Silversea Water Cooler: Welcome! Part Five

[mysty]

J...very envious here! Delicious meal, sparkling bubbly, beautiful scenery and enchanting company! Enjoy!

[UKCruiseJeff]

J...very envious here! Delicious meal, sparkling bubbly, beautiful scenery and enchanting company! Enjoy!

 

 

 

.. thanks .... and a few clouds have now gone and been replaced by a cigar and some grappa ... :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[jpalbny]

Looks fun! I'm about to go eat my lunch. No cigars or grappa I'm afraid. Just more work...

 

But. One week! Today I booked airport parking and next I'll start booking city cards for those places where we need them. Copenhagen, Hamburg, and Amsterdam for sure. Will see about others.

 

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[Lois R]

Hi Friends, well, seems now I have a "PARA THYROID" issue...….JP, I went to a specialist today and he explained things (still trying to understand)…...this is not the thyroid....but Parathyroid and he showed me on picture where the 4 modules are located and said normally there is 1 that is basically out of wack:eek:….so now I have to go have bone density test AND a Parathyroid Scan...and he said "usually" the only way to get the problem fixed is to have surgery to have the module removed:(…….I would think surgery would be the last resort...….sigggghhh…...so the kidney stone surgery at the beginning of the year and now I am being told I still have issues:mad:……...sorry for the depressing post.

 

OH, I did ask the Dr the cause and the result of having this issue.....the 64,000.00 question......they don't know the cause and the results can be "brittle bones" and too much calcium can cause more kidney stones.....(which is what I had the surgery for at the beginning of the year) when I had that stone removed.

Edited August 29, 2018 by Lois R

[jpalbny]

Lois, sorry to hear. But hyperparathyroidism is fairly common and sometimes it can be managed with medications. It dependes on a few things.

 

Basically the four tiny parathyroid glands are involved in calcium balance. They secrete a substance called PTH when calcium levels are low, and this PTH harvests calcium from your bones in order to restore normal calcium balance. Normally they shut down when calcium rises, but sometimes one misbehaves and doesn't shut down until the calcium level is a bit higher than usual. This is the cause of 90% of hyperparathyroidism - one bad apple out of 4.

 

Because extra calcium is being harvested by an excess of PTH, it causes two main problems. One, the bones can become weaker from losing too much calcium - thus the bone scan to see if this is a problem for you. Two, the kidneys work extra to get rid of excess calcium, and this can result in kidney stones from excess calcium concentration in the urine. It seems likely that these problems are related.

 

If the excess activity is localized to one gland (the scan will show this with pretty good accuracy), then it is a fairly simple procedure to remove the offending gland. The surgery has come a long way since I was a resident. Now they can do a blood test during surgery to determine almost instantly whether they have fixed the PTH problem by removing the gland that the scan says is abnormal. In the early 90s when I trained, it was less precise.

 

It is possible that all 4 are involved (10%). In that case the surgery would be different, but let's not get into that unless necessary.

 

Whether or not you need surgery vs. medication depends on how severe the overactivity is, and how badly it's affected your body. For isntance, if the bone density is very low most will recommend surgery to prevent further loss. If the calcium is quite high, vs only a little high, a similar thought. The fact that you've had a major kidney stone might sway them towards surgery. But if the overactivity is mild and damage is minimal, some would recommend a medication called cinacalcet (Sensipar), which can often make the overactive gland more responsive to calcium levels, and shut down at normal levels again, like it should.

 

But if surgery is needed (which I know you must be dreading), it really is usually a minor procedure and it will almost certainly resolve the problem. Make sure you go to a surgeon who does the procedure frequently. That will make a world of difference; you don't want somebody who does a few here and there. Experience is key.

 

Good luck and keep us posted. We are here for you and thinking of you.

[Lois R]

Hi JP, thanks for all your input. :) My numbers have been going up and up...and up.....and he did explain it is usually one gland that is funky...…...so the numbers are not good:rolleyes:…….I took my blood tests from my recent visit to the kidney guy and they show numbers going back to Dec....then again mid year and now.....well, the number jumped a lot from the last visit to this one.

