April 27, 2024 - Calcium & the parathyroid glands - Did you know???

Hyperparathyroidism - never heard of it? Pay attention. You may see yourself or someone you know in this discussion, and your life may depend on it!

"You have more power than you know!"

Calcium - last week I kind of painted calcium as a villian!

Nothing could be farther from the truth. We desperately need calcium in our bodies. It is critically important.

In fact, it is so important that there are four tiny glands surrounding the thyroid gland that have only one purpose, and that is to regulate blood calcium levels.

The parathyroid glands

Parathyroid disorders are not that uncommon but very often go missing in diagnosis.

Hyperparathyroidism - overactive parathyroid activity - is caused by a tumor or tumors on one or more of the parathyroid glands.

Malfunction can cause a multitude of health problems, from fatigue, brain fog, and insomnia to kidney cancer and blood disorders.

Over the years I have suspected it in some of my clients and found that to be the case.

The only treatment is removal of the affected gland.

Join me live on ZOOM today April 27, at NOON (EST), and I'll tell all!

To join, click this link

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89206341064

If you are asked to enter the Webinar (or meeting) ID, enter this:

892 0634 1064

Not a convenient time? Want to be able to start 'n stop? Or want to watch again or share? Catch previous episodes on:

Symptoms and Signs of Hyperparathyroidism

• Chronic fatigue / feeling tired all the time (#1 symptom)
• General feeling of "illness" and "feeling bad" that can be hard to describe
• Lack of interest in activities that you previously enjoyed
• Difficulty concentrating or focusing
• Depression or anxiety (blog)
• Osteoporosis and Osteopenia
• Bone pain, particularly in the hands, feet, arms, and legs, but can be anywhere
• Insomnia / difficulty sleeping through the night
• Needing naps during the day
• Irritability / crankiness (blog)
• Memory loss / feeling like you might be developing dementia
• Gastric acid reflux / heartburn / GERD (blog)
• Decrease in sex drive (blog)
• Thinning hair (predominately in middle aged females on the front part of the scalp)
• Kidney stones (We have an entire page on kidney stones).
• Chronic kidney disease / kidney failure (blog)
• High Blood Pressure / Hypertension / Erratic blood pressure
• Frequent headaches
• Heart palpitations
• Atrial fibrillation / cardiac arrhythmias (blog)
• High liver function tests (liver blood tests)
• Development of MGUS and abnormal blood protein levels

Most people with hyperparathyroidism will have 5 - 6 of these symptoms or signs. Some will have lots of them. A few people will say they don't have any... but after an operation they will often say otherwise. In general, the longer you have hyperparathyroidism, the more symptoms you will develop. IMPORTANT, if you do not have calcium levels above 10.0 (2.5 in Canada and Europe), then these symptoms are probably not from a parathyroid problem.

Email from a client with a history of kidney cancer, Jan 9, 2022: I had my second bladder checkup, blood work, CT scan and MRI (melatonin before both) and all looks fine. My calcium level which usually runs 10 or above, normal is 8.8-10.3mg/dL (a year ago the upper level was 11mg/dL) went up to 11. I've stopped taking Vit D3 and anything with calcium in it. Is there anything I can add or delete from my diet that'll decrease calcium? I don't feel real confident with this kidney doc who has me at stage three of kidney disease. 

My reply: Your calcium level makes me suspicious that you may have a parathyroid issue. I would ask your doctor to also order PTH testing - parathyroid testing - along with repeating blood calcium levels a few times.  

Email from her on Jan 21, 2022: My PCP sent me a text about monoclonal protein Spike in my blood work and is present in 3% of persons over age 50 who are Caucasian. She said there's a one percent chance per year of conversion to some kind of malignancy like lymphoma leukemia or multiple myeloma. She's suggesting a bone marrow biopsy to rule out multiple myeloma. 

Immunoglobulin G is 510; standard range is 768-1632 mg/dL

Immunoglobulin M is 421; standard range 35-263 mg/dL

Kappa Qnt Free Light Chains is 34.56; standard range 3/30-19.40 mg/L

All the other components from the monoclonal protein study are within range. I can scan and send you the entire panel. Needless to say I'm concerned. 

My reply: I think it's the parathyroid problem. Check out the attachments.

(I'll share the attachements on the air.)

The problem, was, indeed, hyperparathyroidism due to a tumor her surgeon at the Norman Parathyroid Center in Tampa, Florida, where I referred her, told her had been there for several years. I am sure it was the origen of the kidney cancer that first brought her to see me as a client! But here she was dealing with a stage III kidney disease diagnosis and the possiblity of developing blood cancer. It is 2024 now, and she is just fine; very healthy!

I have within the last two weeks spotted this problem in another unsuspecting client, and under the care of an endocrinolgist who said of her perpetually high blood calcium level, "Just don't drink milk!" She is now under the care of the Norman Parathyroid Center, as well.