Comments for Happily Married Menopausal Mom, with amusing meanderings about my Garden, Marriage, Travel, Food & Chick stuff. http://www.thymeinmygarden.com A reflection of all that is me as a Woman, a Wife, A Lover, a Mom, a friend, a daughter. I will be sharing insights & nonsense, wisdom & whimsy, trials & triumphs of a semi-menopausal, empty nester mom, home chef, work at home entrepreneur, newlywed, blogger, artsey, techie, cat lover, photo freak, wine taster, lover of God. Sun, 15 Apr 2012 21:14:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Comment on How NOT to go to the ER after parathyroid surgery by joe http://www.thymeinmygarden.com/how-not-to-go-to-the-er-parathyroid/comment-page-1/#comment-74964 joe Sun, 15 Apr 2012 21:14:52 +0000 http://www.thymeinmygarden.com/?p=166#comment-74964 I had my surgery 3/22/12. Three weeks + i am still having sever tingling,numbness throughout my body. I can not wear shoes as they bother the bottom of my feet. I awake in the morninings and feel there is nothing important enough to get up for or live for. I live daily with brain fog,confusion,sedated feeling like im wearing a mask giving me nitrous oxide. I can not even have a normal low educated conversation because i cant produce easy words. I have been in the ER twice the same day less then 24 hours after surgery because of the symptoms. I was sent home becuase the doctors and or nurses had not clue why or how these feeling are occuring. The doctor at the second hospital Sacred heart in spokane wash., she said that im having parasethia and continue to take calcium and vit. D. I visited the ER 4/13/12 where they gave me Two IV infusions of calcium. After the first one my calcium became normal after being around 8.2 and 9.6 after. they gave me a second one and sent me home. I felt about 75 percent better as far as the tingling and numbing was concerned. about 24 hrs later im sitting here feeling the worse since the surgery. after the calcium and really during the calcium i felt like i had a lump in my throat making swallowing little uncomfortable. I have been having mid to upper back strain and headaches that dont respond to toradol or any IV pain meds. I can say to everyone that The medicine TORADOL helps covering the symptoms of tingling and numbing as well as most pain. Please becareful becuase TORADOL can be harmful to the kidneys. The worse of the tingling is around my eyes and my head feels like i have a sphere of buzzing around it. My tongue is numb teeth hurt/numb lips numb and when i eat i constantly bite my cheeks,tongue,lips. I really havent been interested in eating because my tatses are very altered, a hamburger as just as much tatse as a piece of toast with butter. I have osteopenia at the age of 39 which is about to within two to three years will become osteoperosis. I actually have osteoperosis in both arms and fortunatlymy hips are still dense enuff to stay out of the range of osteopenia which if you dont know what osteoponiea is, it is the stage prior to osteoperosis. The DR's think that i have been having high calcium levels for over ten years. Which ten years is along time to for the body to get use to functioning on the high levels. The body now has to get use to functioning on normal levels of calcium and just like drug users the body will have to now go through withdrawls until it gets use to the normal levels of calcium as if the body has to function without drugs. The body will go through a time dealing with what is called hungry bone syndrome where the bones of the body will absorbe as much calcium as it can to replace the calcium that was taken over a period of time when the PTH (Parathyroid hormone) is above normal stripping the calcium from the bones. The calcium supplements have to be high in dosage so that there is not only enough for the bones to restore the calcuim but to keep the nervouse system charged with the proper calcium level. The bones will keep sucking in the calcium until happy and then hopefuly the body will become happy is the hopeful theory i have and i hope that my theory is correct. Btw osteoperosis is not reverseable it is simply controlled or can be controlled by meds to stop further density depletion and if you have only osteopenia you can by meds control any further depletion of density which would turn into osteoperosis. Rememer everyone that as gone through the surgery and those who are deciding to nhave surgery, that when calcium levels and PTH are at high levels the only diagnosis surgery. Surgery is the only way to reduce and or have the levels of calcium and the pth back to normal.keeping calcium levels high can cause stroke and heart issues. My DR. gave me 50,000 iu's of vitamin D to reverse the high calcium levels which could have been a death sentence but only produces kidney stones. The kidney stones gave be the sign of death with the pain and discomfort . the pain was so volitule that IV pain and nausea meds barely touched the pain until i was given enough IV pain meds that drifted off to sleep. The only thing from my experience of the surgery would be this, please i mean please choose to have the surgery BUT I MEAN BUT choose and make sure the surgeon is a endocronologist surgeon and that he has you have a nuclear procedure through nuclear medicine called a sestamibi scan to make sure and to locate the parathyroid'(S) causing the issues. Dont have the surgery if they dont use this nuclear scan. I had my surgery 3/22/12. Three weeks + i am still having sever tingling,numbness throughout my body. I can not wear shoes as they bother the bottom of my feet. I awake in the morninings and feel there is nothing important enough to get up for or live for. I live daily with brain fog,confusion,sedated feeling like im wearing a mask giving me nitrous oxide. I can not even have a normal low educated conversation because i cant produce easy words. I have been in the ER twice the same day less then 24 hours after surgery because of the symptoms. I was sent home becuase the doctors and or nurses had not clue why or how these feeling are occuring. The doctor at the second hospital Sacred heart in spokane wash., she said that im having parasethia and continue to take calcium and vit. D. I visited the ER 4/13/12 where they gave me Two IV infusions of calcium. After the first one my calcium became normal after being around 8.2 and 9.6 after. they gave me a second one and sent me home. I felt about 75 percent better as far as the tingling and numbing was concerned. about 24 hrs later im sitting here feeling the worse since the surgery. after the calcium and really during the calcium i felt like i had a lump in my throat making swallowing little uncomfortable. I have been having mid to upper back strain and headaches that dont respond to toradol or any IV pain meds. I can say to everyone that The medicine TORADOL helps covering the symptoms of tingling and numbing as well as most pain. Please becareful becuase TORADOL can be harmful to the kidneys. The worse of the tingling is around my eyes and my head feels like i have a sphere of buzzing around it. My tongue is numb teeth hurt/numb lips numb and when i eat i constantly bite my cheeks,tongue,lips. I really havent been interested in eating because my tatses are very altered, a hamburger as just as much tatse as a piece of toast with butter. I have osteopenia at the age of 39 which is about to within two to three years will become osteoperosis. I actually have osteoperosis in both arms and fortunatlymy hips are still dense enuff to stay out of the range of osteopenia which if you dont know what osteoponiea is, it is the stage prior to osteoperosis. The DR’s think that i have been having high calcium levels for over ten years. Which ten years is along time to for the body to get use to functioning on the high levels. The body now has to get use to functioning on normal levels of calcium and just like drug users the body will have to now go through withdrawls until it gets use to the normal levels of calcium as if the body has to function without drugs. The body will go through a time dealing with what is called hungry bone syndrome where the bones of the body will absorbe as much calcium as it can to replace the calcium that was taken over a period of time when the PTH (Parathyroid hormone) is above normal stripping the calcium from the bones. The calcium supplements have to be high in dosage so that there is not only enough for the bones to restore the calcuim but to keep the nervouse system charged with the proper calcium level. The bones will keep sucking in the calcium until happy and then hopefuly the body will become happy is the hopeful theory i have and i hope that my theory is correct. Btw osteoperosis is not reverseable it is simply controlled or can be controlled by meds to stop further density depletion and if you have only osteopenia you can by meds control any further depletion of density which would turn into osteoperosis. Rememer everyone that as gone through the surgery and those who are deciding to nhave surgery, that when calcium levels and PTH are at high levels the only diagnosis surgery. Surgery is the only way to reduce and or have the levels of calcium and the pth back to normal.keeping calcium levels high can cause stroke and heart issues. My DR. gave me 50,000 iu’s of vitamin D to reverse the high calcium levels which could have been a death sentence but only produces kidney stones. The kidney stones gave be the sign of death with the pain and discomfort . the pain was so volitule that IV pain and nausea meds barely touched the pain until i was given enough IV pain meds that drifted off to sleep. The only thing from my experience of the surgery would be this, please i mean please choose to have the surgery BUT I MEAN BUT choose and make sure the surgeon is a endocronologist surgeon and that he has you have a nuclear procedure through nuclear medicine called a sestamibi scan to make sure and to locate the parathyroid’(S) causing the issues. Dont have the surgery if they dont use this nuclear scan.

