Osteoporis and Hyperathyroid Disease II - Osteoporosis Message Board

PT6 · 07-04-2006, 11:43 PM

Well, I'm back from my surgery. They did locate an affected gland from the ultrasound and started the surgery using MIRP. Unfortunately, I had more than one gland affected so they converted to the full exploratory surgery midway through. I am now home and look like the mad slasher got me. I have ~4" incision across the lower part of my neck. It should fade to almost nothing eventually but right now it looks like someone tried to kill me. I spent 1 night in the hospital. Evidently, there is a rare complication that can occur after the surgery that can compromise your airway so they keep you overnight. I'm not sure what my labs are now, the surgeon did intraoperative PTH testing (that's how they determined that there had to be more than one adenoma.) and stated that the PTH had returned to normal. It was fluctuating between 162 and 224 prior to the surgery. The amazing thing is that I was experiencing severe bilateral thigh pain prior to the surgery. I have severe arthritis of my hips and assumed that it was related to the hip problem. My orthopedic surgeon was sure the pain was related to a back problem. Well, no one even considered that it was related to the elevated PTH. The decrease in thigh pain was apparent in the recovery room when I woke up. I had no idea it was related to the parathyroid problem. I had been wavering about whether to have the surgery and am soooooo glad that I did.

Joyce1957 · 07-05-2006, 02:09 AM

PT6-

Glad to hear you got such good and immediate relief from the surgery! Sorry though, that they could not do the MIRP for you. Are you in much pain?
Can you tell me any more about your airway complication? That must have been a scare?

How much calcium were you started on if you don't mind me asking?

Dr. Norman claims to be able to do the MIRP even if you have multiple adenoma's. (We'll see!) Less than a week until I go too now.

Hope you have a swift and uneventful recovery.

PT6 · 07-05-2006, 02:28 PM

Joyce 1957

I think the reason the MD converted to the exploratory was the possibility of MENS 1 and the fact that he was unable to locate the offending glands via sestemibe or ultrasound. Remember that 85% of the time there is only 1 adenoma. It was very unusual that I had 2.

I think the swallowing problem is related to the amount of swelling in my neck. I have developed a double chin which, hopefully, will go down in the next week or 2. I doubt that this would be a problem following MIRP.

The airway complication that can happen is related to the delayed development of a hematoma. This occurs in a small number of people after the surgery that is why I had to spend 1 night in the hospital. I do not think this is a problem with MIRP.

Painwise, it is not too bad. I take an occasional Tylenol. It's just a little achy.

I am taking 500 mg of Oyst-Cal (Calcium Carbonate) 2 x day. I think this is causing some GI upset so I am hoping to go to TUMS following my follow-up appointment on Friday.

I'm sure everything will go well for you. Keep us posted about the results.

PT6

Joyce1957 · 07-13-2006, 11:07 PM

Well folks I'm back from Tampa and my MIRP surgery and all went according to plan. Dr.s Norman and Politz are all that AND a bag-O-Chips!

Dr Norman greeted me with a handshake and a jovial "hello there you sick thing you!" lol! That was at 6:30 AM and by 10:30 AM I was all done with the sestamibi scan, the surgery and was in recovery.

My scan showed a single adenoma which was pretty large at about the size of a walnut indicating it had been there for many years, probably 10. It was behind my thyroid. Dr. Norman got it all. I went back to my hotel and took a 4 hour nap, and then my hubby and I went out to Dinner at a beautiful restaurant that evening. I felt fine! No kidding.

We caught a flight home the next day and all I have to show for it is a neat one inch incision with a steri-strip on it. I did take Motrin that first day for discomfort, but nothing since.

It was worth the trip to Florida and I'd do it again in a heartbeat!

Joyce1957 · 07-13-2006, 11:11 PM

OH... and I forgot to add, my hip and leg bone pain is GONE!!! How unbelievable is that?! I noticed it was somewhat better in the recovery room, but by the next day, while we were packing for the trip home I realized it was absolutely gone. Who knows what other great things are in store for me now?!