final piece of advice based on my own experience…check your calcium.
More information on HyperParaThyroidism can be found at MayoClinic.org