]]> Comment on How NOT to go to the ER after parathyroid surgery by Jay Barrett http://www.thymeinmygarden.com/how-not-to-go-to-the-er-parathyroid/comment-page-1/#comment-73363 Jay Barrett Tue, 03 Apr 2012 00:00:56 +0000 http://www.thymeinmygarden.com/?p=166#comment-73363 I had kidney stones (the worse pain), Calcium level of 10.6 and PTH of 140. Had the tests taken 3 more times (over 4 weeks) with 3 other specialist (including the surgeon) and all showed roughly the same numbers. The Dexa Scan for bone density confirmed that I had osteopena. Underwent the surgery in NJ after carefully researching the best doctor who specializes in this. Decided I did not want to use Dr Norman. The operation that was targeted to be 1 hour, took over 5 hours because the 4th parathyroid (the one with the adenoma) was not in my neck and was finally located in my chest cavity. (Surgeon had to cancel 3 scheduled surgeries as a result of being in the operation room for 5 hours with me). The size of that adenoma on the 4th parathyroid was about the size of a grape---enormous, and the largest he has ever seen. I have one functional parathyroid today--that is doing the job. Now two years later, my calcium reading are normal (ranging around 8.6 ot 9.1). The minor tingling in fingers, toes, weekly easily controlled by Vit D & Ca I had kidney stones (the worse pain), Calcium level of 10.6 and PTH of 140. Had the tests taken 3 more times (over 4 weeks) with 3 other specialist (including the surgeon) and all showed roughly the same numbers. The Dexa Scan for bone density confirmed that I had osteopena. Underwent the surgery in NJ after carefully researching the best doctor who specializes in this. Decided I did not want to use Dr Norman. The operation that was targeted to be 1 hour, took over 5 hours because the 4th parathyroid (the one with the adenoma) was not in my neck and was finally located in my chest cavity. (Surgeon had to cancel 3 scheduled surgeries as a result of being in the operation room for 5 hours with me). The size of that adenoma on the 4th parathyroid was about the size of a grape—enormous, and the largest he has ever seen. I have one functional parathyroid today–that is doing the job. Now two years later, my calcium reading are normal (ranging around 8.6 ot 9.1). The minor tingling in fingers, toes, weekly easily controlled by Vit D & Ca

