Hi,

I just wanted to get an idea of what to do. I have 43, overweight and not fit, but an active mother of two, self employed - admin and courier. I am currently undiagnosed. I have been slightly unwell for the past 4-5 years. Symptoms started with lower back pain, loss of menstral cycle, bloating and gas. My ovaries were looked at and given the all clear. I have had mild infection rate, which they have put down as fatty liver for the past 3 years. 2 years ago I started experiencing mild headaches, like a band around my head. I started to worry when I was waking up to it. I have really bad back aches and then 18 months ago I felt like my shoulders were smaller, I was weaker (I have always been strong) I have had blury vision, pain in my right eye that seems to go to my brain. Im confused, cant concerntrate and experience dizzy spells. I then had two scary bouts of coital headaches. MRI found multiple brain lesions. No lesions in spine. Spinal tap had raised white blood cell count. They pretty much told me to expect MS. I have had so many blood tests I have no idea what I have been tested for and what I havent. I started taking vitamin D, calcium, magnesium tablets, later I also started taking Vitamin B12 complex. I was put on prednesone for a couple of months, had repeat MRIs. I have also had a colonoscopy and gastroscopy - all clear (other than a hiatis hernia and some erosion) My neurologist sent me to an MS specialist who said my lesions were not typical MS. That many people have brain lesions and it doesnt mean anything. My neurologist then deemed me stable and has told me to lose weight and she will see me in 12 months. It has been 3-4 months now and my glands have been up forever and wont go down, my joints and muscles ache so much some days I can barely move, I am so fatigued it is so hard to fuction. My vision is getting worse and I am itchy. My bladder control is getting worse and I am getting more constipated. My urine smells funny, and my gums keep swelling and teeth keep clenching. I went back to my gp and he sent me for bloods and scans on my thyroid, apparenly my thyroid is fine, despite me having a goitre. BUT my bloods have come back that my Calcium levels are too high. He has instructed me to stop taking all supplements and to get another blood test in a months time. I have just googled high calcium levels , and considering my thryoid is apparently fine, I am slightly freaked out. Should I be pushing for any other tests? Or should I just wait. I also have sleep apnea.

Thanks for Listening
Kelly

Hi Kelly

Welcome to NeuroTalk .

Very often elevated blood Ca2+ indicates what is called hyperparathyroidism (the parathyroid glands are not the same as the thyroid gland).

Usually this arises from one or more non-malignant tumours in the parathyroid glands, leading to excess production of parathyroid hormone which in turn leads to elevated blood Ca2+.

Treatment usually involves surgical removal of the non-malignant tumours. The information here might help you in discussing this with your doctor; Parathyroid Glands, Hyperparathyroidism, and Parathyroid Surgery.

Oh ok.... so even though I had an ultrasound on my thyroid, and the doctor has done blood tests on my thyroid, it still can be hyperparathyroidism?
I was just ruling it out because they told me my thyroid was fine. Thankyou so much, this makes me feel much better Cheers!

One thing that you could get your doctor to do is to arrange for a measurement of your blood parathyroid hormone level - any pathology lab should be able to do this.

Usually elevated PTH is strongly diagnostic of hyperparathyroidism.

Key is reducing sugars/refined carbs greatly. For all overall health. Protein, veggies and CLEAN water. Keeping body more alkaline vs too acidic. Sugars make us more acidic.

I agree that eating in a healthy way (lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, sources of complex carbohydrates, fish, lean meat, nuts, eggs, etc) combined with minimal intake of sugar and processed foods is a great plan.

However, this does not have anything to do with the pH of body fluids, which is usually controlled by well-understood physiology. Sometimes the pH of body fluids can be abnormally low - this is called acidosis. Most commonly it reflects lung problems ("respiratory acidosis") or kidney problems ("metabolic acidosis") - Acidosis: Causes, Symptoms & Diagnosis.

While eating in a healthy way is good, this has nothing to do with the pH of body fluids - The Alkaline Diet Myth: An Evidence-Based Review.

Hi Kiwi,
Thanks for explaining pH of blood and how it is not related to diet.
Thanks for the links.

You have been diligently trying to correct this misinformation, repeatedly, for a long time now. I appreciate your continued efforts. It has been difficult to reason with many people on this topic, everywhere I go, except with science-minded people (willing to look at the science).

I had a debate today with someone (meaning well) who was giving a friend of mine, suffering ovarian cancer, a very hard time about her diet. It was all based upon this myth. My friend with ovarian cancer does just fine with her diet and follows the guidelines of her GYN-ONC. This other person likely meant well, yet came across as quite overly zealous, disrespecting boundaries, and would not listen to any reasoning about the body's built-in mechanisms for controlling pH.

I am all for integrative approaches -- based upon truths. I have also heard this myth for so many years now. I thank you for helping to clarify the truth around how pH is regulated by the body.

Thanks, too, for your many other contributions to this site.

Thankyou everyone. I really appreciate it. I will try to be patient and wait out the month and then get my parathyroid tested, and in the meantime I really need to try and give my diet an overhaul

Kelly, I am guessing from the "bigpond" part of your screen-name that you live in Australia.

If so, it might help if you saw an Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD). APDs are qualified health professionals who work with their clients about food things.

An APD will be able to review what you eat with you and suggest constructive changes.

You can find an APD here; Find an Accredited Practising Dietitian | Dietitians Association of Australia.

I just posted info about Osteoporosis treatment and the problem with high phosphorous and low calcium in one's body and the health issues associated with this high phos. I think I posted my info in the general health section.

Dr. Williams says in his recent Alternatives Newsletter and I write a comment here: When your body detects high phosphorous levels in the blood stream, accompanied by low calcium, certain events are triggered. First, the parathyroid glands begin to produce additional amounts of PTH. This increased parathyroid activity is called secondary hyperparathyroidism. In an effect to balance the amount of phosphorous by increasing calcium, the parathyroid hormone causes a release of calcium from your bones.

So there is a connection to all this parathyroid and phosphorous and low calcium.

Many today are consuming too many phosphates, sodas being the big offender. Processed foods are high in phosphates. Many health problems are being caused by this imbalance in the body. Today more than every, in the last 3 decades.

Maybe Kiwi can do his scientific sleuth work and add more on the phosphorous issue.

Maybe all this info has no bearing, but thought I'd post it anyway. So much our doctors don't come up with in all their so called tests.