Posted by mattdds on January 2, 2004, at 10:42:56
In reply to Almost forgot » Larry Hoover, posted by socialdeviantjeff on January 2, 2004, at 3:15:18
Jeff,
Lar is right, hypercalcemia is a cause for some healthy, but serious concern, especially if they are saying it is way above the norm.
It seems extremely odd that they would jump to the conclusion of depression as a diagnosis when there is a grossly abnormal item in the blood panel. I mean, hypercalcemia is one of the biggest markers of some not-so-friendly diseases. Syncope, BTW, is not usually associated with depression either.
Generally, you would want to rule out a malignancy and primary hyperparathyroidism before looking into anything else. There are other things that can cause hypercalcemia, but those are the two biggies that you worry about when hypercalcemia is present.
Also, one of the major presenting symptoms of hypercalcemia / hyperparathyroidism *is* depression (and other psychiatric disturbances). So this could quite feasably be *causing* your symptoms.
I don't mean to scare you, but, as Larry put it, it's time to become a verrry squeaky wheel. I'm not trying to play doctor here, but those are basic things I had to learn for my pathology course in dental school.
Do what you need to in order to get a sound diagnosis. This could indeed be a serious situation. Again, not to scare you, but certainly cause for some healthy concern.
Best of luck!
Matt
P.S. Also, if you happen to be Mormon (even non-practicing), what about LDS (Mormon) social services? You could see a Mormon ecclesiastical leader (bishop) and tell him about your financial and medical situations and they generally will help you out. They tend to take very good care of their own, and often even "gentiles".
poster:mattdds
thread:294755
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20031218/msgs/295710.html