Kate Flucker
Kate has had a very long journey following a failed parathyroidectomy nearly 2 decades ago. She joined us when we set up in September 2014 after originally meeting in the US group Parathyroid Disease Support and Awareness. We have followed her journey through 2 more surgeries. Despite being told by some surgeons that her level of 2.38mmol/l, with slightly elevated PTH and vitamin D within range, was unlikely to be hyperparathyroidism, she did not give up. Kate endured over 30 years of kidney stones (over 75 of them). Kate had a second unsuccessful surgery by Mr. Dominique Byrne on Tuesday, June 12th, but is optimistically looking forward to a third, and hopefully final, surgery before the end of the year (2018).
Third time lucky for Kate. Mr. Byrne was determined to find the elusive adenoma. At kate's post-op appointment, he revealed he found more than he expected to, much more!

Kate found out on 20th March from her pathology report, that Mr. Byrne removed 6 adenomas! 5 small and 1 large. He suggested that during Kate's 1st exploratory op, somehow a parathyroid adenoma split and apparently once split, they double, and though it explained why they did not show up on scans. They were not found when he first operated on Kate. She was also told pathology revealed she had Hashimoto's, which was never diagnosed, as well as thyroid cancer which came as a great shock to Kate, but since he removed her thyroid, no further treatment required.
Kate is really enjoying life again finally after 18 years of being unwell...
Clare Williams - Clare's excitement is contagious and we are so happy for her!

Clare really listened and took our post-op advice: Take 3 weeks off work, rest and allow your body to come to terms with the hormonal rebalance. Listen to your body and have calcium, magnesium and vitamin D to hand to assist with bone resorption and symptoms of low calcium. If you are taking calcium and or vitamin D, you should also take magnesium. Enjoy ticking off those symptoms as they disappear. Go easy on yourself, people recover at different rates.
'If you're pre-op, please please don't give up on yourself. Give yourself a break. You're sick. Really sick. Use your time wisely and know in your heart that it's only temporary'.
'You WILL get there! You WILL be your old self once again. The journey on the other side has its ups and downs too, but it's much happier on this side! Can't wait to see you all here! Sending much love to you all! Keep fighting 'pre-oppers'. Your time will come'.
Trupti Dasigi Moore
The first holiday that I have really truly enjoyed for YEARS! With my beautiful boy 😎💖 in Lanzarote
John Dennick.
Surgery December 2017 QE Birmingham. In September 17, he wrote: 'All I know is any trace of the person I used to be Is gone I don't want to talk to anyone, feel black and empty at the moment'
December 17: Hi all I'm on the other side! Surgery took about 2.5 hrs. The adenoma found on ultrasound was 4 x 3 cm like a golf ball!! He found a second adenoma hidden behind it that was about half that size.

Alison Ayres
5 days after parathyroidectomy, then 8 months later after a 4-week wild swimming tour of Europe.


Read Alison's story on our Case Stories Page. The difference in 'Quality of Life' is astonishing for many post op and Alison is literally glowing with health.
Incredible and lovely for us to see. These pictures inspire us not to give up fighting for surgery.
Lisa Greene:
Well, thank god for that.
Parathyroidectomy successful. I am so thankful right now. I don't have any details yet but it was a long day with a few hiccups but the main thing is they got it wherever it was.
Feeling thankful in Dublin



Thanks to Nik Thomson for asking his surgeon Justin Morgan and team to take these amazing photographs 27 June 2017 of his parathyroidectomy!

The adenoma attached to the parathyroid gland was 1 gram in weight



Points West News Story with Bristol Parathyroid Surgeon Justin Morgan discussing Primary Hyperparathyroidism
Molly Simmons...
What a difference after 10 weeks

2 days after parathyroidectomy

Lorraine Shuker @ 6 months post op: Mr Sweed at Leighton Hospital in Cheshire deserves a Gold star for this little incision."

Hubby is now 2 weeks post-op. He felt so brilliant after a few days off work that he went back within a week of the op. This was against the advice of Mr Jani (he recommended 2 weeks off) and just about everyone else but what can you do.

Amanda Botterill
Pre op photo October 2016
5 Days post op (April 2017



September 2017.
Amanda has a keloid scar. Her surgeon prescribed hydrocortisone cream and silicone dressing. We will update.


Jane Allen Ex-Askew June 2017
Some fleeting moments of my usual hand and feet pain but the foggy hard to concentrate brain symptoms have gone! I can actually read instructions today without re-reading several times
Dawn Austin lives in the UK but struggling to get a diagnosis she ventured to NPC Florida to get her life back in January 2017.
1 hour before surgery.....

10 days post op!

Carolyn Jenkins: June 2017
Steri strips off! Healing well, can't quite believe how small the incision is given that the para measured 4.5 cm. 6 days post op and feeling a little better each day.


Jennifer Holloway McCurtrey: Two days post op... Then 18 days later!
I am gaining more energy every day, no longer have hip/bone/muscle pain, depression has lifted, and my brain fog is slowly disappearing. Don't give up! I am here to tell you that there is hope! This is me two days after surgery and today 04/09/16

Lori Pollock-Sweet

Two weeks after surgery
and before.

Nicola Mott - Before and After Parathyroidectomy

Meg Woodcraft:
I'm 7 weeks and 2 days post op. Brain fog lifted immediately!! The lights went on and have been ever since...

My focus and clarity are back and I feel able to engage socially. I drove to Bristol and back from Essex the other week. Something I hadn't done for a couple of years..