The Parathyroid Forum

[Admin]

Weight Loss & Parathyroid surgery (Parathyroidectomy).

Before surgery, I had extreme bouts of weight loss - losing weight without trying.
This was followed by weight gain with weight loss being stubborn despite trying to exercise and watch what I eat.
Following surgery for Primary Hyperparathyroidism by removal of the parathyroid tumour (parathyroidectomy) I've found I was able to shed the weight a lot more easily and the muscle mass I lost has built back up.
Anyone else have problems with weight gain / weight loss before and after parathyroid surgery?

Simon

[kathy]

I need to lose a fair amount of weight and hope that now that my hyperparathyroidism is presumably "cured" that I'll have the energy to get back into shape. I love exercise but have done nothing in 6 months. Haven't been able to lose anything during the past two years, but I blamed it on turning 50. I was diagnosed in 2009 w/ HPT and hope that this is the reason I haven't been able to lose!

[LoriO]

Simon, I gained weightover the last 2 years and in spite of going to the gym and working out, it would NOT come off! It was actually due to an incident at the gym where I passed out and hit my head that the hyperparthyroidism was discovered.

Just started back seriously working out at the gym last week so really hoping to start seeing the weight come off. Will let you know in a few weeks how things are going

[Jane]

I gained so much weight in the years pre dx. Now I am on the other side the weight is starting to shift. I am more active -true. I am able to walk as there is no pain. But that doesn't explain the weight loss though.

[ditalini]

I am hoping that having this surgery will make weight loss easier. I've been on and off WW for the last 5 years, walked at least 3 miles almost every day, and I never lost a pound. I am using Calorie Count now, more for nutrition than for calories, but I can see I routinely eat less than 1200 cal/day. I'd love to have the "old" me and not an "old me" back.

[Admin]

Hi,

I really did have problems losing weight before surgery, so I gave up trying.
Soon after surgery the weight started to come off, way more easily without having to try very hard.
High PTH levels work against the bodies ability to lose weight and taking the tumour out stops these high PTH levels and allows us to lose weight again.
I'm sure that you'll find that it works for you too.

Simon

[Rach]

Simon, you've given me hope that after surgery I might be able to shift the last stone and a bit I need to lose to get me back to my pre-pregnancy self!Having two babies in 18 months left me feeling so unlike myself so Ive been dieting for around 3 months. Ive lost just over 2 stone, but its been hard going and its slowing down now. I used to be able to lose weight quite easily if I watched what I ate and was active, but recently that hasn't helped. How can something so small cause so much trouble??!!!! Rach

[NancyMI]

Simon,
Like you I have had problems of weight loss. This is the second bout for me in 2 years. I am having problems with loss of appetite. I have not had surgery yet. The PTH just keeps going up and the symptoms are getting worse especially the ability to concentrate and problems with sleeping.
The last time this happened to me my clothes became so loose I had to give up wearing some of them.
I have to force myself to eat high calorie foods like eggs, gluten free bread and potatoes.
Although these glands are so small they sure can cause a lot of problems.

Nancy