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Calcium deficiency

catladysue237
catladysue237 CSN Member Posts: 25
in Thyroid Cancer #1
Has anyone had trouble with their calcium not coming back after TT? I am taking 6000 mg per day just to keep it at the minimum level. I think the ENT must have taken both parathyroids.
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Comments

  • alapah
    alapah CSN Member Posts: 287 Member
    #2
    calcium
    There are actually four parathyroids. When was your surgery? If it was not too long ago, might be that the remaining one or ones is/are stunned and will come back on their own. That does happen. I hope it's that and not a true loss of all parathyroid function. Have you asked your doc about it?
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  • CherylMike
    CherylMike CSN Member Posts: 118
    #3
    I also had a calcium deficiency
    When the ENT removed my thyroid he damaged one of my parathyroids. He cut it up and sewed it into a muscle. It took a long time for the parathyroids to work again. However, they did and I now take just one calcium tablet a day versus the nine a day I took previously. Have you tried cutting down on the calcium? You will know if you need it because your hands will start to tingle. I would ask your doctor about your parathyroids (if they were damaged during your TT).
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  • alapah
    alapah CSN Member Posts: 287 Member
    #4
    CherylMike said:

    I also had a calcium deficiency
    When the ENT removed my thyroid he damaged one of my parathyroids. He cut it up and sewed it into a muscle. It took a long time for the parathyroids to work again. However, they did and I now take just one calcium tablet a day versus the nine a day I took previously. Have you tried cutting down on the calcium? You will know if you need it because your hands will start to tingle. I would ask your doctor about your parathyroids (if they were damaged during your TT).

    my surgeon did the same
    my surgeon did the same thing with one of my parathyroids - though i believe he crushed it and implanted it in the muscle. like science fiction!
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  • CherylMike
    CherylMike CSN Member Posts: 118
    #5
    alapah said:

    my surgeon did the same
    my surgeon did the same thing with one of my parathyroids - though i believe he crushed it and implanted it in the muscle. like science fiction!

    Maybe mine was crushed
    Not sure if he crushed or chopped but it really is strange stuff!!
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  • teamwink
    teamwink CSN Member Posts: 97
    #6
    I did!
    I had severe trouble with parathyroids (mine are still there, but the doc described them as "pissed off" at the surgery). They were so severely damaged that I was in the hospital for almost a week after my TT. It took a good 6-8 weeks post op until they began to start functioning at any level - I thought it would NEVER happen. Hang in there, and keep taking the calcium and D (and whatever else they have you on :)... I know it it tough, but most likely they will begin working.
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  • sunnyaz
    sunnyaz CSN Member Posts: 582
    #7
    teamwink said:

    I did!
    I had severe trouble with parathyroids (mine are still there, but the doc described them as "pissed off" at the surgery). They were so severely damaged that I was in the hospital for almost a week after my TT. It took a good 6-8 weeks post op until they began to start functioning at any level - I thought it would NEVER happen. Hang in there, and keep taking the calcium and D (and whatever else they have you on :)... I know it it tough, but most likely they will begin working.

    Parathyroids
    They can play havoc on you. I also had one damaged in surgery. My ENT screwed up and almost removed it. He did the crush and pin it back in routine also. I never had any repercussions however. I feel lucky in that respect.
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  • nasher
    nasher CSN Member Posts: 505 Member
    #8
    check your medical record
    check your medical record they should have a full diagnosis about if they took any parathyroid tissue.

    on myself i lost 2 of my 4 parathyroids and have to take a low level of calcium daily to keep me in normal but i still have to supplement.
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  • catladysue237
    catladysue237 CSN Member Posts: 25
    #9
    nasher said:

    check your medical record
    check your medical record they should have a full diagnosis about if they took any parathyroid tissue.

    on myself i lost 2 of my 4 parathyroids and have to take a low level of calcium daily to keep me in normal but i still have to supplement.

    surgery in april
    The TT was in April. I did crash from calcium deficiency which was how they knew. In and out of hospital 3 times. I've tried reducing calcium but all I can get it down to is 10 per day to keep it at the minimum level. GOD, I am so sick of taking calcium and vitamin D. The worst part is you cannot take calcium within 4 hours of your thyroid meds. Try timing that out!
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