Jun 11, 2021 09:52AM alicebastable wrote:

The scans look at things in your body in different ways. I had a CT scan last Friday. Today I had a PET scan to follow up since there were areas of concern on my CT. But there was a non-contrast CT done today as part of the PET scan. When I asked about it, the technician said it's to get a perfect line-up of the body. When I was first diagnosed with two simultaneous cancers in 2018, I had CT and bone scans, each looking for different things.

I'm curious if your insurance covers things like PET scans when it's the patient requesting it? Mine is very strict about medical necessity.

Jun 11, 2021 10:29PM alicebastable wrote:

Hmm, you must have good insurance. Mine always asks for authorization before paying for scans (or part of, I had a large portion to pay for today's PET scan) even though I've had more than one type of cancer.

Jul 8, 2021 08:01AM - edited Jul 8, 2021 08:02AM by rosie24

Well I had blood work done to prepare for upcoming endocrinologist appointment in August. It's early but i worked it in with other bloodwork I get regularly. Both PTH and calcium are in the normal range somehow. PTH was 80, high end of the range is 88. Last check was 150. Calcium 10.2, shows as within the range, has been as high as 11. Has anyone experienced these wide swings? I was sure I was going to request a referral for a surgeon, or at least scans to look for the problem parathyroid(s). But now I have no real reason to??

Jul 8, 2021 11:09AM ceanna wrote:

Rosie, I had wide swings which gradually got higher. Anything over 10 for calcium is a concern to be explored. Like SeeQ, I had normal Sestamibi and ultrasound, but ultimately specialist found an para adenoma. Immediately, actually during surgery when they tested again for blood calcium, it was in the 9s, and has remained there ever since. Endocrinologists tend to want to watch and wait, but you know your levels each test, and if other things point in the direction of less bone density (I had early osteopenia which is reversing) and beginning kidney issues) be sure to force the issue with your docs.

Jul 8, 2021 08:38PM ceanna wrote:

SeeQ, all the best for a successful surgery. I hope your calcium levels drop as quickly as mine did after the removal of one para. Please keep us up to date on your surgery schedule. The surgery procedures take a short time, but they do check calcium levels during surgery to determine how many of your paras they need to remove. Once your level drops, they know they've found all involved, so that takes a little more time in surgery room itself. My recovery from that surgery was very quick.