]]> Comment on How NOT to go to the ER after parathyroid surgery by firebird56 http://www.thymeinmygarden.com/how-not-to-go-to-the-er-parathyroid/comment-page-1/#comment-70034 firebird56 Tue, 06 Mar 2012 04:07:53 +0000 http://www.thymeinmygarden.com/?p=166#comment-70034 @Tess I do hope this finds you much improved by now. A large number of PTx patients, as well as several waiting for parathyroidectomies, share a great deal of their lab #'s, symptoms, & post-op recovery experiences at a FB page. Also on this page can be found a list of highly experienced surgeons, listed by state/city. It has been compiled over the last two years based on poster's own recommendations/personal experiences with each of these surgeons. Please feel free to go to the link, click "like" and begin posting with many who post daily. If links are still disallowed & it does not appear below, you may email this address to receive information on the link. angelia56@cox.net http://www.facebook.com/pages/Parathyroid-Disease-Support-Awareness/109955205759331?sk=wall @Tess I do hope this finds you much improved by now. A large number of PTx patients, as well as several waiting for parathyroidectomies, share a great deal of their lab #’s, symptoms, & post-op recovery experiences at a FB page. Also on this page can be found a list of highly experienced surgeons, listed by
state/city. It has been compiled over the last two years based on poster’s own recommendations/personal experiences with each of these surgeons.

