[Mere]

Well, I have been weathering this stupid arthritis flare and my Rheumatologist called me with the labs. No AI antibodies... so what else is new...

Calcium is. He says my level is too high and I need to have it retested. My question: could parathyroid dysfunction cause small fiber neuropathy over a period of time? Or am I acting like a hypochondriac?

Mere

[glenntaj]

--that parathyroid dysfunction that made your calcium too HIGH would lead to neuropathy, though it is known that too low levels of serum calcium tends to produce tingling, especially around the lips/tongue/mouth.

On the other hand, high serum calcium does warrant further investigation--other than taking a lot of calcium supplements (and not getting enough balancing magnesium), there are some conditions that have that as an ancilliary finding that could also result in neuropathy secondarily, and a subset o these are serious, including a number of osteosclerotic/bone marrow blood cancers, such as myeloma. Don't want to be scary, but it's worth getting tested for immunoglobulin levels and type (looking for rogue antibodies, or M-proteins), and getting the more sensitive calcium ion (Ca++) tests, if you haven't already.

[cyclelops]

Hmm, Mere, get it retested. Glenn is right. If it runs high consistently, you need to be evaluated for diseases that cause that....now and then you get a 'laboma' (lab error) if your blood was not processed properly.

I run a LOW Calcium....(and K+, and bicarb).

I know....when it is me....I have already read about 200 mortal diseases.....hang in there.