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Preparing for your appointment

By Mayo Clinic staff

In most cases, elevated calcium is detected by blood tests your doctor has ordered as part of a routine screening, a diagnostic workup for an unrelated condition, or a diagnostic workup to identify the cause of very general symptoms.

Talk to your doctor about test results if they show you have high levels of calcium. Questions you might ask your doctor include:

  • Do I have hyperparathyroidism?
  • What test do I need to confirm the diagnosis or determine the cause?
  • Should I see a specialist in hormone disorders (endocrinologist)?
  • If I have hyperparathyroidism, do you recommend surgery?
  • What alternatives do I have to surgery?
  • Do you have printed material about hyperparathyroidism that I can take home with me?

In order to understand the effect of hyperparathyroidism on your overall health, your doctor may ask you questions about possible mild signs or symptoms, including:

  • Depression
  • Aches and pains
  • General feeling of being unwell
  • Forgetfulness
  • Excessive urination

Your doctor may ask you additional questions about what medications you're taking and what your diet is like to help determine if you get adequate amounts of calcium and vitamin D.

Tests and diagnosis Complications
References
  1. Hyperparathyroidism. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://www.endocrine.niddk.nih.gov/pubs/hyper/hyper.htm. Accessed March 3, 2011.
  2. El-Hajj Fuleihan G. Diagnosis and differential diagnosis of primary hyperparathyroidism. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 1, 2011.
  3. El-Hajj Fuleihan G. Clinical manifestations of primary hyperparathyroidism. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 1, 2011.
  4. Potts JT. Diseases of the parathyroid gland and other hyper- and hypocalcemic disorders. In: Fauci AS, et al. Harrison's Online. 17th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2903222&searchStr=hyperparathyroidism#2903222. Accessed Feb. 28, 2011.
  5. El-Hajj Fuleihan G. Pathogenesis and etiology of primary hyperthyroidism. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 1, 2011.
  6. Fitzgerald PA. Hyperparathyroidism. In: McPhee SJ, et al. Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment. 50th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2011. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=14894&searchStr=hyperparathyroidism. Accessed March 1, 2011.
  7. Silverstein SJ. Management of primary hyperthyroidism. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 1, 2011.
  8. Estrogen and progestin combination (Ovarian hormone therapy) (Oral route). Micromedex Healthcare Series. http://www.micromedex.com. Accessed March 3, 2011.
  9. Bisphosphonates. Micromedex Healthcare Series. http://www.micromedex.com. Accessed March 3, 2011.
  10. Dietary supplement fact sheet: Vitamin D. Office of Dietary Supplements. http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-QuickFacts. Accessed March 3, 2011.
  11. Dietary supplement fact sheet: Calcium. Office of Dietary Supplements. http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Calcium-QuickFacts. Accessed March 3, 2011.
DS00396 May 13, 2011

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