Even a slightly elevated calcium can have a major impact on your health!

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Here is a letter I recently received from a patient who had been suffering with typical symptoms of high calcium for about 4 years, with a calcium level that was “only” in the low 10’s. She recently underwent a simple outpatient operation to remove the overactive parathyroid gland and get her calcium and PTH back to normal.

“Dear Dr Kennedy,

I wanted to thank you again, for all of your help! I also wanted to give you a quick update on my progress!

My body seems to be healing by leaps and bounds since parathyroid surgery on xx/xx/23! I’m now OFF all 4 of my BP meds (I met with cardiologist yesterday).

My BP used to be in the 220/117 range (even with all the BP meds), and yesterday in his office it was 120/78 without taking any BP meds since November.

I’ve been able to stop my daily muscle relaxer /AND I’ve also cut back on pain meds for my lumbar spinal pain.

Chronic fatigue is improving daily!! A “normal day” for me before surgery was to struggle to get to work (and I work from home) by 9AM, and then I’d go right back to bed whenever I finished work. No hobbies, and I’d have to rest on all days off.Since surgery, now I have no problem getting to (and thru) my work days, I’m also studying Japanese again AND planning a ski trip to Japan in Winter 2025 plus I hope to make it to the Philippines to visit friends on the same trip! (I used to live in Japan, that’s where I learned to ski). I’ve also started hiking again and will try light mountain biking again this weekend. I’m also doing weights again on the days I’m not hiking! This is all just after 6 weeks or so….

I can’t wait to see the changes after 6 months! Mood problems (extreme anxiety and depression) haven’t been a problem since I healed from surgery.

I wanted to wish you and all of your loved ones a Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and a wonderful holiday season!

Thank you again!

SD”

woman getting checked for hyperparathyroidism

Hyperparathyroidism: Important word to know if you have high calcium

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Did you know that there’s an estimated 1-7 cases of hyperparathyroidism per every 1000 people? The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism reports that “Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is a relatively common endocrine disorder… It is believed to be the most common cause of hypercalcemia, predominantly affecting elderly populations and women two to three times as often as men.” (2013) Despite this statistic, many are unaware of the causes, effects, and cures for this condition. Continue below to see how you can be proactive about your parathyroid health. You might just find that your tendency to feel sluggish isn’t because of an imbalance of caffeine, but calcium. 

What Causes Hyperparathyroidism? 

Before we can dive into the symptoms and cures of hyperparathyroidism, it’s important to understand the parathyroid glands. The four parathyroid glands reside in your neck behind your thyroid. They are the only organs that we have four of and are responsible for drawing calcium into your bones and bloodstream when you need it. They also let calcium out of your body by pushing it through your kidneys daily. It seems like a small job, but your parathyroid affects many elements of your physical and mental health. When one or more of the parathyroid glands becomes overactive, it releases too much parathyroid hormone (PTH). The excess PTH draws in an unhealthy amount of calcium into your bloodstream. This condition can lead to anything from chronic fatigue, anxiety, memory loss, and depression to high blood pressure, kidney stones, and bone loss. Because of this, it’s very important that you’re aware of the symptoms to look out for. 

Symptoms

The symptoms of the unhealthy parathyroid gland(s) can be subtle and often go ignored. Many patients don’t realize they are suffering from hyperparathyroidism until they get the high calcium results from a routine blood test. Although sometimes high calcium (calcium above 10 mg/dl) is only temporary, an additional blood test should be taken to measure the Parathyroid Hormone (PTH) level. If the calcium and PTH tests are normal, then you do not have hyperparathyroidism, but you should stay updated on your calcium and PTH levels as a small change can lead to big differences in your well-being. If your calcium and PTH levels are high, you almost certainly have hyperparathyroidism. Almost all parathyroid patients have symptoms; as for the ones who don’t, they typically don’t realize they were suffering until it’s fixed. Everyone experiences different symptoms of Hyperparathyroidism. The most common are chronic fatigue, body aches, difficulty sleeping, bone pain, memory loss, poor concentration, depression, and headaches. Be consistently aware of the possible symptoms your parathyroid health could be causing. A small procedure just might end a lot of your suffering.

What Can I Do?

The good news about hyperparathyroidism is that there is a highly effective cure. Parathyroid Atlanta’s minimally invasive surgical techniques make recovery an easy process. What was once a life-threatening health problem can be removed with minimally invasive radio-guided parathyroidectomy (MIRP) surgical techniques. With MIRP, the operation occurs through about a one-inch-long incision, and it takes about 30-60 minutes. In most cases, the parathyroid gland that’s causing issues has been identified, but all four glands are still tested during the procedure. If any other glands are overactive, they are removed during the operation. If you believe you could be silently suffering from hyperthyroidism or want more information, please give our office a call. We would be more than happy to get you into our office so you can get on top of your parathyroid health. Don’t suffer in silence, get your calcium and PTH levels checked today.

Your parathyroid glands only have ONE job.

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I really think it’s interesting that the parathyroid is the only gland in our bodies that God had some reason to give us 4 of. In our bodies, no other gland or structure has as much duplication. Perhaps the fact that there are four of them has something to do with why one of them will occasionally go out of whack and start producing more hormone than it should. Your parathyroid glands only have one job: to keep your calcium levels normal. This is critical because calcium is required for the proper functioning of many metabolic pathways. This includes your nervous system, kidneys, bones, muscles, and other organs.

