HyperParathyroidism---Please Help!!!

[zuzu8]

Tip'sfriend,

Just curious, but when blood tests were taken initially (and presumably many were, from various doctors) weren't your calcium levels abnormally elevated? Or did all those doctors miss or dismiss it?

It's extraordinary how often doctors, particularly with female patients, (although men certainly are not totally exempt either) tell their patients that the cause of their symptoms is psychological:.....in their heads/depression/menopause/empty nest syndrome et al. (There, there, little girl, pop an antidepressant and don't bother me with all your foolishness). That's not to say that many times psychological issues can run parallel with, mimic and/or cause, real organic illness. Still, good for you for being so proactive and insisting on further evaluation and tests.

Let us know how your appointment w/the endo goes in July. And if you need further information about this illness, please feel free to come back here and ask...

zuzu xxx

[Tip'sfriend]

I have been seen 8 times in emergency rooms in the past 2 years, due to outrageously high blood pressure that still is not under control. Each doctor I see--be it ER, PCM, or those DR's they have referred me to all seem to 'pass the buck'. I have seen different ER doctor's, 3 PCM's, physical therapist, chiropractors, cardiologists, urologists, etc.---all dismissed the calcium levels, cat scans, and mri's--no one put the test results all together for a diagnosis. I have been very unhappy with the local care I have access to--I finally could not waste any more of my life and went to Mayo clinic in Florida last month. The local doctors have known my symptoms these past 2 years-- the bone scans showed decreasing bone density--my hip is damaged now and strangely keeps popping out of joint, I have kidney problems resulting in almost chronic kidney infections. I am on Cipro almost continuously, and have pain in my kidneys, abdominal pain, and back/joint pain. I had lost all faith in the medical profession and was truly amazed that my doctors seemed to discount them. For the blood pressure problems they prescribed hydrochlorizide (diuretic--huge mistake). Mayo Clinic caught the problem right away, as did an urgent care center I just recently went to for emergency blood pressure problems. My primary care physician has told me such things as 'think happy thoughts' and 'envision beaches' (?) this whole time. The PCM did not feel any of these problems that have plagued me for 2 years was severe enough to impair my life. I only got referrals to specialist after making numerous appts and being a pain in the PCm's butt--I am barely functioning.--Unfortunately, I need the PCM's referral to get anywhere, so I kept on plugging along with them. My PCM has not returned my calls or responded to the faxes from Mayo, and so I have elected to return to Mayo clinic because I cannot get any help here. I want to get surgery scheduled as soon as possible so I can get back to my life, but can't get in to talk to an endocrinologist until July. Thank you so much for your post. Any info is so welcomed.

[zuzu8]

Tip'sfriend,
What a horror story. Just for my own edification, is a PCM a Primary Care Manager? And does that mean he/she is an MD?

He's not returning your calls nor faxes from the Mayo Clinic?????.

This is incredible. I'd fire off a letter that if he does not respond immediately and in a substantive manner to the Mayo, he'll have a malpractice lawsuit up his a** so fast, he won't know what hit him

You can't go wrong with the Mayo Clinic, that's for sure.

Who is monitoring your blood pressure in the meantime and what med(s) are you on for it presently? Thank goodness someone caught the thiazide situation. Jeez. What were your BP #s before meds? And now?

When I read "think happy thoughts" and "envision beaches" I let out such a roar of "OH PUL-EASE!" Promise me you'll never go back to that doctor.

If there ever was a candidate for hyperparathyroidism surgery, it sounds like you. You'll be okay waiting until July. The only thing I can suggest is to check in with Mayo and ask to be notified if there are any earlier openings to see the endo doc. And even then, bug them once a week anyway, since often these requests get lost, buried and forgotten.

zuzu xxx

[Tip'sfriend]

To zuzu-Thanks for your response. I am currently on Avapro, and my blood pressure reading is 150/90. When I went to the emergency rooms in the past my blood pressures fluctuated around 210/102--while on hydrochlorothiazide. The blood pressure is just impossible to get good control over with the hyperparathyroidism. I am anxiously looking forward to having surgery in hopes that my quality of life is better. I keep wondering if taking the hydrochlorothiazide triggered my hyperparathyriodism or if it just increased an existing but minor imbalance problem?