Treatments: Hypoparathyroidism

Surgery or trauma to the neck, especially total thyroidectomy and central neck lymph node removal are the usual causes of insufficient parathyroid hormone production (hypoparathyroidism), which may be temporary or permanent.

managing post-operative hypoparathyroidism (abnormally low parathyroid hormone levels)

As with muscles, unused parathyroids atrophy over time. When one parathyroid is over-active, thus raising the calcium level in the blood, the other parathyroid glands appropriately reduce their own production of parathyroid hormone. Once surgery is undertaken and the overactive gland has been removed, the other glands need some time to build up and produce the needed amount of parathyroid hormone. This is typically treated with oral calcium carbonate (such as Tums), but on occasion is treated with progressively more potent medications, such as vitamin D, calcium administer intravenously (while in the hospital), and even synthetic (recombinant) parathyroid hormone (Natpara). In cases of prolonged and presumed permanent parathyroid hormone insufficiency (after thyroidectomy or removal of lymph nodes in the area, for example), a long-term regimen of oral calcium, vitamin D, and if those are not effective, possibly recombinant parathyroid hormone (Natpara) is used. In the short term, low calcium can cause a tingling sensation, muscle spasms, seizures, or irregularities in the heart rhythm; long term low calcium can lead to weak bones.