Please feel free to go to the link, click “like” and begin posting with many who post daily. If links are still disallowed & it does not appear below, you may email this address to receive information on the link. angelia56@cox.net

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Parathyroid-Disease-Support-Awareness/109955205759331?sk=wall

]]> Comment on How NOT to go to the ER after parathyroid surgery by Tess http://www.thymeinmygarden.com/how-not-to-go-to-the-er-parathyroid/comment-page-1/#comment-63467 Tess Tue, 03 Jan 2012 02:24:24 +0000 http://www.thymeinmygarden.com/?p=166#comment-63467 Andrew and others...I went to the Norman Parathyroid Center. I had one adenoma removed on 11/14/2011 and one parathyroid 'abnormality' removed - so a total of two parathyroid glands removed. The next evening, I had the weirdest feeling...I buzzed all over, my teeth, my body....everything. I called my surgeon and he said take more calcium..take 5,10, 100, 1000, 1,000.000. I am serious. I cried...but I took more calcium. My anxiety level was out of the spectrum. I have had my calcium and PTH checked over the last 6 weeks. At the last check up it was PTH 16, and Serum CA 9. I am on 1200 mg elemental ca daily. Some days I tingle, some days I don't. Caffine bothers me now. My Women's One a Day bothers me - B12 overload, I am ASSUMING. I stopped the vitamin and the tingling got better. I stopped the caffine, and the tingling got better. BUT, I am sitting here tonight and tingling. My shoes bother me now - I tingle even when they are tied loosely. I am looking for feedback from others who may have had a similar experience and have overcome this. I have GREAT days and days that I tingle. I would love to hear what other peoples CA and PTH levels were days, weeks, months after surgery. I have often wondered if I made a life=altering mistake by having this surgery. I do NOT feel 10 years younger or better. Andrew and others…I went to the Norman Parathyroid Center. I had one adenoma removed on 11/14/2011 and one parathyroid ‘abnormality’ removed – so a total of two parathyroid glands removed. The next evening, I had the weirdest feeling…I buzzed all over, my teeth, my body….everything. I called my surgeon and he said take more calcium..take 5,10, 100, 1000, 1,000.000. I am serious. I cried…but I took more calcium. My anxiety level was out of the spectrum. I have had my calcium and PTH checked over the last 6 weeks. At the last check up it was PTH 16, and Serum CA 9. I am on 1200 mg elemental ca daily. Some days I tingle, some days I don’t. Caffine bothers me now. My Women’s One a Day bothers me – B12 overload, I am ASSUMING. I stopped the vitamin and the tingling got better. I stopped the caffine, and the tingling got better. BUT, I am sitting here tonight and tingling. My shoes bother me now – I tingle even when they are tied loosely. I am looking for feedback from others who may have had a similar experience and have overcome this. I have GREAT days and days that I tingle. I would love to hear what other peoples CA and PTH levels were days, weeks, months after surgery. I have often wondered if I made a life=altering mistake by having this surgery. I do NOT feel 10 years younger or better.

]]> Comment on How NOT to go to the ER after parathyroid surgery by Tess http://www.thymeinmygarden.com/how-not-to-go-to-the-er-parathyroid/comment-page-1/#comment-63465 Tess Tue, 03 Jan 2012 02:10:59 +0000 http://www.thymeinmygarden.com/?p=166#comment-63465 Please contact me. I have some questions regarding your parathyroidectomy and how long your parasthesia lasted. mt_reuter@yahoo.com Please contact me. I have some questions regarding your parathyroidectomy and how long your parasthesia lasted. mt_reuter@yahoo.com

]]> Comment on How NOT to go to the ER after parathyroid surgery by susan smiler http://www.thymeinmygarden.com/how-not-to-go-to-the-er-parathyroid/comment-page-1/#comment-63398 susan smiler Mon, 02 Jan 2012 18:15:44 +0000 http://www.thymeinmygarden.com/?p=166#comment-63398 go to tampa florida and the norman parathyroid center even if you have to beg borrow or steal the money to do it- your life is worth it! go to tampa florida and the norman parathyroid center even if you have to beg borrow or steal the money to do it- your life is worth it!

