Stones, Bones, Moans and Groans – Hyperparathyroidism & Me

Welcome to my world of hyperparathyroidism!

Normal blogging service will resume shortly, but decided that this would be an appropriate time to try to share what’s been going on around here recently.

The stones, bones, moans and groans will be explained, if you care to read on!

About this time last year I started having (even more than usual) trouble sleeping, felt (even more) exhausted all the time, and lots of feet and leg pain. It was hard to be specific about how I felt but “bleeeuuugh” probably sums it up!

Fast forward to November, following raised calcium and lots of tests, hyperparathyroidism was diagnosed.

I won’t bore you with all the details but here is a non-medical version.

Medical students are taught to remember the condition with the following:

• Stones – kidney stones – ouch – yes, got those
• Bones – achy painful bones – definitely got those
• Moans – abdominal pain and cramps etc – yup, but no more details required!
• Groans – depression, short term memory loss, and confusion and “brain fog” – yes to all, and these were probably the confusion and “cognitive function” most alarming symptoms. I really thought I was losing my mind.

Following diagnosis there have been lots more tests – x-rays, nuclear scans, ultrasound scans and dexa bone scans.

It is probable that I have had this for over 16 years! I did have a raised calcium level back in 1995, so I have been living with this for most of my married life (yes, pity my husband!).  I have had lots of vague symptoms, aches and pains, headaches and not sleeping, but only in this past year has everything come to a head and coincided with raised calcium again and an on-the-ball GP.  It is a relief to know I am not an old, lazy, achy hypochondriac who is losing her mind!

Yesterday we met with an endocrine surgeon in Belfast.  Due to the increasing severity of my symptoms and the impact it is having on my life and my family, the surgeon has proposed surgery within a month! It may sound odd to be happy about surgery but I am just glad that there is a chance of improvement.

Surgery is scheduled for 1 March – it’s time to buy a new dressing gown and slippers for the hospital!

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If you want to find out more about hyperparathyroidism there are LOTS of websites out there, but some can be quite alarming.  I have total confidence in my surgeon and am hoping to soon have this all behind me and get on with the rest of my life.

My photos in this post have nothing to do with hyperparathyroidism, but it would be a rather boring post without them!  They are all photos from here in N Ireland.