My Parathyroid

By Richard Renstone

 

Have you ever heard of a parathyroid gland? I am guessing that you haven't. After you read My Parathyroid, you will.

 

My Parathyroid is an in-depth guide for individuals or their loved ones diagnosed with hyperparathyroidism or hypoparathyroidism. This helpful and vital guide uses simple language so anyone can understand parathyroid gland disease easily. My Parathyroid explores and covers parathyroid disorders, including anatomy, function, diseases, symptoms, treatments, complications, surgery risks, and recovery. This book also assists readers in choosing a surgeon, or a facility, deciding about surgery, and truly knowing what to expect regarding cures and successful recovery based on real-life accounts of the author's experiences.

 

This guide is divided into two parts. The first part explores the medical theory and practical aspects of the parathyroid glands, the disease, and all other supporting information. In the book's second part, the author provides a journal-style account with supporting information such as lab records, pictures, doctor reports, and more. The artifacts cover the author's symptoms, diagnostic testing, primary hyperparathyroidism diagnosis, and compulsory overseas travel for surgery and recovery.

 

                                                                        Take action now, get well, and get your life back!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Arthur Black Publishing (ABP)
• Release date: Oct 3, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215662687

Richard Renstone

Richard Renstone has been in the workforce for 40 years, with over twenty years of that time being spent as a permanent employee and more than 15 years as a contractor / consultant. The author has held many positions while working in many sectors such as, food industry, office machinery, industrial, energy, mining, publishing, manufacturing, IT, technical services, education, medical devices, industrial electronics, engineering and construction. Richard Renstone has worked for many industry leaders and during that time was very fortunate to work in many parts of the world including, Canada, USA, Columbia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Indonesia, Venezuela, Portugal, Australia, and Italy.

