Parathyroid Disease

For everyone that has known me, Margaret Corry, for the past several years, you all know that I have been struggling with increased pain, fatigue, extreme depression, etc. 

Now, after having Parathyroid Surgery by Dr. James Norman, Norman Parathyroid Center, my life has changed.  www.parathyroid.com.

Many people suffer from the above symptoms (Fibromyalgia) and, like me, the doctors just continued to treat with drugs, drugs and more drugs.  I chose to take this year and find out what was wrong with me.  I went to several doctors and several thousand dollars later, I was just given Oxycodone to relieve the pain.

How do you get your life back?  Research!  Don't take the doctor's word when you still feel bad.  Demand the tests.  Demand blood work.  Demand what you are paying for!  If you don't get it.... FIRE YOUR DOCTOR!

It was 17 years ago that I started to feel bad.  I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, complicated by degenerative disk disease and obesity.  The obesity was bad, but no matter how hard I tried, I wasn't able to lose weight.  The pain stopped me from exercising.  As time went by, 10 years later, I was suffering worse.  Everyone telling me to just work harder so I wouldn't have extra time on my hands to think about this.  Friends wishing I would just shut up when they asked me how I was doing... and I TOLD them.  My father thinking that I was just lazy and this was all in my head.... THEY COULD NOT IMAGINE what I was going through.  How could they?  I didn't even know WHY I was going through this.

Doctor after doctor after doctor kept telling me, there is nothing we can do.  More medication.  Finally, after being disabled from a horse accident, I gave up.  Ready to succumb to living dependent on my family, being drug-induced and not being able to live my life... I met Gretchen Legler, ARNP.

Gretchen saw the struggle.  She tried for several months to get my high blood pressure under control.  She witnessed the fatigue, she saw me getting older and older with each appointment.  She witnessed the anxiety attacks that I was suffering and she took the time to send me to a Neurosurgeon that said he couldn't help.  She then sent me to Pain Management that could only help through Epidurals.  Finally, when she saw that the other doctors were all prescribing medications to "cover" up the symptoms - she ran the PTH test. 

It wasn't that high, but high enough for her to follow up with the calcium tests.  I was then sent to an Endocrinologist that wouldn't not pursue the necessary tests for Hyperthyroidism.  Instead, he guessed at Cushings.  Then pursued the Sleeping disorder theory.  Of course I am sure he wanted diabetes to be thrown in there so he could make some more money off of be, but I was a relatively healthy fat person.  He prescribed a CPAP and 100,000 units of Vitamin D.  When I asked why he wouldn't look into Parathyroidism, he told me I didn't have the symptoms.  He was sure it was sleep apnea.

Frustrated, feeling like I was just going to die this way, no more energy to even do my laundry, extreme forgetfulness, memory loss, hair loss, high blood pressure - I got on the internet and research all of my symptoms.  The one condition that met the majority of my symptoms was Hyperparathyroidism. 

I went back to my Family Practitioner.  I asked if they could request a DEXA scan and a Throat Scan.  Both came back with the possibility that I have a thyroid tumor.  Not knowing where to go next, I contacted the Norman Parathyroid Center.

I was met with the most helpful staff, via email.  They pretty much directed me to what tests I needed by explaining that these were diagnostic tools.  Again, I went back to my Family Practitioner and requested more blood work and tests to be sent to Dr. Norman.

Long story short, I needed surgery.  It was the last step before I completely gave up.  There was a stumbling block... I had to pay a $750 consultation fee.  No exceptions.  No fee, no consultation.  Now I felt more helpless than ever before.  I didn't have the money.  As most of you who know me... most of my work is given away.  Through the grace of God, and my friends, the money came. 

Before I even paid the consultation fee, I received a call from the Parathyroid Center and they confirmed that I would be a good candidate for the surgery.  They told me that within days, I would have less pain and my energy would come back.  Ha!  How could that be?!  I went ahead, against my father's decision, to set the date for surgery.  I continued to research and tried every way to justify that this was just a money-maker - but I couldn't verify that.  Most all reviews pointed to being the absolute answer.  I was not going to base an opinion on the doctor before I met him.  After all... couldn't I leave the hospital if I didn't like the doctor?

October 27.  Two of my best friends got up at 2:00 in the morning to take me to Tampa General Hospital to have surgery.  We got there at 5:30am.  There they fell asleep in the waiting room until I was called in.

Everyone at the hospital were so kind and helpful.  Of course I was nervous and making jokes to cover up my anxiety.  Once I got admitted, I met the doctors.  I was expecting the doctors to be very impersonal.  Dr. Norman didn't appear to be anything other than a VERY knowledgeable surgeon.  I am sure with all the parathyroid surgeries that he does, it must just be like reciting over and over and over.  Once we got to talking, I found that he had a very good sense of humor and tolerated my friends being in the hospital room.  The doctor had me go down to have Sestamibi scans.  This showed the tumor and he then took the time to show it to me on the scan.  He questioned me and talked to me about the surgery and then told me after I had the surgery, I would be cured.  A very bold statement.  And being skeptical after all the other doctors, I was going to wait and see.

After a 15 minute MIRP parathyroid surgery to remove the tumor and about an hour in recovery, I had a photo of my tumor to take home with me.  My incision is only an inch wide.  It is in the crease of my neck and hardly shows except for the bandage.  He then came in and spent another few minutes with me and thoroughly explained what would happen with the calcium production, the other parathyroid glands left.  I had no questions unanswered.

I went home the same day.  I had no restrictions after 24-hours and the only pain I now had was where the muscles in my throat were tender.  My energy level has come back after only 2 days.  I FIRED the doctors that chose to treat me with medications instead of investigating the cause of my problems. 

For those of you that say "any doctor that charges a consultation fee is only in it for the money..." YOU ARE WRONG!  Dr. Norman changed my life on October 27.  Gladly I would have paid the $750 15 years ago, had I only known.  I know that this man cares and is very confident that he is going to improve your life after the surgery!

Want more information?  Contact me!  Contact Dr. Norman at www.parathyroid.com!  Don't stay in pain.  Don't take for granted what God has given you.... THE INTELLIGENCE to make the right decision for your own life.  Don't let the doctors decide for you that you cannot be cured.  Fibromyalgia was my diagnosis since 1990.  Today "I am cured!" 

I am a Graphic Designer/Photographer, I never met Dr. Norman before October 27.  I just feel I needed to share this will all those that are suffering.  Get the right tests done.  If you suffer from Fibromyalgia, see a GOOD Endocrinologist.  There are many out there that just take the easy way out and don't take the time to delve deep into your problems.  

Thank you Norman Parathyroid Center, Dr. Norman, Dr. Politz, Dr. Goodman, all my friends and family and Gretchen Legler (you are an ANGEL on earth).