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Does Hyperparathyroidism Cause Stomach Pain And Heart Burn?
Question: Will problems with the parathyroid produce periodic symptoms of stomach pain, heart burn, and a general "lousy" feeling? They occur for 2-3 days, then subside. Calcium levels are slightly elevated too. He's been treated for H.pylori a year ago as well. He spent 3 days at the Mayo Clinic in MN to no avail. This guy is pretty tough and I know he's not whining or faking.
Could levels of exposure to Moth Balls create symptoms like this? His hobby room has constant exposure to "fumes" of moth balls. enough so I can't be inside any more than 30 minutes. He's been exposed for 3 years!
Could levels of exposure to Moth Balls create symptoms like this? His hobby room has constant exposure to "fumes" of moth balls. enough so I can't be inside any more than 30 minutes. He's been exposed for 3 years!
Brief Answer:
Hyperparathyroidism can cause his symptoms
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I'm a bit confused about his situation because you are asking about the parathyroid but you mention a visit to Mayo Clinic which implies that such a diagnosis wouldn't have been missed. Slight calcium elevations can be attributed to hyperparathyroidism. I don't know why he'd been treated for H. pylori or why his gallbladder had been removed. If you'd provided the relevant information, things would have been more clear.
Hyperparathyroidism (HT) can cause symptoms like weakness, stomach pain & heart burn (HT predisposes to peptic ulcer), sleepiness, bad mood (depression) , renal colic (stone formation), polyuria (excessive urine output), bone disorders etc. If his calcium is elevated then a parathormone (PTH) testing should help.
His medical history is important, particularly the part that involves the kidneys (chronic renal failure?)
If his calcium and PTH results are not normal then radiological testing should follow.
I do not believe that mothballs have anything to do with his situation. It takes a lot of mothballs to speak about 'exposure'. They can cause acute or chronic intoxication but the common presentation is different (headaches, vomiting, anemia, liver damage etc).
I hope I've helped you understand his situation better.
If you need further clarifications, please let me know.
Kind Regards!
Hyperparathyroidism can cause his symptoms
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I'm a bit confused about his situation because you are asking about the parathyroid but you mention a visit to Mayo Clinic which implies that such a diagnosis wouldn't have been missed. Slight calcium elevations can be attributed to hyperparathyroidism. I don't know why he'd been treated for H. pylori or why his gallbladder had been removed. If you'd provided the relevant information, things would have been more clear.
Hyperparathyroidism (HT) can cause symptoms like weakness, stomach pain & heart burn (HT predisposes to peptic ulcer), sleepiness, bad mood (depression) , renal colic (stone formation), polyuria (excessive urine output), bone disorders etc. If his calcium is elevated then a parathormone (PTH) testing should help.
His medical history is important, particularly the part that involves the kidneys (chronic renal failure?)
If his calcium and PTH results are not normal then radiological testing should follow.
I do not believe that mothballs have anything to do with his situation. It takes a lot of mothballs to speak about 'exposure'. They can cause acute or chronic intoxication but the common presentation is different (headaches, vomiting, anemia, liver damage etc).
I hope I've helped you understand his situation better.
If you need further clarifications, please let me know.
Kind Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
I realize I jumped around too much so let me do it chronologically:
2013: 1) General lousy feeling in and around stomach. Test on Gall Bladder revealed enough info to have it removed. After biopsy, Dr. said it wasn't found to have any abnormalities
2)Next step was a endoscopy which confirmed diagnosis of H.pylori and treated.
3) Symptoms better but not 100% but was able to do all activities
4) last 4 months, same pain, discomfort. Local internal Dr. sent him to Mayo clinic for 3 days of testing. He was sent home with no diagnosis...none!
5) Recently went back to same internal Dr. and had series of blood tests and another endoscopy which yielded no problems related to H.pylori. Blood tests showed elevated levels of calcium, my wife (RN) noticed "calcium" related "boils" on some fingers. Later was told that calcium levels aren't that elevated.
6) Ultrasound was done on neck since he complained about slightly swollen glands in neck. Ultrasound yielded no problems with parathyroid.