Book preview

CONTENTS

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER 1 - OUR ENDOCRINE SYSTEM

Parathyroid Condition

Thyroid Glands

Parathyroid

Location

Description

Function

Parathyroid Relationships

Aging Factors To Consider

CHAPTER 2 - PARATHYROID CONDITIONS

Parathyroid Conditions

Hypoparathyroidism

Causes

Symptoms of Hypoparathyroidism

Diagnosis

What Options Do You Have

Hyperparathyroidism

Primary Hyperparathyroidism

Secondary Hyperparathyroidism

Symptoms of Hyperparathyroidism

Hyperparathyroidism Complications

What Options Are There

Types of Parathyroidectomies

Post Parathyroidectomy

Medications on Discharge

Recovering at Home

CHAPTER 3 - MY STORY

My Story

Some Background Info

Before Hyperparathyroidism

Mercury Not Uranus

Generalist Internal Medicine

Chelation Therapy

Post-Chelation Therapy

Skepticism

A Year Later

Mercury Test-July 2017

August 2018 -Contract Job

Evolution Diet

I Thought I Was Only Aging

Our Memory

CHAPTER 4 - DIAGNOSIS OF PRIMARY HYPER-PARATHYROIDISM

Annual Physical- Family Physician

March 14th – March 22, 2019

May 6, 2019 – May 29, 2020

June 10, 2019 – June 29, 2020

July 2, 2019- July 22, 2019

The Dismal Canadian Medical System

CHAPTER 5 -  TRAVEL TO BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND

Preparing For The Journey and Parathyroidectomy

July 24TH, 2019 – Flight to Birmingham, United Kingdom

CHAPTER 6 – ENT SURGEON CONSULTATION, TESTING & MEDS

July 29th 2019- ENT Surgeon, Consultation- Lab -Ultrasound

JULY 29, 2019 – BLOOD TEST &  ULTRASOUND TEST

July 30, 2019 – Start Vitamin D

July 31, 2019-Reschedule Lab Test and Ultrasound Test

August 1st, 2019 – Notify ENT Surgeon

August 2nd, 2019 – Reduce Vitamin D

August 5th, 2019 – ENT Consultation Summary-Acidophilus

Receive ENT Consultation Summary by Post

August 6th, 2019 – Contact Pharmacy and ENT

Pharmacy-Cinacalcet

Stopping Medication –August 6th, 2019

Cancel Medication Order

Ultrasound Appointment Change

August 7th, 2019- Pre-Assessment Instructions

August 7th, 2019- Contract and Pre-Assessment Questionnaire

August 7th, 2019 – Contact Pre-Assessment Department

August 7th, 2019 –Consultation – Time Change

August 8th, 2019 –  Diagnostics and Pre-Assessment

Ultrasound

PreOp-Health Assessment

August 8th, 2019 – Returning From Pre-Assessment and Ultrasound

August 9th, 2019 – Taxi and prepaid Train Tickets, Email

August 10th, 2019 – Blood Test and Preliminary Surgery Test-Ultrasound

ENT Follow-Up Consultation

Summary of Possible Surgery Risks

August 11th, 2019- Email My Brother

My Expectations

CHAPTER 7 – BILATERAL EXPLORATORY PARATHYRIDECTOMY

August 12th, 2019 - Bilateral Exploratory Parathyroidectomy

Scarring

August 13th, 2019 – Post Parathyroidectomy

Post-Operative Changes

Post Parathyroidectomy – 12-Hour Blood Work

The Surgical Results

Note to the Reader:

Pathology Report (September 23, 2019)

