Question
Hello! I'm planning on getting my Covid-19 vaccine before surgery but I'm a little nervous because I already have lots of symptoms from hypercalcemia like fatigue, gastritis, constipation, bloating and heart palpitations. My immune system appears fine on cbc tests though. Should I expect my symptoms to get tremendously worse in combination with the vaccine temporal symptoms or most patients report is bearable? Thank you!
Answer
Answer authored by
Deva Boone
Deva Boone, MD is the founder of the Southwest Parathyroid Center. As one of the most experienced parathyroid surgeons in the U.S., she has treated thousands of patients with parathyroid conditions.
Great question!
Unfortunately we don’t have enough information on how parathyroid patients react to the vaccine for me to be able to give a definitive answer. A lot of people who get a Covid vaccine do have some temporary side effects, and if you are already feeling bad then that could make you feel worse. Generally, though, the effects of the vaccine are short-lived, and are preferable to the symptoms of actually having COVID, which can last much longer.
Since an operation will temporarily suppress your immune system, it is a good idea to get the vaccine prior to surgery. Ideally, you would want to complete the vaccine shots several weeks before surgery, so you are fully vaccinated when you go into the hospital for the procedure.