6) He realizes that he has to keep pushing and advocating for himself because internal Dr. doesn't seem to be helping
7) New appt trying to made with another internal Dr. but has to wait.
I'm shocked that Mayo sent him home with no diagnosis. He's getting nowhere.
2013: 1) General lousy feeling in and around stomach. Test on Gall Bladder revealed enough info to have it removed. After biopsy, Dr. said it wasn't found to have any abnormalities
2)Next step was a endoscopy which confirmed diagnosis of H.pylori and treated.
3) Symptoms better but not 100% but was able to do all activities
4) last 4 months, same pain, discomfort. Local internal Dr. sent him to Mayo clinic for 3 days of testing. He was sent home with no diagnosis...none!
5) Recently went back to same internal Dr. and had series of blood tests and another endoscopy which yielded no problems related to H.pylori. Blood tests showed elevated levels of calcium, my wife (RN) noticed "calcium" related "boils" on some fingers. Later was told that calcium levels aren't that elevated.
6) Ultrasound was done on neck since he complained about slightly swollen glands in neck. Ultrasound yielded no problems with parathyroid.
6) He realizes that he has to keep pushing and advocating for himself because internal Dr. doesn't seem to be helping
7) New appt trying to made with another internal Dr. but has to wait.
I'm shocked that Mayo sent him home with no diagnosis. He's getting nowhere.
Brief Answer:
Still having some questions. Please read on.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for your input. It was helpful.
So I understand that he had some abdominal complaints which led his doctors remove his gallbladder. What were the findings exactly?
Did the endoscopy reveal an ulcer which would provide a potential explanation for the symptoms? Or was it just the H.pylori test?
I am asking these questions to find some connection between symptoms-treatment-outcome.
For example, if he had no ulcer then his symptoms are unlikely to be caused by his stomach. Helicobacter pylori is a common 'pathogen' that predisposes to ulcers but it is doubtful whether it causes symptoms by itself.
You mentioned 'no diagnosis' from Mayo Clinic. Can you upload the report? I'm curious what happened there. And it will also help me gather information about his tests.
Then the calcium levels were elevated. Elevated calcium levels may vary from an almost normal value to a very high value. Different symptoms (or no symptoms) are expected depending on the value. The aetiology also differs. The negative neck ultrasound does not completely rule out the possibility of an adenoma but is a major indication against it. Also keep in mind that calcium levels may be influenced by the blood drawing procedure and other factors (like the albumin levels).
Can you also upload a photo of those 'calcium boils'? Or check the internet for 'uric acid tophi' and tell me if they are the same. What is his uric acid level?
Has he tried a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) treatment after H.pylori eradication?
I believe that these are important aspects of his medical history that need clarification.
I'll be waiting for your answer, so I can give you a more complete opinion.
Kind Regards!
Still having some questions. Please read on.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for your input. It was helpful.
So I understand that he had some abdominal complaints which led his doctors remove his gallbladder. What were the findings exactly?
Did the endoscopy reveal an ulcer which would provide a potential explanation for the symptoms? Or was it just the H.pylori test?
I am asking these questions to find some connection between symptoms-treatment-outcome.
For example, if he had no ulcer then his symptoms are unlikely to be caused by his stomach. Helicobacter pylori is a common 'pathogen' that predisposes to ulcers but it is doubtful whether it causes symptoms by itself.
You mentioned 'no diagnosis' from Mayo Clinic. Can you upload the report? I'm curious what happened there. And it will also help me gather information about his tests.
Then the calcium levels were elevated. Elevated calcium levels may vary from an almost normal value to a very high value. Different symptoms (or no symptoms) are expected depending on the value. The aetiology also differs. The negative neck ultrasound does not completely rule out the possibility of an adenoma but is a major indication against it. Also keep in mind that calcium levels may be influenced by the blood drawing procedure and other factors (like the albumin levels).
Can you also upload a photo of those 'calcium boils'? Or check the internet for 'uric acid tophi' and tell me if they are the same. What is his uric acid level?
Has he tried a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) treatment after H.pylori eradication?
I believe that these are important aspects of his medical history that need clarification.
I'll be waiting for your answer, so I can give you a more complete opinion.
Kind Regards!
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju
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