Post-Parathyroidectomy ENT Surgeon Report

24-Hours Post Parathyroidectomy Blood Test

Clinical Release- Trip Back To Shrewsbury, UK

CHAPTER 8 - ROAD TO RECOVERY - Aug 14th to OCT 1st  2022

August 14th, 2019 –Recovery Commences

August 15th, 2019 - Eureka

August 16th, 2019 – Recovery Continues

August 17, 2019 – Recovery Continues

August 18th, 2019 - Surgery Scar

August 19th, 2019 – Recovery

August 20th, 2019 – Follow Up ENT Surgeon

August 21, 2019 – Recovery

August 22, 2019 - Recovery

August 23, 2019 – August 26, 2019- Recovery and Mobility

August 24th, 2029 – Low Calcium

August 25th, 2029 – Low Calcium

August 27, 2019, to October 1st, 2019 -Recovery-Walking-Scar

August 28, 2019 – Scar Serum Cream

August 28, 2019- Surgery Scar

August 29, 2019 – Walks and Start Scar Cream

August 30, 2019 – Exhausted Feel Ill

August 31, 2019 – Exhausted and Ill

September 1st, 2019- High Calcium

September 2nd, 2019- Low Calcium

September 3rd - 4th, 2019- Low Calcium

September 4th, 2019 to September 30th, 2019

September 11th, 2019 – EMAIL

September 13, 2019

September 16, 2019 - Surgical Scar

September 23, 2019- Receive photos of Diseased Parathyroid

September 19-2019 - Surgical Scar

September 20-2019 - Surgical Scar

September 28, 2019 - Surgical Scar

CHAPTER 9 - FLIGHT TO CANADA

October 1st, 2019 – Return to Canada

October 2nd, 2019

CHAPTER 10 - CANADIAN FOLLOW-UP AND DIAGNOSTICS

October 4th, 2019 –Endocrinologist #2 Appointment

October 7th, 2019 –Family Physician

October 9th, 2019 –Lab Tests

October 11th, 2019 – Follow-Up Appointment

October 15, 2019 – MEN 2 Results

October 24th, 2019 – Endocrinologist#2 Follow Up

Excerpt of  Endocrinologist#2 Report

November 25th, 2019- Blood Test

November 29th, 2019 – Follow Up- Blood Test

December 12th, 2019 – Lab Test Blood

December 20th, 2019 – Follow up blood test

December 31st, 2019 - Gratitude

January 21, 2020 – Surgical Scar

January 28th, 2020- COVID 19 OUTBREAK IN CHINA

January 30th, 2020 - #2 Endocrinologist Appointment – Follow Up

January 30, 2020 – Follow up #2 Endocrinologist Follow Up

February 21, 2020- Surgical Scar

February 29, 2020 – Surgical Scar

March 13th, 2020 – Lab Test Calcium, Albumin, Vitamin D

March 17th, 2020- Endocrinologist#2 Follow-Up

March 18th, 2020 –Follow Up - Vitamin D and PTH

Charts Printed March 18, 2020

April 13, 2020 – Lab Test

April 16th, 2020 – Family Physician- Lab Results

April 16th, 2020 – Endocrinologist- Follow-Up

April 21, 2020 – Endocrinologist #2- Report

CHAPTER 11 - CURED & RELEASED

Cured - Calcium Results

June 6th-2020- June 14th, 2020 Increase Vitamin D 3000 IUS daily

June 10, 2020 – Surgical Scar

September 20, 2020 – Surgical Scar

October 3, 2020 – Book Lab-Blood tests

October 7th, 2020 – Family Physician- Follow-Up Results

CHAPTER 12 - LESSONS LEARNED

Silent Disease

Aches and Pain

Cognitive Dysfunction

Memory Functions

Not Employable

Canadian Medical System

Endocrinologist Almost Killed Me

Logistics

Realizations

Medications and Supplements

Overall Surgery Costs

Things I Don't Know - Unknowns

CHAPTER 13 - Conclusion

Bibliography

OTHER BOOKS BY THE AUTHOR

INTRODUCTION

Welcome to My Parathyroid: I Thought It Was The Effects of Aging. I can only guess that you or a loved one has been diagnosed with a parathyroid disease and now you are puzzled. It could also be that your doctor told you to take medication instead of having surgery, or you or a loved one has already had surgery.

Whatever your situation, I want to say that you are not alone because I was diagnosed with primary hyperparathyroidism in 2019.  I took medication and underwent complete bilateral surgery at the age of fifty-six (56) in a different country and continent.

So I wrote this book to help readers understand their or their loved one's condition. And to provide insight and understanding about parathyroid diseases, symptoms, diagnosis, causes, cures, procedures, and expectations. Most importantly, this awful disease is silent and doesn’t discriminate.

This book explains the author's journey from start to finish or from diagnosis to cure. It provides an accurate account of what to expect, easing your anxiety, fears, and doubts about this disease and surgery. The text helps you make some choices that work for you.

Remember that everyone generally has different genetics, outcomes, and experiences, especially compared to the disease's academic or theoretical viewpoints.  In other words, your experience differs from mine and many others who have experienced this disease. 

There is an abundance of scattered information available online to help anyone understand this disease. However, this book encompasses everything you need to know about parathyroid diseases. Most importantly, it brings awareness of the urgency involved in curing primary hyperparathyroidism to get your life back and start living a normal life again. When it comes to this disease, time is not on your side, and you must take immediate action.

Chapter 1 explores the theoretical medical facts about parathyroid glands, such as parathyroid anatomy and function. It continues in Chapter 2 to discuss parathyroid conditions (hypo and hyper). The text then examines diseases, symptoms, treatments, complications, parathyroidectomy risks, and recovery.

After Chapter 2 onward, the text changes focus and is written in a journal-style format about my personal experiences.  Chapter 3 looks at my background, health, and symptoms. In contrast, Chapter 4 centers on diagnostics, diagnosing primary hyperparathyroidism, medications, and the failing Canadian Medical system. In Chapter 5, with no options in Canada, travel to a different continent and country, the United Kingdom, to have corrective surgery.  Chapter 6 includes the ENT Surgeon consultation and diagnostics leading up to the curative surgery in Chapter 7.  The road to recovery is described in Chapter 8 until returning to Canada in Chapter 9.  In Chapter 10, Canadian doctors and diagnostics are explored up to Chapter 11, when released and cured. In Chapter 12, the text examines all the lessons learned from the entire experience.  

As far as this disease goes, unfortunately, no one knows why it happens and what the causes are, only what happens when we have it and what we can do to treat it and cure it.

CHAPTER 1 - OUR ENDOCRINE SYSTEM

Parathyroid Condition

The condition or disease we have happens within our endocrine system, comprising major endocrine glands, including the pineal, pituitary, pancreas, ovaries, testes, thyroid, parathyroid, hypothalamus, and adrenal. The endocrine system glands discharge substances such as hormones into the bloodstream circulated throughout the body and have a vital role in maintaining homeostasis or a metabolic or chemical balance of our body. Any living organism requires this metabolic balance because of constant external influences that cause continuous metabolic changes to occur in our body.

For instance, our body temperature is generally 98.6° degrees Fahrenheit or 37° Celsius. The body regulates our temperature when the temperature rises or falls by a couple of degrees. Some external factors that influence our temperature are exercising or sitting in the sun or outside during winter. For instance, when you start to feel a shiver in the cold during the winter months or while sweating after a vigorous workout or during hot summer days, your body uses homeostasis to regulate or control your body temperature by sweating or by cooling.

Another example of homeostasis is when it comes to sugar and our intake of sugar or glucose. Glucose regulation in our bloodstream is required to keep our body in healthy working order. The endocrine system must maintain the glucose level in our body continuously regardless of outside changes or ones we induce.

