The story of Trudi
2009 was a difficult year. February – I lost my husband suddenly to heart attack. May – had my thyroid removed. June – Managed to finish my degree that I had been doing while working. October got a mortgage and moved home. Daughters one had flown the nest January and the other August. All good that’s what they are supposed to do.
After the op the nurse kept asking if I had any tingling or numbness. I now wonder if she knew but wasn’t to say, three days later went back into hospital for blood test and yes calcium low. I was given three month supply of calcium. Tested and calcium within the range! No more follow up.
As the years progressed I felt so weird. Heart palpitations, tingling, cold feet and hands, anxiety to the point of jumping at my indicators on dark mornings. The palpitations at night were so severe I thought I was having a heart attack, brain fog was seriously impacting on every aspect of life. Everyone including GP put this down to circumstances. I continued to travel to work from a longer distance and survived each day like walking through thick mud. I was given Betnovate for my hands? Two lots of counselling for the anxiety! I didn’t trouble the GP often but these were the results of my visits, until I collapse in a theatre. Went to GP she did all my bloods included calcium. Wednesday night prepping for work the next day I get an urgent call from the GP to get to hospital immediately as my calcium was dangerously low. Panicked enough to know not to drive I call my in-laws to take me to hospital. This was nearly 5 years after thyroidectomy! Why when presenting with these symptoms previously didn’t a GP say ‘oh she’s had a thyroidectomy, let’s check PTH and calcium’?
After being admitted to hospital the next day during the DR rounds after completing 2 infusions, he said, ‘ oh your lucky endocrinology is my thing, I don’t think your PTH needs checking you’ll be fine – paused – but let’s do it anyway.’
PTH Nil!
Well, nearly six years later I’m a model patient – checked only every six month to a year by endocrinologist, I ask for the blood test papers when I feel unwell, explain to different GPS while they look up symptoms and solutions. (No face to face for two years due to cancellations and Covid.)
Thank goodness for the Parathyroid website and the work of Liz Glenister and her team. I am more informed, a bit more assertive and feel a sense of community with folk who are in a similar situation. I have learnt about supplements (D3 and magnesium) making a huge difference to my quality of life and how to mange life through this group more than any visit to GP or Endo sadly.
Can’t wait for home tester. Thank you for reading.