Had some labs done on Friday....results have me worried...

[justme1972]

My hair has been falling out for the past few months...not in clumps, but in strings and the volume of my hair has decreased dramatically this year.

I went to the physician on Friday to have my thyroid checked, convinced that I had hypothyroidism.

Well, they called today and said I am hypercalcemic...and that has me concerned...mainly because I have to come in Monday for more blood work and there is a strong history of renal failure in my family.

What I found on Wikipedia didn't help much either.

I would love to be able to say that I over-indulge on supplements or drink tons of milk and eat lost of cheese ice cream, but I don't. In fact, my calcium intake is probably only about 1 serving a day.

[Gr8Dane]

Talk to your doctor not nurses on this site. Hyper CA can mean countless things.

[leslie :-D]

have you read about hyperparathyroidism?

http://parathyroid.com/parathyroid-symptoms.htm

leslie

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

Hi Hopeful - we aren't supposed to give advice here but I would definitely call your doc back and ask him. No reason to go through the weekend without some ideas. Regardless of the bloodwork due on Monday.

I have to say, your symptoms sound like mine.

steph

[rjflyn, ASN, RN]

Thats the bad thing about giving results over the phone. You got just enough to worry. Like previously mentioned we cant give advice. But without knowing what tests were done and what results were what only the doctor knows what he is thinking about.

Rj

[Lorie P.]

we can't give advice on here, so sorry about your test results of hypercalcemia.

try doing a research on hyperparathyroidism.

if you talk to you doc or his office explain how nervous you are and don't appreciate having to go all weekend with this hanging over your head.

[Lisa CCU RN, RN]

If you had renal failure, you'd have hypocalcemia. Right?

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

If you had renal failure, you'd have hypocalcemia. Right?

Not always, acute renal failure syndromes can have hypercal., but for the most part chronic failure patients are hypocal. and take supplements like Tums, which is probably what your thinking about.

To the OP, hugs and good luck. Try not to speculate.

[justme1972]

Not always, acute renal failure syndromes can have hypercal., but for the most part chronic failure patients are hypocal. and take supplements like Tums, which is probably what your thinking about.

To the OP, hugs and good luck. Try not to speculate.

Thanks Tweety...it's good advice...this is the problem with being a student...you know just enough to scare yourself.

After I posted this, I did find out that the family members I have that are in renal failure do take calcium supplements...but they also spill protein and blood in their urine...I have always made sure my physicians have always been aware of this as well as the Peds for my children. My urine tests are always clear as the condition that runs in our family (the name escapes me...it's long) all have the same s/sx.

I'm trying not to borrow trouble and I know that websites will make you think that you are going to drop dead tomorrow if you read enough of them....I had to stop reading.

Yes, I did read about the hyperparathyroidism...I appreciate the link.

I'll post more when I know more. I go back in on Monday and will probably take about 5 days to get the labs back.

[justme1972]

Update:

I haven't had a chance to see the physician yet (they are waiting for my second round of labs to get back).

On the order sheet for the labs they are running a check for ionized calcium, PTH, and Vitamin D.

I called the physician back and told them about my family history with regards to renal failure. I know that physicians really don't have time to go through every single sheet of the file whenever you go back. I just wanted to help her out. I was surprised they didn't run a urinalysis as well.

I do have a general question...you know those urine test strips that have all those little squares on them? Does anyone know if those can be purchased online and what they are called?

[justme1972]

Update:

Well, my physician called me today and they say that I have primary hyperparathyroidism.

They are going to start me on Vitamin D therapy right now, but she feels that I most likey need surgery, so she is referring me to an endocrinologist.

They are going to be doing a bone density test as well as further cancer screening.

I am really, really hoping that it's going to be over and done with. With such young children, I cannot imagine having to face anything more serious.

[Eirene, ASN, RN]

I could have written this myself!

I have had recurring kidney stones, two of which have been in the last 6 weeks. I finally went to my PCP and he ordered a PTH... it turns out I have hyperparathyroidism! This is a brand new diagnosis and I don't know much about it yet-- but I'll research it next week.

Thanks for writing about this!