Some of these can be eating a piece of fruit, drinking a glass of juice, having a teaspoon of sugar or honey in your coffee or tea,  or munching on your favorite chocolate delight or whatever your sweet fancy may be. When we eat a sugar-based product, we immediately elevate the glucose level in our bloodstream. At that point, our body must perform homeostasis to regulate the flow and control the amount of sugar in the bloodstream.

Our body uses the endocrine system glands to control our high glucose level by the pancreas becoming activated, releasing a substance or hormone called insulin. However, if the glucose level drops too low, we fatigue, so the liver converts a glucose component called glycogen back into glucose to elevate our glucose level. Glycogen is a form of energy storage in our body and is also the only fuel our brain uses.  

As you can see, our endocrine system and its functioning organs and glands all serve a vital role in continuously maintaining and regulating many of our bodily functions and systems. This very complex chemical network is essential to maintaining a healthy body.

When any of these systems are not functioning correctly, we have deficiencies or abundances in certain hormones. For example, one unfortunate common disease known by almost everyone is diabetes. This is when the pancreas cannot produce adequate insulin to regulate the bloodstream's glucose level.

However, when it comes to our condition, we have another problem with a different part of our endocrine system that is malfunctioning, called the parathyroid gland. Have you ever even heard of the parathyroid gland before? I had never heard of it until I had a problem. One thing I have heard of before and some people having trouble with was the word thyroid and thyroid gland.

Thyroid Glands

All I knew about our thyroid gland was that they controlled some systems in our bodies related to gaining weight quickly. I know this because I have spoken to people who had thyroid problems throughout my life, and many were overweight because of the dysfunctional thyroid glands.

The thyroid glands are another part of the endocrine system in our body. The thyroid gland weighs about an ounce and is located at the front of your neck below the larynx (voice box) below the trachea cartilage area, commonly referred to as the Adam's Apple. The thyroid has two main lobes positioned on either side of the trachea or your windpipe. These two lobes are joined by the isthmus tissue located between both lobes, which are perpendicular to your windpipe.

The thyroid gland converts iodine found in many foods we eat into hormones our body uses. These hormones are used for metabolism regulation by every cell in our body. The thyroid controls how our body uses energy by releasing the hormones it produces. The thyroid regulates vital body functions such as breathing, heart rate, weight, muscle strength, menstrual cycles, body temperature, cholesterol levels, etc.  The thyroid gland functions are controlled by a separate gland in the endocrine system called the pituitary gland.

So, why am I explaining the thyroid gland? Well, our parathyroid glands are located on the thyroid gland. However, both the thyroid and parathyroid glands have separate functions. The lower artery of the thyroid gland mainly supplies blood to the parathyroid glands. Both glands share venous drainage, deoxygenated blood circulated back to the heart, and lymphatic drainage, drained into the thyroid vessels, and both produce and secrete hormones our body uses.  

What are the parathyroid glands, and what role do they have in our body and within our endocrine system?

Parathyroid

What the hell is the parathyroid gland? That was the first question I had after being diagnosed. I have never heard of this parathyroid thing, nor have I ever heard of anyone else having a problem with it ever in my entire life! In fact, I don’t know anyone or even their friends or relatives or anyone, period! Well, let me explain so you do know what it is.

Location

The Parathyroid glands are a part of our endocrine system and are small glands located in our neck located on the backside of the thyroid gland lobes. There are usually four parathyroid glands. However, there is a variation in people since some people can have two while others can have up to six. As I keep saying, everyone is different. Generally, there are two upper and two lower glands on the left and right thyroid lobes' backside. Doesn’t this almost sound like I am describing a surround sound system or something? Our parathyroid glands play a crucial role in our well-being and healthy bodily functions.

Description

The parathyroid glands' most famous descriptions specify that each gland is a flat, oval-shaped disc and yellowish-brown color. A comparison to a lentil seed comes into play because lentil seeds are similar in color and are flat disc-shaped seeds. Typically, parathyroid gland size is compared to the size of a grain of rice.

When it comes to actual measurements, a parathyroid gland is typically about 5 to 6 mm long and 3 to 4 mm wide, and 1 to 2 mm in circumference. Of course, this is a generalization because, as I keep saying, everyone is different.  Some can be larger and still be functioning normally. So what does the parathyroid gland do, or in other words, what function does it play?