There are several reasons to choose an experienced surgeon for your parathyroidectomy. One being, parathyroids can be hard to find. They’re so small that doctors had no idea that parathyroid glands existed until about a century ago. They blend in with the background, and the skills required to perform a successful parathyroid operation are not learned with just a few cases under your belt. It takes hundreds of surgeries to master the art of parathyroid gland removal. A surgeon with little experience may find the abnormal gland and reduce your calcium, but studies have shown that surgeons with low volumes have a much higher percentage of patients who are not cured with the first operation. And if your operation fails, you’ll need a second one. Which will not only be an annoyance, but also cause an increase in difficulty level during removal. Therefore, it’s always a good idea to give the first operation your best shot. Do your research and find a doctor well suited for your needs. 

Another important thing to be aware of is finding a surgeon who cares. You only want to work with surgeons who have a passion for parathyroid surgery. For me, it’s fun. I love looking for parathyroid glands, it’s like finding buried treasure. And I have treated thousands of patients with the disease, each being a unique experience.  I take pride in my success rate being about 98%, I rarely perform a second parathyroidectomy. Remember, it’s worth it to travel to an experienced center to maximize the likelihood of success with your first and hopefully only operation. This shortens your road to recovery and alleviates the burden of possible suffering from Hyperparathyroidism symptoms in the future. 

If you’d like to become a patient or simply want more information, go to parathyroidatlanta.com or contact us by phone.  We have many patients who travel from out of town for their treatment. We can easily set up telehealth consultations in advance of planning surgery for you.  We do not charge any additional fees for reviewing your medical information prior to a consultation.

“I Have My Life Back!”

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Hyperparathyroidism can steal your quality of life.  My mother was diagnosed with hyperparathyroidism 4 years ago and has spiraled downhill since.  She was told to stay hydrated and that would control her serum calcium level because she was not a candidate for surgery.  As time went on, my (now) 90-year-old mother was slowly losing her will to live.  She would on some days stay in bed for 22 hours.  Her family watched her withering away and could not figure out what was going on.  After a neurology visit for dementia evaluation, the family was told that her problem was not neurological.  She had aging short-term memory loss.  We then went to the cardiologist thinking that this lack of will to live and deterioration of our precious mother was valvular related.  He said no and sent her to another neurologist for consult.  She was then diagnosed with mild impaired cognitive function and depression.  My mother could no longer take care of herself literally.  She could no longer cook and did not even have the energy to get dressed most days.  All she wanted to do was stay in bed.  If she wasn’t laying down, she complained of her back hurting.  She would get a telephone call and could not remember what was discussed seconds after the call ended.  Again, we could not understand it. 

A lady that lived down the street had a daughter who had hyperparathyroidism and started talking about her daughter‘s symptoms and her upcoming surgery with Dr. John Kennedy.  A bell literally went off and I thought she was talking about my mother.  She put me in touch with her daughter and after talking to her I knew we had to get my mom help even at 90 years old.  We met with Dr. Kennedy and begged him to consider my mother for surgery.  He is an amazing person first of all and makes you feel like part of his family.  His office staff is nothing short of amazing too.  After he reviewed the information and test results of my mother, he met with her and said that he would do the surgery.  It was worth the risk to my mother as she was already dying a slow and painful death as we watched her helplessly until we met Dr. Kennedy. 

On January 25, 2022, my mother had a large parathyroid gland removed.  She has done amazing, and the surgery was a success.  The day she had her surgery, we could already tell a difference in her cognition.  She could remember things that were going on around her.  She even looked 10 years younger, and her eyes were sparkling again.  It was nothing short of a miracle!  7 days out of surgery and I got my mom back!  She is smiling, laughing, getting dressed every day, participating in conversation, initiating conversation, moving around with a purpose, eating better, she is happy, and her energy level has skyrocketed!  Her words today, “I have turned a page and I feel like I have my life back”.  Thank you, Dr. Kennedy, for your dedication, skill, knowledge, and superb care of my mother. You are a remarkable doctor and human being!  Forever grateful sir! 

Sincerely, 

Karen  

Parathyroidectomy and Osteoporosis- It Makes a Difference!

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This week I received an email from a patient who underwent successful parathyroid surgery about 2 years ago. Her case was interesting in a number of ways, but especially because she had known for over 10 years that her calcium was slightly elevated, and her physicians had told her they would continue to “just watch it”. During that time frame, her bone density gradually deteriorated to the point that she had frank osteoporosis, only in her early 60’s. This was especially distressing to her, as she worked in physical education. In addition to the osteoporosis, she was finding herself more and more exhausted with less and less activity. She decided to investigate on her own about causes of high calcium, and it was then she referred herself to me.

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dont lose your fastball

Hyperparathyroidism Can Affect Anyone — Even a Major League Pitcher!

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Hyperparathyroidism is a disease that is underrecognized, underdiagnosed, and undertreated.  It is typically manifest as a slight elevation in your calcium level, and your doctor might even overlook it, maybe not even aware themselves of how big an impact that slight elevation in your calcium level may have. But the truth is, calcium impacts so many functions in the body, there are many symptoms that can occur, including a decreased energy level, tiredness during the day, muscle weakness, lack of concentration, or memory loss, bone pain, excessive thirst, perspiration, and urination, and the list goes on.

And so, Washington Nationals pitcher Jon Lester found himself with many of these symptoms that had been present for awhile, and he began worrying that his pitching career might be ending. 

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My calcium level is high.

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Does this statement describe your situation? “My calcium level is above the normal range. I asked my doctor and they said it’s nothing to worry about, and we can just keep an eye on it. Is that okay?”

Short answer, no, it’s not okay.

So why do some doctors not follow up on an elevated calcium level?

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