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Calcium level high?

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Posted 2/11/2008 7:12 PM (GMT 0)
So I went to my GI for my monthly checkup and my bloodtests came back: my calcium level is high. Which I thought, no biggie, right? Apparently, having too much calcium is not a good thing. So he casually says he's referring me to an endocrinologist. I figured that was a little extreme and asked him why. He said it was just to do some more extensive testing and was not likely even related to my Crohn's issues. So, I Googled...

High calcium is indicative of parathyroid disease. Something crazy like 10 times out of 10 you have to get your parathyroid gland(s) removed. Which sounds like sooo much fun. When does this roller coaster end? Why does my intestines need empathy and want other parts of my body to be dysfunctional too? Anyone have a calcium level too high?

Posted 2/11/2008 10:33 PM (GMT 0)
bump
Posted 2/12/2008 12:57 AM (GMT 0)
interesting...my calcium levels are way low...in fact, I'm diagnosed with osteoporosis....i guess it just goes to show that crohn's really is different for everyone!
Posted 2/12/2008 1:14 AM (GMT 0)
Did a quick search of my lists of complications of crohn's and look what I found:

Crohn's is one of the granulomatous diseases that can cause hypercalcemia.

Look at Table 3 here: Cleveland Clinic: Hypercalcemia

There are several other abstracts describing this particular problem. I think you might be the first person her to have high calcium. Please let us know what they decide is causing the problem.

Posted 2/12/2008 1:37 AM (GMT 0)

Definitely go to the endocrinologist. 

Vitamin D deficiency causes the PTH (parathyroid glands) to rise and become overactive. A good endo will check your PTH, vitamin D, etc. and then recommend what to do next.

With vitamin D deficiency common in the US and in Crohn's patients, every Crohn's patient should probably see an endocrinologist.  

Btw, if you are on Entocort then I do not recommend the typical dosing of 50,000IU vitamin D (ergocalciferol) once or twice a week for 6-8 weeks. Why? Corticosteroids are used to treat people (the very few) who have too much vit D. So I believe Entocort interferes with vit D absorption.

My daughter's own dose of 50000IU weekly caused high liver enzymes while she was on 6 mg Entocort. Worse, not long after she stopped the high dosage her vit D plummeted even though she was taking a maintenance dose of 800IU vit D3, daily.

Through trial and error she discovered the only way she can keep the PTH under control is to take at least 1800IU vit D3 daily. 

Post Edited (njmom) : 2/11/2008 7:13:27 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 2/13/2008 1:24 AM (GMT 0)
Interesting for me. I've heard that maybe my CD causes my Kidneystones because of too high calcium in the blood. But also the opposite.
BTW, 10 out of 10? A bit extreme!

Matthew
Posted 2/13/2008 3:15 AM (GMT 0)
I've got just the opposite.. low Vitamin D levels. They think I might have some osteopenia already.. and I'm only 23!
Posted 2/13/2008 4:45 PM (GMT 0)
Jenny,
You absolutely need to see an endocronologist, they are the experts with parathyroid issues. My husband has been dealing with parathyroid problems for almost 20 years now. He did have surgery at one point, but they were never able to find all the glands...good thing because he found out you DON'T have to have them removed. He is treated with medication that is fairly new and expensive but it works wonders! And he is followed very closely by his endo via bloodwork and urine testing.
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