What happens after parathyroid surgery?

Depending on how long you have had a parathyroid tumor(s), your blood calcium level has been high for months or years. It will go down immediately after the operation. Your remaining parathyroid glands have been dormant (asleep) as long as your calcium has been high. It will take a few weeks for your normal parathyroids to ‘wake up’ and start controlling your calcium like they are supposed to. You must take calcium with vitamin D to prevent low calcium which is very dangerous.

If you have developed other problems from your parathyroid tumor, such as high blood pressure, your doctor needs to help regulate your BP medicines. See your doctor for changes that may be occurring post surgery. The tumor that released too much parathyroid hormone is gone and the body will need to adjust to the changes.