MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish

I am trying to be regular about getting a massage once a month, but would love to go weekly. It took me a LONG time to discover what Barbe said, that massage really does go hand-in-hand with chiropractic. Having a heat pack before chiro. can accomplish much the same effect, if you can't do massage. The adjustments just last longer if the muscles are relaxed.

Hey, you know that "Angel's List" here on BCO? Now there's a thread of people giving it the preemptive yay or nay. Just so everyone here who knows me is clear about my wishes, here is what I wrote:

I am another who hopes to never wind up on the "Angel's List." That does not fit me, even in a secular way.

Also, if I don't put myself on a list, I would hope no one appoints themselves to do it for me, alive or dead. Ever.

Eph, Congrats on 7 years cancer-free! Keep doin' what yer doin'.

For ongoing parathyroid investigation, I had to have a DEXA scan. Unlike the regular lumbar and hip scans, I also got my forearm done. My lumbar and hip where about the same as 2 years ago (osteopenia, whatever) but that forearm was a -3.0 and that is showing osteoporosis. So, long story short, my bones ARE suffering from my too-high PTH. Endocrinologist had said, "surgery sooner than later" so next a surgical consult, then plan a surgery for sometime this year. I hate surgeries, but I love getting the bad/malfunctioning stuff taken out. I love getting it taken out in a year when I've already met my deductible and out-of-pocket.

I have a whole rant about having to discover this hyperparathyroidism myself, when my MO and PCP looked at the same blood tests and didn't bat an eye, but I'll spare everyone that. If only I could pay myself.

Mommato3, I get reports of all my blood work. I had calcium levels in the low 10's for about 3 years, and it made me suspicious enough (like you just get suspicious of everything after cancer, right?) to ask for a PTH test. That first PTH was in the "normal" range---but, in truth, I should not have had even that much PTH given the amt. of calcium in my blood. A few mos. later, at endocrinologist, I again had 10.3 calcium and that time was 30 pts. above normal range on my PTH. Hello!

Since you do not have metastatic disease and since your do not have kidney failure (you are not on dialysis, are you?) I would be suspicious enough of your serum calcium number to ask for a PTH (parathyroid hormone blood draw) test. If your MO will not do the test, go to your PCP. It is prudent to have both the calcium and PTH checked on the same date for the best reference, so that would give you the opportunity to have the calcium redone without any supplementing beforehand. I guess supplements could skew the results, but I am thinking that it is a proper functioning parathyroid gland's job to keep your calcium level within a small range regardless of taking a daily supplement.

As always, I have no medical degree or even medical background, so search out some stuff on hyperparathyroidism and if it raises some flags for you, well then, you certainly will have some talking points with your doc. Please do report back. I would be interested to learn what your PTH number is.

As I pointed out before, there is some kind of link between hyperparathyroidism and breast, colon and prostate cancer...so nobody is going off on an unrelated tangent here. It does not hurt us BC women/men to have some "awareness" of it.