Parathyroid disease is more common and more debilitating than most people realize. Yet it often goes undiagnosed for years, leaving people to live with vague but life-limiting parathyroid disease symptoms, like fatigue, brain fog, or bone pain, with no clear explanation or effective treatment plan. Some are told it’s just part of aging. Others are treated for depression or osteoporosis without anyone checking their parathyroid health.
If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Parathyroid disease is significantly underdiagnosed, leading to needless suffering and frustration. But there is a solution — and for most people, treating parathyroid disease leads to fast, lasting, life-changing improvement.
What Are the Parathyroid Glands?
The parathyroid glands are four tiny, pea-sized structures located behind the thyroid in your neck. Despite their name, they have nothing to do with the thyroid’s function. Their job is to regulate calcium, a mineral essential for healthy bones, muscles, nerves, and brain function. They produce parathyroid hormone (PTH), which keeps calcium levels in your blood within a narrow, healthy range.
If even one of the parathyroid glands produces too much PTH, it can disrupt your calcium balance, leading to bone loss, strain on the heart and kidneys, and cognitive changes.
What Is Parathyroid Disease?
Parathyroid disease occurs when one or more of the parathyroid glands become overactive, producing too much parathyroid hormone (PTH). This leads to high calcium levels in the blood, a condition called hyperparathyroidism, which is by far the most common form of parathyroid disease.
There are two main types:
- Primary hyperparathyroidism happens when a benign tumor (usually a parathyroid adenoma) causes a gland to overproduce PTH.
- Secondary hyperparathyroidism is typically triggered by chronic kidney disease or severe vitamin D deficiency, which causes the glands to go into overdrive in an attempt to maintain normal calcium levels.
Over time, excess PTH causes calcium to be pulled from the bones and dumped into the bloodstream, which can lead to osteoporosis, kidney stones, fatigue, and other severe symptoms. Fortunately, treating parathyroid disease can prevent long-term complications and dramatically improve quality of life.
Symptoms of Parathyroid Disease You Should Know
Parathyroid disease can cause a wide range of symptoms, many of which are subtle, frustrating, and easily dismissed or misdiagnosed.
Common symptoms of parathyroid disease include:
- Fatigue or low energy that doesn’t improve with rest
- Brain fog, poor concentration, or forgetfulness
- Bone pain or osteoporosis, especially with fractures
- Muscle weakness or cramps
- Depression, anxiety, or irritability
- Frequent urination and increased thirst
- Kidney stones, polyuria, or reduced kidney function
- Abdominal pain, constipation, or acid reflux
- Headaches or migraines
Parathyroid disease symptoms often come on gradually, and many patients are told they’re just “getting older” or dealing with unrelated conditions. But persistent symptoms like these, especially with high calcium levels, are a red flag.
How Parathyroid Disease Is Diagnosed
Parathyroid disease is most often discovered after a routine blood test reveals high calcium levels. If calcium levels are elevated, your doctor may order further testing to measure parathyroid hormone (PTH), check kidney function, and assess vitamin D and urine calcium levels to clarify the diagnosis.
If your PTH is elevated and parathyroid disease is suspected, imaging studies, such as a sestamibi scan or ultrasound, may help locate an overactive gland. These tests guide treatment planning and confirm the source of excess hormone production.
Effective Treatment for Parathyroid Disease
The most effective treatment for parathyroid disease is surgical removal of the overactive gland, a procedure known as parathyroidectomy. For primary hyperparathyroidism, surgery is typically curative and often results in rapid symptom relief.
Parathyroid surgery is performed using minimally invasive techniques that allow for a precise, targeted approach with minimal scarring and downtime.
In some cases of secondary hyperparathyroidism, treatment may involve managing chronic kidney disease or correcting severe vitamin D deficiency to reduce hormone levels and restore calcium balance.
Treating parathyroid disease not only normalizes calcium levels but can dramatically improve energy, mood, bone density, mental clarity, and overall well-being.
What to Expect After Parathyroid Treatment: Improved Health and Quality of Life
Most people feel noticeably better within days of parathyroid surgery. Symptoms such as fatigue, brain fog, irritability, and bone pain often quickly ease once your calcium levels normalize.
In the weeks that follow, you can look forward to steady improvements in:
- Energy and mood
- Mental clarity and focus
- Bone strength and density
- Sleep quality and digestion
For many patients, treating parathyroid disease is truly life-changing, restoring the health, energy, and peace of mind they’ve missed for years but couldn’t get anyone to take seriously.
Schedule a Parathyroid Disease Consultation with Dr. Larian Today
Don’t wait to reclaim your life from the symptoms of parathyroid disease. At the Center for Advanced Parathyroid Surgery, Dr. Babak Larian offers expert evaluation, personalized treatment, and life-changing relief.
Schedule your consultation or contact us today.
