Save My Life: Hyperparathyroidism?
savemylyfe.blogspot.com
savemylyfe.blogspot.com
It turns out the scans can be very hit and miss. The parathyroid glands are very small and the reliability of the scans depends largely on the experience of the person carrying them out. Hyperparathyroidism is the only known condition to cause increased PTH levels. If both serum PTH and calcium are high then it's almost certain to be hyperparathyroidism. A simple test for PTH levels can confirm or rule out the diagnosis.
As for treatment, here in the UK, most hospitals still perform the 'old' style surgery (open parathyroidectomy) which is risky and has a long recovery time. I'm saving for an operation at a hospital abroad which performs a minimally invasive procedure - much safer and quicker.
Good luck and keep us posted.
I've read that even getting a positive lab diagnosis can be tricky, as Calcium & PTH levels fluctuate fairly rapidly, and you sometimes have to get the test repeated many times over a period of weeks.
Good luck in finding a good facility. If it turns out that this is what I have, maybe we'll end up comparing notes on that sort of thing.
Keep in mind, that Starr's work in controversial, but part of the bedrock of his research is that the standard blood tests for thyroid are unable to distinguish between active thyroid hormone, and hormone that has had the iodine atoms replaced with bromine, chlorine, or florine, all of which have a higher affinity than iodine. As such a blood test may appear normal for thyroid, when in fact, one is thyroid deficient.