]]> Comment on How NOT to go to the ER after parathyroid surgery by Chrissy http://www.thymeinmygarden.com/how-not-to-go-to-the-er-parathyroid/comment-page-1/#comment-59618 Chrissy Mon, 05 Dec 2011 13:26:56 +0000 http://www.thymeinmygarden.com/?p=166#comment-59618 This sounds exactly like what happened to me ... see the post on how NOT to go to the emergency room... Once your calcium levels are consistent hopefully you'll feel better. Does your doctor have you taking large doses of Vitamin D as well? I was on a mega dose prescription for several months post surgery and continue to take a large over the counter dose daily. This sounds exactly like what happened to me … see the post on how NOT to go to the emergency room… Once your calcium levels are consistent hopefully you’ll feel better. Does your doctor have you taking large doses of Vitamin D as well? I was on a mega dose prescription for several months post surgery and continue to take a large over the counter dose daily.

]]> Comment on How NOT to go to the ER after parathyroid surgery by Andrew http://www.thymeinmygarden.com/how-not-to-go-to-the-er-parathyroid/comment-page-1/#comment-59586 Andrew Mon, 05 Dec 2011 07:50:47 +0000 http://www.thymeinmygarden.com/?p=166#comment-59586 I had the the surgery, felt fine when I came out as long as they were pumping calcium into my system. Then I went up to the normal ward and my calcium levels dropped. I woke up on the Saturday morning with a feeling of such dread that I had a massive need to end my life. I wanted to jump out of the hospital window. I have never felt such a feeling of dread and hoplessness. I phoned my wife and told her to get to me quickly as I was afraid and as I put down the phone my whole body went into spasms and I became paralysed. Not knowing what was going on I believed I was about to die and I started callling on the name of Jesus as I thought my lungs would surely stop working as well. I managed to call to the nurses who took my calls of help with little urgency, but after screaming they quickly got the doctor to come up to me. My wife then had arrived and sh held me in her arms and comforted me. I really belived I was about to die. She was in a state and the doctor then said to me that maybe I should eat something to whci I replied I could not move and needed urgent attention. They evetually injected 4 viles of calcium into me and all the way back to the ICU I prayed 'The Lord is my Shepard' and called on the name of Jesus to help me. It took about two hours before my body normalised and I was calm. I regretted having the op. it is now only three weeks post op and I still get feelings of dread and anxiety. Can any one help me with advice on how to get rid of this feeling. I keep taking calcium but it does not help. Think carefully before having the op. I am not saying that I won't get better, but I am praying for help to feel better. I sometimes feel that doctors don't always tell you exactly what you are getting into and once you have had the op they should monitor people closer. Perhaps they are just intersted in the money. I had the the surgery, felt fine when I came out as long as they were pumping calcium into my system. Then I went up to the normal ward and my calcium levels dropped. I woke up on the Saturday morning with a feeling of such dread that I had a massive need to end my life. I wanted to jump out of the hospital window. I have never felt such a feeling of dread and hoplessness.
I phoned my wife and told her to get to me quickly as I was afraid and as I put down the phone my whole body went into spasms and I became paralysed.
Not knowing what was going on I believed I was about to die and I started callling on the name of Jesus as I thought my lungs would surely stop working as well. I managed to call to the nurses who took my calls of help with little urgency, but after screaming they quickly got the doctor to come up to me. My wife then had arrived and sh held me in her arms and comforted me. I really belived I was about to die. She was in a state and the doctor then said to me that maybe I should eat something to whci I replied I could not move and needed urgent attention.
They evetually injected 4 viles of calcium into me and all the way back to the ICU I prayed ‘The Lord is my Shepard’ and called on the name of Jesus to help me.
It took about two hours before my body normalised and I was calm. I regretted having the op.
it is now only three weeks post op and I still get feelings of dread and anxiety. Can any one help me with advice on how to get rid of this feeling. I keep taking calcium but it does not help.
Think carefully before having the op.
I am not saying that I won’t get better, but I am praying for help to feel better.
I sometimes feel that doctors don’t always tell you exactly what you are getting into and once you have had the op they should monitor people closer. Perhaps they are just intersted in the money.