So, if I choose not to have surgery? Just more chances of another stone? And my bones will get more brittle?

[jpalbny]

Lois, it can also damage the kidneys in other ways (besides stones). If the rate of rise in the numbers is so rapid that is another thing to consider. From everything you are telling me, it sounds like your doctors are right on this and asking the right questions, doing the right tests. Keep us posted and good luck.

[mysty]

Greetings Coolers!

 

Best wishes Lois!

 

Today's funny comes courtesy of Miss S......love her sense of humour :).........

 

 

 

Have a great day all!

[Lois R]

Good morning, thanks Mysty. And JP, thanks for the additional input. I know the kidney's are essential......will just have to wait and see what the scan says.:eek:

[UKCruiseJeff]

Good morning all :)

 

A very thought provoking funny M! We had never thought of it. Good luck Lois.

 

The pilot in neighbouring Dartmouth did a good job ...

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6112663/Ahoy-Colossal-539ft-cruise-liner-ploughs-four-yachts.html

 

An overcast day on the balcony hasn’t stopped our daily Planters. Fresh supplies of both red and white rum and fruit juices delivered today!

 

 

 

 

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[jpalbny]

Yesterday was 96F/35C and humid! Didn't rain until after 10PM so the evening was unpleasant. We are going through the Tanqueray and Fever Tree tonic water like it's... water? Very refreshing!

 

Today is the last relatively calm day before the weekend on call starts. Then after I work the weekend, Tuesday and Wednesday are jam-packed, so they can squeeze me one last time before vacation.

 

Oh well. Chris found a coupon for 10% off parking at Newark so that might buy us an extra glass of wine somewhere. [emoji16] We will start laying out clothes and packing this weekend! Can't believe it's almost here.

 

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[Sheltieluv]

Lois, I was in your shoes about 2 years ago. I had one whacked-out parathyroid which was causing elevated calcium levels, vitamin d deficiency, brittle bones, etc.

I had surgery, which in my case also involved taking a golf ball sized nodule off my thyroid, so I had to stay overnight in the hospital. The nodule was benign, thankfully. Surgery would have been much less invasive if it had just been the parathyroid, so if you need to have the culprit removed, don't worry.

 

Since that one "bad" gland was removed, I feel so much better overall. It's hard to explain, but I feel more like my "former" self. I thought I was just getting older and it was the new normal for me....lack of energy, kind of grumpy (Not me, in the past anyway), and plain just not feeling "good." These are all very vague symptoms and easy to dismiss as part of the aging process.

 

Now, almost two years later, my d levels are great, calcium is normal, and my last bone scan actually show improvement in my bone density.

 

JpAlbany has given you the same info that my endocrinologist and surgeon gave me, and I know all this stuff can be scary. As someone who has experienced this, I felt the same way. The key is to find a surgeon who does this type of surgery all the time.

 

Good luck, and I hope all turns out well for you.:)

[Mudhen]

We too are starting to "fuel the rockets" since we can't discuss anything SS.....! Clothes sorting (should I bring that? no, maybe this?) has begun. I know some folks, ladies basically, that pack a complete outfit(s) per day of a trip. "I'll wear this one on Tuesday, etc.". I can't do that! I like choices and alternatives!

We're thinking of you Lois! It's going to be ok! I just know it! Keep the faith, baby!

Have been drooling over Jeffys yummy balcony treats, but oh how I long for some champers....haven't had any in a while!

Have a good day everyone!

[spinnaker2]

Lois,

DH had the surgery. We drove to Tampa General to have it done, Dr. James Norman, the guru. I am certain that there are other "gurus" in your area, but if not Tampa isn't that far from you. We arrived a day early and the surgery was over and done quickly the next morning. I drove back with DH in the pax seat gently dozing. He was back to work without any problems in a day or so. I don't think he was in any discomfort, just the anxiety had taken a small toll.

