High calcium levels

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Has anyone has high calcium levels in blood? And what was the outcome? I have had severe headaches daily for 3 months anxiety and back pain/neck pain so had bloods now need to get further tests. Am freaking out am a worrier

Most common cause would be primary hyperparathyroidism, which is a benign condition that is generally very treatable. Another common cause would be severe vitamin D deficiency, which is very easy to treat.

There are rarer and scarier causes but I don’t think it’s helpful to list them here. If you can, I would avoid google, try not to worry, see what the tests show.

Thank you so much for replying. I have my bloods tomorrow then doctors wants to see me on Friday am so so nervous.

What are the treatments for those listed above if you don't mind or know please I want to stay of Google x

I had high calcium levels once because I was having too many supplements!!!! You aren't popping indigestion meds are you? I would assume benign until you hear otherwise

No I don't take anything other than anti depressants and painkillers for the headaches and pains.
A benign? So the non c tumour on the thyroid?

Ah no. Hopefully all will be fine. My Mum actually had GCA which is related to blood calcium (according to her consultant) and just needed steroids for a year. But GCA is an old people disease

A benign (not cancerous) growth, usually an adenoma, on one (very occasionally two) of the Parathyroid glands. The parathyroids are 4 tiny little glands behind the thyroid gland in the front of the neck. It can be treated with medication while waiting to have the growth surgically removed, usually as a day-case or one night hospital stay. The doctor should refer you for scans to check which parathyroid gland(s) and involved and also have a scan to check for osteoporosis.

Hyperglycaemia can affect the brain and can cause depression, along with fatigue. Maybe if they sort this out, it might help your depression longterm as well.

Thank you all for replies. Have bloods tomorrow morning then a doctors appointment on Friday so hopefully all gets cleared up

I had hyperparathyroidism several years ago, my calcium was really high and I did feel rough. A benign tumour was found on my parathyroid gland, it was removed stayed in hospital overnight and have been fine ever since! Good luck.

I know this thread is a couple of months old but I just wondered on your outcome OP?
I have just been referred to endocrinology as my calcium is high and vit D low despite supplements. Waiting for an appointment and wondering what they will be looking for

@Fiddlersgreen how did you get on? I know this is old but I'm going through similar at the moment with the most awful symptoms

@HasB can I help? I used to have high calcium so know a fair bit about it.

@OchAyeTheN00 please tell me as I'm so worried and feel awful and have a baby and young children to care for

Mine turned out to be primary Hyperparathyroidism.
i had surgery last week to remove the offending gland

@Fiddlersgreen that's great news how are you feeling and what were your symptoms? Did you have any bone or kidney damage?

@HasB nothing to be worried about but it can make you feel awful. I had fatigue, constipation, tingling in my extremeties, high stomach acid causing gastritis and anxiety.

I didn’t have any bone damage nor kidney stones but I do have medullary nephrocalcinosis as a consequence which in layman’s terms is when you have deposits of calcium in the middle of your kidneys. My kidneys will be monitored annually for the rest of my life but function has been fine so far. I haven’t been referred to a kidney specialist at all, so I don’t think it’s a big deal? It did get me my surgery quicker though to prevent more damage.

I had surgery in 2020, one gland removed. Annual monitoring since. Infact I’m due my post op bloods now :)

I had young children too, my husband was a huge support when I was exhausted and couldn’t get off the sofa to cook dinner or bathe them. By 2pm I was just done in!

did you see the recommendation on the other post to join the fb group hyperPARAthyroid acrion4change? Great group.

I had bloods taken last February which revealed high calcium. Due to long waiting NHS lists I paid privately to see an Endocrinologist . I had repeat bloods, a 24 hour urine collection,an ultrasound of my neck and a Dexa scan. As a result it was discovered that I had primary hyperparathyroidism and osteoporosis. My benign adenoma is on the lower left parathyroid gland.
NHS guidelines suggest Bisophonates and it has been suggested that the experts will treat my condition conservatively.
At this point I am choosing to take a different path and will save to have the operation to remove the adenoma.
Good luck x

@OchAyeTheN00 thank you I have joined the group and looking into private surgery. My pth hormone was done on its own only once and vit D plus calcium together. I've ended up in a&E with calcium 2.67 and they say it's not that high but I'm getting every symptom listed and more. Paid for a few private scans and no adenoma on neck ultrasound but I know sometimes they are not visible. Kidney scan clear last month and dexa shows Osteopenia. Could this all be something else? Google is scary. Feel awful so husband doing everything past month.

@sparkleystuff how old are you if you don't mind me asking? I'm 41. My GP won't give me any medication to lower the calcium levels. What scan showed up your adenoma?

High calcium can cause kidney stones. Awaiting a blood test for this myself.

@Mittens67 let us know how you get on. Do you have any symptoms?

Was your surgery on the NHS? So it took over a year for surgery? Did you have any symptoms?

Yes, blimmin kidney stones. The most painful thing I have ever experienced in my life, and that includes cancer and side effects of cancer treatment and advanced arthritis.
No other symptoms of high calcium but I need a blood test to rule this out.

@sparkleystuff completely agree. Surgery is the only option worth pursuing. Conservativism should be reserved for those where operating is not safe, such as the very elderly.

@HasB very unlikely to be something else other than FHH but you wouldn’t have symptoms with that. Unable to diagnose without bloods done from the same blood draw though I’m afraid. You really need to see a private endo if that’s possible as your GP sounds like an idiot. No point going to a surgeon until you’re diagnosed. But like I say, calcium, PTH and vitamin d from the same blood draw.

you don’t need medication to lower your calcium, they have side effects. You need surgery if this is your problem. I was 33 when I had my surgery. Ultrasound isn’t the best method for finding the adenoma. You need a sistmibi scan. Again a decent endo will help. Ask on the fb group for recommendations in your area.

my adenoma was found by ultrasound though, I was lucky. A mibi scan confirmed it so I could have targeted surgery.

I waited 9 months from referral to surgery but as I say I was urgent. Plenty of people wait longer. I was going to go private but then covid happened and you couldn’t use private hospitals. It’s about 6.5k for private surgery.

Yes on the NHS. Was referred to Endo July 2023, first appt with them was Sept 2023.
Had scans, ultrasound, DEXA scan etc and then listed for surgery in Dec 2023.
Was told waiting list was 6 months but it took longer.
My symptoms were mild compared to others, extreme tiredness, joint pain, constipation, low mood mainly. Things that could have all been caused by other things.
I’m only a week past surgery so think too soon to know if those symptoms have all gone or not