]]> Comment on How NOT to go to the ER after parathyroid surgery by Chrissy http://www.thymeinmygarden.com/how-not-to-go-to-the-er-parathyroid/comment-page-1/#comment-48907 Chrissy Thu, 06 Oct 2011 10:13:37 +0000 http://www.thymeinmygarden.com/?p=166#comment-48907 That sounds just awful Virginia.. I'm so sorry you are going through all those complications. :( That sounds just awful Virginia.. I’m so sorry you are going through all those complications. :(

]]> Comment on How NOT to go to the ER after parathyroid surgery by Virginia http://www.thymeinmygarden.com/how-not-to-go-to-the-er-parathyroid/comment-page-1/#comment-48681 Virginia Thu, 06 Oct 2011 06:29:25 +0000 http://www.thymeinmygarden.com/?p=166#comment-48681 Had Parathyroid surgery in June 2009. Woke up from surgery with an unbearable pain in the back of my head/neck and I couldn't breathe. To this day I have these symptoms that were NOT there before the surgery. And my pre-surgery symptoms are still there--cramping has not gone away and my stomache ailments are worse. My osteoperosis has actually reversed and bone density is now normal--the only positive that came out of this. I've found that avoiding calcium helps with the breathing difficulty. But the moment I eat a piece of cheese, milk, or ANY calcium, my throat feels big--and I can't catch my breath. Forget about TUMS--I would completeley stop breathing. Evidently, during surgery, the doctor (actually the student at this learning hospital) dropped the cut-off gland into the tissue and they had to dig it out. The first test (before they could find/retrieve it) was showing high XXX level (not sure--I think it's the parathyroid hormone they check before stitching you back up). According to the doctor, they were able to find the gland, remove it, and re-testing showed a normal parthyroid hormone level, giving the okay to stitch me back up. I suspect they dropped my head/neck while I was unconscious causing some sort of permanent damage to the back of my neck and that the parathyroid gland is floating around my throat tissue somewhere swelling up when I eat calcium. I know it sounds crazy, but I have no othe explanation! In the follow up, when I expressed concern about neck pain and trouble breathing, the surgeon shoved very forcably a scope down my throat to prove to me it was fine (how the heck do I know what it's supposed to look like). When I told my GP, she thought I was crazy. My newer doctor, an internist, said it's possible, but didn't order any tests...I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired. Had Parathyroid surgery in June 2009. Woke up from surgery with an unbearable pain in the back of my head/neck and I couldn’t breathe. To this day I have these symptoms that were NOT there before the surgery. And my pre-surgery symptoms are still there–cramping has not gone away and my stomache ailments are worse. My osteoperosis has actually reversed and bone density is now normal–the only positive that came out of this. I’ve found that avoiding calcium helps with the breathing difficulty. But the moment I eat a piece of cheese, milk, or ANY calcium, my throat feels big–and I can’t catch my breath. Forget about TUMS–I would completeley stop breathing. Evidently, during surgery, the doctor (actually the student at this learning hospital) dropped the cut-off gland into the tissue and they had to dig it out. The first test (before they could find/retrieve it) was showing high XXX level (not sure–I think it’s the parathyroid hormone they check before stitching you back up). According to the doctor, they were able to find the gland, remove it, and re-testing showed a normal parthyroid hormone level, giving the okay to stitch me back up. I suspect they dropped my head/neck while I was unconscious causing some sort of permanent damage to the back of my neck and that the parathyroid gland is floating around my throat tissue somewhere swelling up when I eat calcium. I know it sounds crazy, but I have no othe explanation! In the follow up, when I expressed concern about neck pain and trouble breathing, the surgeon shoved very forcably a scope down my throat to prove to me it was fine (how the heck do I know what it’s supposed to look like). When I told my GP, she thought I was crazy. My newer doctor, an internist, said it’s possible, but didn’t order any tests…I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired.

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