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Post Parathryoidectomy medical care for osteoporosis
Last month, in December, I had a parathyroidectomy for hyperparathyroidism. Just prior to the surgery a DEXA scan showed osteoporosis, which wasn't a surprise. I'm reading the research regarding how to treat osteoporosis as a result of hyperparathyroidism - not getting clear answers, though some research seems to show that the surgery can result in improvement of bone mass density. If you, too, are treating osteoporosis - for the first time - post-surgery, I'd love to hear what your doctor(s) are advising. Thank you so much!
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I had two glands removed in March of 2021. The surgeon thought it was likely tertiary hyperparathyroidism. I was not absorbing calcium well for so long that it caused hyperplasia of the glands. Might have been related to omeprazole.
Post-surgery, my doctor advised 1200 mg of Calcium daily, but I've been getting half that regularly. 😬 Also, he said that I should keep my vitamin D up, with no clear guideline as to how high. New England makes keeping your D up difficult.
Insisting on annual tests through your PCP is important. Minimum CBC, vitamin D, and PTH.
Recently, I was getting severe heart palpitations (trigemi). So much so that it looked on monitors like I had bradycardia (really slow heart rate). Blood work showed a possible electrolyte imbalance with low - you guessed it! - calcium.
< sigh>
So I need to get serious about taking calcium twice daily. I haven't checked my vitamin D in a while either.
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1 Reaction@karyn23 I had a parathyroidectomy as well. The hyperparathyroidism, which was not diagnosed for years by my doctors, caused severe osteoporosis. The surgeon, who was excellent, recommended all the usual osteoporosis treatments -- 1200 mg of calcium, vitamin D. He told me that after a parathyroidectomy, the time it takes to recover (get back to a normal bone density) is six years -- six!! And, he said, meanwhile, if you are older, you are working against the normal deterioration in bone health. Anyway, as a result, given my DEXA showed all scores below -3.0, I went on an anabolic. I hope your numbers are not so bad!
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2 Reactions@larak thanks so much for sharing your experience. It sounds like you don’t have osteoporosis? (Sorry if I’ve misunderstood.)
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1 Reaction@sebutler Thanks so much for sharing. 6 years?! Ugh. I don’t have a treatment plan yet - in search of a new endocrinologist since mine no longer takes my insurance. Osteoporosis is in my spine. Osteopenia in other locations.
My parathyroid surgery was in 2020 I started alendronate a year later. I have tolerated it well my osteoporosis has not gotten any worse, but it hasn't gotten much better. I am 79.
@maggie892 Thanks so much for sharing. Did your dr wait a year to see if your BMD improved after surgery?
@karyn23 I didn't think to ask! Someone wrote (here) that it takes 6 years to recover. I see my endocrinologist in a few months. I should know if there has been significant by then
@karyn23 Correct. I have osteopenia, not quite osteoporosis. I do have significant degenerative disc disorder at this point. 🙁
@maggieb892 I hope it's a great news visit!!
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2 Reactions@larak I'm so sorry to hear about the degenerative disc. 🙁