All went well and DH has had no further issues. He does have to take calcium now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[spinnaker2]

Mudhen.

Houston, throttle up.

 

 

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[mysty]

J...you didn't share your Planters with the pilot in neighbouring Dartmouth did you? :) Seems he wasn't exactly on his game!

 

Wishing for a smooth lift off for all heading up, up and away!

[UKCruiseJeff]

Thanks Mudhen ... it is very difficult contemplating alternatives to the balcony. A drinks fridge in the downstairs “larder” full of lovely Bredon and some Provence rosé and a Sub with lovely freezing Gösser and good fresh daily landed fish etc! Re your comments about what is and isn’t allowed. It is new and unchartered ground and I’m hoping that a degree of obvious common sense will be applied and that any simple one liner passing comments loosely connected with stuff like prep and looking forward to SS that would be nuts to start a whole new thread for would be tolerated. We will see.

 

M, I was thinking about the conversation between the captain and the pilot. “Thanks so much for your help, I don’t know where we would be without your expertise, skill and local knowledge ...... “ Their regatta is on this weekend and I’m looking forward to seeing the fireworks from The Balcony!

 

A glass of red wine whilst cooking lunch .......

 

 

 

 

 

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Edited August 30, 2018 by UKCruiseJeff

[Sheltieluv]

JP--I just realized I spelled out "Albany" in my post to Lois, rather than JPAlbny. Sorry! I graduated from SUNY Albany, so hence the mistake. Guess I'll always have some SUNY Albany fountain running through my veins...:D

[jpalbny]

No problem, Sheltieluv. Common typo on CC, and it means the same thing anyway, so certainly no apology is needed.

 

ALB is the local airport code for Albany which is why I picked it, and the NY is just me being redundant I guess. But that's the way I made up my screen name years ago. And yeah, we still live here.

 

I went to SUNY also, but for grad school. I did their Masters in Public Health program over on the Rensselaer side of the river, after I'd finished med school and residency. But never anything on their main campus.

[Sheltieluv]

I used to laugh at my friends from Long Island who called Albany "upstate." I grew up near Massena, NY, near the Canadian border. Now THAT'S "upstate!" :p

[MLeh]

Morning all.

Just a word to JP to say 'thanks' for sharing your medical knowledge in such an accessible way. I learn so many things here!

[MissSophia]

Hi All.....

 

Such excitement for those on the final countdown to take off! Called my airline today to secure some transfers at Heathrow for November....excellent service that seems to add to the excitement whilst one patiently waits!

 

Sorry to hear of your dilemma Lois...hope everything goes well for you.

 

Love that funny M....drives me nuts when speaking to these people, thankfully today my business insurers called me so l didn’t have to suffer the rigmarole although they still asked for my DOB....I shall await a card🤨

 

Took four paws to the vet today for his annual mot....‘‘twas rather a trial not helped by a Welsh TV crew filming in the village who furry boy took a shine to...just hope they haven’t caught me on camera doing my superwoman impression! Good news was he’s lost 3kilos so we were all happy bunnies.

 

Loving the food offerings Jeffers and the balcony looks it’s usual inviting self with the beautiful views.....

 

Happy Day 😊

[Bill B]

Good (early) Friday morning from Vung Tau. It should be a crazy, long weekend as Vietnamese Independence Day falls on Sunday (hence Monday off) and all the 'tourists' from Saigon descend for their holiday weekend 'beach break'. Also, the Vung Tau 'Sea Festival' is on. At the festival yesterday I bought a goose neck, stream/spray fitting for my kitchen sink faucet... got it home and and found it has fine thread while the tap has coarse thread, plus the diameters are slightly different. :mad::mad:

[Lois R]

Thanks to everyone for the kind words, information and good wishes. I appreciate them all very much.

[spinnaker2]

And now weather in the tropics.

For us a problem.

 

 

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