Hyperparathyroidism is a disease of the parathyroid glands. Too much parathyroid hormone is produced by an overactive parathyroid gland. This is called hyperparathyroidism.
Hyperparathyroidism occurs when one or more of the four parathyroid glands becomes a tumor and behaves inappropriately by constantly making excess parathyroid hormone regardless of the level of calcium. In other words, one of the parathyroid glands has lost its control mechanism and continues to make large amounts of parathyroid hormone without paying attention to the high level of blood calcium. Thus, even when the calcium level is high--when the parathyroids should not be making any hormone--one of the glands continues to make the hormone. Why? Because one of the parathyroid glands developed a benign tumor and lost its inhibitions and controls. Remember as you read about hyperparathyroidism it is a hormone problem created by a benign parathyroid tumor. It is not a cancer problem.
As you educate yourself and your doctor about your hyperparathyroidism and symptoms please keep these 10 rules in mind:
- There are no drugs that will make parathyroid disease better….None.
--Read More-- - Nearly all parathyroid patients have symptoms; 95% know it--and feel bad. Most of the rest just don’t know it until the disease is cured.
--Read More-- - Symptoms of parathyroid disease do NOT correlate with the level of calcium in the blood. Many patients with only slightly elevated calcium and parathyroid hormone will have BAD symptoms and develop severe osteoporosis.
--Read More-- - All patients with parathyroid disease have calcium levels and PTH levels that go up and down. Fluctuating levels of calcium are typical of parathyroid disease.
--Read More-- - All patients with hyperparathyroidism will develop osteoporosis. ALL.
--Read more-- - Taking Fosamax, Actonel, Boniva, or Reclast (etc) will NOT help bones that are being attacked by a bad parathyroid. These osteoporosis drugs have no place in the treatment of parathyroid disease.
--Read More-- - Parathyroid disease will get worse over time in all patients. It will not stay the same, nor will it get better on its own.
--Read More-- - There is only one treatment for parathyroid disease (hyperparathyroidism): Surgery
--Read More-- - Nearly all parathyroid patients can be cured with a minimal operation. The days of big dangerous parathyroid surgery are gone (so don't let your surgeon perform one on you!).
--Read More-- - The success rate and complication rate for parathyroid surgery is VERY dependent upon the surgeon’s experience.
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