Parathyroidectomy

[angela515]

Okay folks I have my blood work back- 1st one after surgery.  Hot damn looks pretty good! 

Albumin 4.5
Calcium 9.2
Phosphorous 3.8
Parathyroid hormone 24.6
Potassium 4.4
Hemoglobin 11.7
Iron saturation 23
KT/V 1.73

Look at the phosphorous!  It has never been that low! Over the last two years it has been between 6 and 7 regularly!
I eat pretty much what I want to eat and watch the high potassium and phosphorous things.

Very nice numbers. Your albumin number looks great.. i'm jealous.  Ever since starting dialysis in 4/2004, I have been tired/weak 24/7 and the doctor's tell me it's beause low protien levels and sometimes low iron and hemoglobin.. right now my iron and hemoglobin levsl are stable, but th whole 2 years I been doin dialysis I cannot seem to get my albumin above 3.4, thats high for me, as its usually even lower than that... I eat as much protein as my little body can take in at a time, still no help. I tried boost, but annot keep it down the taste is horrible, and I tried ensure... same thing, blahhh... i'm waiting for my dietician to get bak to me about a taste-less protein powder b/c so far the protein powders I have tried have horrible taste and I puke as first sip.

Anyways, great numbers hun... 

[JerseyGirl]

Kitkatz, your incision looks great!  Healing quite well!  Labs are great too!  What are you taking now for calcium replacement, if any?  As far as cleaning, take the MONTH off - you did way too much already...what a woman!  Just please take it easy for awhile.

[kitkatz]

Going to get this place whipped into shape before I go back to work on the 27th!   Muhuhhahahahaha! *Evil laugh, dirt is running from me!*  The wind is blowing my leaf pile back all over the yard this morning, darn it!   I am going to clean out my closet today.  It is almost the last area that has to be done in the house.  The cleaning supply cupboard needs a good toss, too.  Just going to putz around when these are done.  It is nice to relax in a clean house.  The back yard is going to get whacked when I am up to it.

[kitkatz]

QUESTION: Please get back to me ASAP.

I am having tingling in my hands and feet.  I have called the doctor and left a message with Kaiser, but God knows when I will be called back.  Is this something I need to worry about immediately?   Is it normal?  Is my calcium low?

[kitkatz]

Okay folks, I IMed the boss man Epoman with my question about tingling. Here is his reply:

"Oh that is easy, your calicum is LOW! Take about 8-10 tums RIGHT NOW and you will notice it go away. I had to take Calcium pills for quite a few months after my surgery. They can prescribe calicium pills but for now to STOP the tingling eat A LOT of "Tums"."

Oka,y I have taken an extra fourTums in addtion to the two at lunch. I am now waiting for them to get to work.  Thank you Epoman.  This really had me concerned.

[angela515]

It hasn't happened recently, but, months ago I would get that tingly feeling in my feet and hands too... I never guessed to take tums or that it was from low calcium, I will remember that for the next time it happens.. my calcium is good right now this month anyways, but GREAT info.. thanks for sharing, 

[angieskidney]

It hasn't happened recently, but, months ago I would get that tingly feeling in my feet and hands too... I never guessed to take tums or that it was from low calcium, I will remember that for the next time it happens.. my calcium is good right now this month anyways, but GREAT info.. thanks for sharing, 

Ya I remember the feeling was like I was being electricuted. I don't get that anymore since I had them taken out!

[Epoman]

It hasn't happened recently, but, months ago I would get that tingly feeling in my feet and hands too... I never guessed to take tums or that it was from low calcium, I will remember that for the next time it happens.. my calcium is good right now this month anyways, but GREAT info.. thanks for sharing, 

Yeap, since kat just had her parathyroids removed, that is the reason she is getting the tingling or vibrating feelings, her calcium is dropping. It took quite a while for my calcium to stabilize. At one point on 30+ calcium pills a day, and my calcium was barely hitting 7.0  That many calcium pills made me sick to my stomach, but I had no choice.

[angieskidney]

Ya they told me I had no calcium in my bones. Is that accurate?

[kitkatz]

Yes, it is accurate.  They call it "hungry bone syndrome".  The bones are getting back at me for having the PTH high and leaching out the calcium and phosphorous from the bones these past couple of years.  They are taking the calcium and phosphorous back into them as fast as they can. Which means I am supposed to have the TUMS four times a day.  I added extra yesterday and the tingling seemed to go away. m I am going to ask some questions at dialysis today and see what I am supposed to be doing for the tingling sensations.  Probably just what Epoman said to do, add the Tums. I will let you all know.

