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UCLA Health - Taking Calcium After Parathyroid Surgery | UCLA Endocrine Center

Thumbnail of the video “UCLA Health - Taking Calcium After Parathyroid Surgery | UCLA Endocrine Center”
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Author: UCLA Health
Categories: Health
Tags: health
Views: 2 · Last viewed: 2026-10-16 15:01 UTC

Short Summary

Main recommendation: After parathyroid surgery, take prescribed calcium supplements (typically Tums calcium carbonate) as directed by your surgeon, because removing the parathyroid glands can drop blood calcium levels. Watch for symptoms of low calcium and contact your surgeon or endocrinologist if they appear or if you need to take more than prescribed.

Key Points

  • Parathyroid glands control calcium levels, so removing one or more of them after a parathyroidectomy commonly causes blood calcium changes.
  • UCLA Health typically prescribes calcium carbonate (Tums) and may add vitamin D, which may help the body absorb calcium better.
  • Only about 10 percent of dietary calcium is absorbed normally; calcitriol, an activated form of vitamin D, can roughly double absorption to about 20 percent.
  • Early warning signs of low calcium are numbness and tingling around the lips, in the fingers, or in the toes; untreated, this can progress to muscle cramps or spasms.
  • Calcium is usually reduced gradually over two to six weeks of recovery until patients stop it entirely.

Details Worth Noting

  • Concrete instructions: Take calcium exactly as your surgeon specifies for dose and frequency. Usually regular-strength 500 mg Tums tablets are used, and stores may also sell extra-strength 1,000 mg tablets. For the first two weeks, up to 12 Tums per day may be needed, typically spread across multiple doses throughout the day.
  • If you notice lip, finger, or toe numbness or tingling, you may take one or two additional Tums to feel better, then contact your surgeon or endocrinologist.
  • Call your surgeon if you are taking more Tums than prescribed, since it is possible to take too much calcium (per Dr. Zonaco's instructions).
  • Expect a two- to six-week recovery period, after which your dose is typically reduced step by step before stopping.
  • The video states this information is general; your specific medical history determines your personalized plan, so follow your own surgeon's or endocrinologist's advice.
  • The video does not give a specific dose for vitamin D or calcitriol; whether to take them depends on individual circumstances.

Bottom Line

Stick closely to your surgeon's calcium schedule after parathyroid surgery, watch for tingling or cramping, and call your care team rather than adjusting the dose on your own.