Function

The parathyroid gland’s function is to produce and secrete parathyroid hormone or PTH in response to the bloodstream's calcium levels. This means the parathyroid glands and the hormones they produce play a key role in regulating the amount of serum calcium in our bloodstream. This regulation process is controlled by the glands receptors that detect calcium ions or Ca2, and the secretion of PTH is used to add or reduce the amount of calcium in the bloodstream, as our body requires it.

The PTH hormone has a strong stimulating effect on cells throughout our bodies.  PTH regulates how much calcium our body absorbs from our diet, dictates the amount of calcium secreted from our kidneys, and how much calcium is stored or expelled from our bones. In fact, our bones are the largest storage medium for calcium holding many kilograms of calcium that is readily available for use by the request of the parathyroid glands via PTH level.

Another way of understanding how the parathyroid glands and the PTH level are used for regulating our body’s calcium is to associate the PTH hormone as a type of feedback control messaging loop to increase or decrease calcium levels in our body.

For instance, when there is a low calcium level in the bloodstream, our body requires more calcium, so the parathyroid glands increase the PTH level to tell our body to produce and distribute more calcium.

Alternatively, when we have a high calcium level in the bloodstream through diet or other sources, the parathyroid glands message our body to reduce the amount of calcium proportionally by reducing the PTH level. This highly-sophisticated regulatory system is very dynamic in responding to our body’s needs to stabilize our body’s calcium, phosphorus, Vitamin D deficiencies, or excesses. This feedback system works very similarly to the thermostat in your house, which controls or regulates house temperature, or the cruise control in your car, regulating your vehicle speed.

For example, a thermostat and a furnace are used when controlling your home's temperature during the winter. The thermostat is the control we use to set what temperature level we want in our home. When the thermostat is set to 75° Fahrenheit, it ensures the temperature doesn’t fall below or climb above 75° F. However, if the temperature drops below 75°F, the thermostat sends a high-level feedback signal to the furnace, telling it to turn on and produce heat to raise the house temperature back to 75° F.

Once the temperature of 75° F is reached, the thermostat sends another low-level feedback signal to the furnace to tell it to shut off and quit supplying heat. This cycle continues 24/7 to maintain a certain level of heat continually. The thermostat setting is similar to the level of calcium our body requires. The feedback signals or messages the thermostat sends to the furnace are like the PTH or parathyroid hormone secretion level used to control calcium and phosphorus levels. However, Vitamin D is also required for calcium to be absorbed efficiently. Therefore the parathyroid hormone has relationships with Vitamin D and phosphorous.  

Parathyroid Relationships

To understand what is happening, we must explore the function of the relationships and purposes of calcium, Vitamin D, and phosphorus and their roles in the overall parathyroid functional scheme.

Calcium

The largest calcium storage in our bodies is in our teeth and bones, while about 1% of our total calcium is found circulating throughout our body in the bloodstream and in the body’s soft tissue. Calcium is a vital mineral our body uses for multiple functions.  

It is known that calcium mainly plays a primary role in maintaining both bone and teeth health. It also promotes normal brain function by transmitting signals in nerve and brain cells and is a part of muscle contraction. In fact, almost every cell in the body uses calcium. Blood calcium levels are used to stabilize blood pressure levels and blood clotting.

Our body regulates our calcium levels within a narrow range, optimal for our bodies, making our cells stay healthy and providing ideal performance.  The parathyroid glands regulate our calcium levels by sensing the amount of calcium in our bloodstream and controlling the quantity our bones release or store calcium. The parathyroid gland accomplishes this balance by having a dynamic relationship with Vitamin D.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D or the Sunshine Vitamin primarily when our skin is exposed to sunlight, a natural source of Vitamin D. Our body chemically processes the sunshine into Vitamin D or Calciferol and passes it into our bloodstream.

The amount of Vitamin D you receive from sunlight depends on the skin area exposed, time of day, amount of sun-blocker application, time in the sun, season, latitude, and skin pigmentation.

Generally, to maintain a healthy Vitamin D level, a person requires at least 10 to 30 minutes of midday sunlight at least 2 to 3 times a week without a sun blocker or sunscreen. One should also wear a T or muscle shirt, halter, or strapless top and shorts, which exposes about 40% to 50% of your skin. Exposure to the sun is to get a natural dose of Vitamin D, not to burn.  These factors play a significant role in how much Vitamin D you receive while exposed to the sun.  

Another source of Vitamin D comes from our diet. Some foods