[Epoman]

Yes, it is accurate.  They call it "hungry bone syndrome".  The bones are getting back at me for having the PTH high and leaching out the calcium and phosphorous from the bones these past couple of years.  They are taking the calcium and phosphorous back into them as fast as they can. Which means I am supposed to have the TUMS four times a day.  I added extra yesterday and the tingling seemed to go away. m I am going to ask some questions at dialysis today and see what I am supposed to be doing for the tingling sensations.  Probably just what Epoman said to do, add the Tums. I will let you all know.

Probably? HA! So little faith in me.  If they don't prescribe calcium pills or tell you to take extra Tums, they are idiots. Even a 1st year med student would tell you that. Bottomline is ask a tech at dialysis who most likely will say "I don't know, ask a nurse", then the nurse will say "oh you better talk to your doctor" then they will page the doctor and ask him/her and he will say "Well....have her try taking more tums she should have listened to Epoman in the first place."

 

[kitkatz]

Yes, it is accurate.  They call it "hungry bone syndrome".  The bones are getting back at me for having the PTH high and leaching out the calcium and phosphorous from the bones these past couple of years.  They are taking the calcium and phosphorous back into them as fast as they can. Which means I am supposed to have the TUMS four times a day.  I added extra yesterday and the tingling seemed to go away. m I am going to ask some questions at dialysis today and see what I am supposed to be doing for the tingling sensations.  Probably just what Epoman said to do, add the Tums. I will let you all know.

Probably? HA! So little faith in me.  If they don't prescribe calcium pills or tell you to take extra Tums, they are idiots. Even a 1st year med student would tell you that. Bottomline is ask a tech at dialysis who most likely will say "I don't know, ask a nurse", then the nurse will say "oh you better talk to your doctor" then they will page the doctor and ask him/her and he will say "Well....have her try taking more tums she should have listened to Epoman in the first place."

 

 

[angieskidney]

Ya I will back Epoman and say you MUST take some sort of Phosphate binder and Calcium Supplement of you have no kidney function and your bloodwork shows high phosphate levels and low Calcium and you feel that "tingling/electricuting-type" feeling in your extremities!

[kitkatz]

Oh Mighty Epoman!  You were right on.  The nurse sent me to the dietitian who told me to up my calcium intake.  Take the Tums, a lot of Tums she said. These stupid people! Noone is checking my calcium levels.  I have had one blood work test done since I left the hospital.  Should they be checking it regularly and should I call my internist and holler?

[Epoman]

Oh Mighty Epoman!  You were right on.  The nurse sent me to the dietitian who told me to up my calcium intake.  Take the Tums, a lot of Tums she said. These stupid people! Noone is checking my calcium levels.  I have had one blood work test done since I left the hospital.  Should they be checking it regularly and should I call my internist and holler?

You should be having your calcium drawn weekly. You want to keep it at the very least above 8.0, your bones will be sucking up the calcium for a while. You should be taking several calcium pills or Tums daily and maybe even a Vitamin D supplement which will help in the absorption of the Calcium. If I were you I would pick up some "Extra Strength" Tums. Regular Tums has 500mg of Calcium per tab but we are concerned with the "Elemental Calcium" per pill which is only like 300mg, so I recommend getting the Tums E-X and demanding they draw your calcium weekly.

So maybe next time you won't doubt me. 

- Epoman

[kitkatz]

But I did not doubt you in the least.  I went and took more Tums on your orders/advice!  I bow to your wisdom.  Why do you think I asked you first, oh All knowing Wise Man! 

I am going to hit Rite Aid for the extra strength Tums flavors I like best.  I like their brand best of fruit flavored Tums.
I want to complain about how I feel,  but, oh well...
Couldn't sleep tonight.  I think I need to go to the chiropractor and have to neck put back into whack.  May be too soon after the surgery to go to them.  May try it tomorrow morning.

[kitkatz]

I went to the chiropractor twice and do not have the thumping of my heartbeat in my left ear anymore.  Funny what a neck adjustment can do.  I just wish the silly shoulder pain would go away.
Anyway back t,o the topic.  I was wondering if anyone else after parathyroid surgery, had a strange taste in their mouth.  It is very tinny tasting and comes from the back of the mouth under the tongue.  I thought maybe it was a pill reaction, but it started a few weeks ago after surgery.
I am also hungry a lot.  I mean it feels like there is a big hole and it has to be filled. My new motto is becoming " I could eat."  However I have lost almost six pounds over the last few weeks, too.  Hmmmm.  I think this is just weird!

[angieskidney]

hmm.. I don't think I did. I mean .. I have in the past but didn't notice anything suddenly changed like taste in the mouth after my PT surgery.

[Zach]

 

[Bajanne]

Thanks so much, Zach!  I really needed to read through this again, now that my phosphorus/calcium/PTH levels etc. are of important interest at the moment!