I thought it was just Menopause
By
Menopause the Musical
Here I am getting closer to 50 and suddenly I start to gain weight for no reason, I have a “tummy” now where before I had a relatively flat stomach even though I’ve always battled with weight due in part to my chronic Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. “Info on Hashimoto’s Throiditis from Woman’s Health” (Just like Oprah. I would wish for something else to have in common with Oprah if I got a choice)
The rest of my symptoms weren’t much fun either!
- I couldn’t sleep more than a few hours in a row without waking.
- I was a bit depressed even though my relationship with my boyfriend turned fiance’ turned husband and two fabulous almost grown daughters was the joy of my life.
- Lack of energy and tired even through I couldn’t sleep for very long
- I started loosing strength when I was working out
- I started having aches and pains in strange places
- Digestion issues
- Higher blood pressure than ever in my life.
- Feeling that something just was NOT right in my body
All of these symptoms didn’t start at once but over the span of the last 2 years they have gotten more pronounced along with a “pending doom” type of feeling that unfortunately lots of women I know have with a greater frequency than our male counterparts.
I also have arthritis in my joints so whatever aches and pains I wasn’t associating with Menopause I figured were that. So… I decided to go and get a physical and get set up to see a Orthopedic doc to see if having a hip replacement was eminent and maybe that was the reason I was feeling sort of miserable more and more.
Blood tests revealed that I had a VERY high level of calcium in my blood, elevated to the point of hypertension blood pressure, my lady doc is looking at me with that concerned look… yikes! What is happening now. She explains that she needs to run parathyroid blood tests on me as she suspects something. What now? Being at the doctors office has the ability to make you panic before you even know what is going on.
Next blood test shows that my parathyroid numbers are all sky high which tells her she was right in her diagnosis I have hyperparathyroidism. YIKES! The longest word ever.
Hyperparathyroidism is a condition where 1 or all of your 4 glands develops a tumor on it which is excreting lots of calcium into your blood stream causing all of the symptoms above. You mean I might not have to be miserable until the end of time? WOW… I’m excited and scared at the same time.
She tells me I’ll have to have the tumor removed and quickly explains that 99% of the time the tumor is NON-Malignant (no cancer) and that I’ll need to see an Endocrinologist next.
Look for part 2 of this series to join with me in this my pursuit of health! Appointment with the Endo next week!
No it was NOT just Menopause!
Resources about Hyperparathyroidism:
- The National Endocrine & Metabolic Diseases Info Center
- Hyperparathyroid Wiki
- Mayo Clinic on Hyper Parathyroid Disease (My doc recommended this one)
- Endocrine Web
Definition:
-
“Parathyroidectomy“
Parathyroidectomy is surgery to remove parathyroid glands or parathyroid tumors. Parathyroidectomy is recommended when one or more parathyroid glands are producing excessive amounts of parathyroid hormone.
Chrissy, how are things going? I am the worst about getting regular exams of any sort and I would have thought the same thing as you with the menopause! Hope you got in to see the Endo and things are improving.
Thanks for prompting me to write another post. I am the same only a bit less stressed I must admit. I know I need to just be patient and get this surgery before I beat myself up anymore about my weight or working out or having my house look neat and clean all the time (it never has before, but I’m thinking about blaming my clutter issues on my thyroid too!) I just posted part 2. I hope this helps women remember to put take care of themselves somewhere NEAR the top of the list!
Thanks for commenting. 
Thanks for posting this. I think more women should be aware of the symptoms and ways to help. I’ve diagnosed with Grave’s Disease (Hyperthyroidism). It was not easy getting info. I am a strong believer in eating to support our body. I am looking forward to hearing more about what you are doing to help yourself here.
I appreciate your comment Claudette. The more I realized how much time I’d spent (no make that wasted!) worrying about what the doctor was probably going to tell me… I had Lupus, or MS, or Cancer or some other scary word! How silly of me…
I have a great group of friends, but for some reason I figured this was somehow my fault.. I’d let the weight come on.. I wasn’t working out enough, I wasn’t taking the right vitamins… all the self blame just did a number on my spirit and made me not want to share all the ugliness I was experiencing. Blogging about it has been somewhat healing for me… I know SOMEONE else out there is probably going through some of the same things and maybe this will give them a non-threatening way to rant.
I appreciate your comment Claudette. The more I realized how much time I’d spent (no make that wasted!) worrying about what the doctor was probably going to tell me… I had Lupus, or MS, or Cancer or some other scary word! How silly of me…
I have a great group of friends, but for some reason I figured this was somehow my fault.. I’d let the weight come on.. I wasn’t working out enough, I wasn’t taking the right vitamins… all the self blame just did a number on my spirit and made me not want to share all the ugliness I was experiencing. Blogging about it has been somewhat healing for me… I know SOMEONE else out there is probably going through some of the same things and maybe this will give them a non-threatening way to rant.
parathyroidectomy… that sure would make sense if it came out of Mr. McDreamy’s mouth! Cute surgeon you got going there… will he need a booster seat! gotta keep giggling to get through some of the touch times in life! lotsa hugs to ya!
Yes,Yes, It is so wonderful to hear that my system are share with someone else. I went to the Doctor over a year ago complaining about pain in my bone on strange place. She looked at me and you have bercitis, take two aleive a day and see how are you well it work on temporary basis but I experiencning all these others systems, sleeplessness, weight gain especially in my mid section, breast and bottom. I too thought it was menopause. And just weird blood pressure although taken meds I thought it was due to stress on the job. This year I went for a phsycial blood work and all. I thought she was going to tell me that my estrogen was high and not even it was my calcium. I did a follow up PTH and it was high too. I am looking forward to some resolution that would end up with a cure. Thanks for your comment it is so much support and I wish you all the best with the rest of your life
Angela! WOW, so good to hear from you, it’s been amazing how many women I keep meeting with these same symptoms! I guess that’s what made me want to share this via the internet. Please let me know if they are going to do the surgery… I am about to write a 2 weeks post op posting and I am having great results so far.
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Wow, it’s NOT just me! Recently diagnosed with HPT. Had high blood calcium for 5 years! All kinds of physical complaints, and unexplained weight GAIN! Oh, and uncontrollable HIGH Blood Pressure! Menopause at 43, should have been a clue? People: NO HIGH AMOUNT OF CALCIUM IN YOUR BLOOD IS NORMAL- IT IS A TUMOR ON 1 OR MORE OF YOUR PARATHYROID GLANDS! There are NO vitamin cures, or exercises you can do, no amount of weight you can lose. The tumor MUST be removed. Google Dr. James Norman and read all his site has to say about HyperParaThyroidism. HE IS THE EXPERT. P.S. I have NO health insurance, and need help!
Hey Joni, no it’s NOT just you and I either! lol I have had SO many women connect on these posts thinking they were crazy out there. My endo said that this is one of the biggest mis-diagnosis for high blood pressure out there. Docs see high blood pressure, treat that and of course they aren’t helping the patient what so ever. I will have to good Dr. Norman. I was lucky in that my husband has a job with a big company with great health insurance. Does anyone have any advice for Joni?