• If you are scheduled to have thyroid or neck surgery, talk to your surgeon about assurance that steps will be taken during the procedure to avoid damage to your parathyroid glands.

  • If you have had thyroid or neck surgery, be alert for these signs and symptoms:

    • Tingling, burning sensation in fingers, toes, or lips

    • Muscle cramping or twitching

      • If these occur, your doctor can prescribe vitamin D and calcium to minimize the seriousness of this disorder (Mayo-Clinic, 2012b).



  • The main objective is to treat acute complications such as tetany, maintain normal serum levels, and prevent long-term complications.

  • There will be long-term treatment of drug-therapy and nutrition, including follow-up care monitoring the calcium levels three or four times a year.

  • A high calcium diet may be prescribed which includes dark green vegetables, soybeans, and tofu.

    • Foods such as spinach, rhubarb, bran and whole grains REDUCE calcium absorption.

420-promote-bone-health-foods-display.imgcache.rev1330705926641.jpg