[anon-5]

This is well worth checking out. I have symptoms similar to yours and I was eventually diagnosed with hyperparathyroidism. My PTH and calcium levels were high all along, but they ruled out hyperparathyroidism because the radioactive and ultrasound scans they did failed to show the inflamed gland.

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.

[savemylife]

Wow, so it sounds like even once you're diagnosed via lab tests, you still have to fight to get it "fixed". That really sucks. parathyroid.com says that if you have the high Calcium and PTH, you "have it, and need an operation". I dunno how reliable that site is though.

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.