Jody's Story
“I was running, training, and feeling fit – but a health test revealed something serious.” Super-fit young dad uncovered a rare calcium disorder despite having zero symptoms
Fit, active, and used to pushing himself physically, Jody Williams, 32, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, was the last person who expected anything to be wrong with his health. A committed cyclist, gym-goer and busy dad, he felt strong, energetic, and entirely symptom-free.
Jody only booked a health assessment because it came as part of a work package – a quick, convenient check he assumed would simply confirm he was in good health.
“I was training regularly, feeling good, and had absolutely no symptoms,” he says. “But I thought I’d just check my cholesterol and get a general MOT.”
But that 20-minute appointment ended up uncovering something even the fittest person wouldn’t notice on their own: dangerously high calcium levels that can result in long-term complications – often without a single warning sign.
“My calcium levels were high. It came completely out of the blue,” he explains. “I remember thinking, ‘Hang on… I feel fine. I’m active.’”
A follow-up 24-hour urine test confirmed the elevated calcium, and Jody was referred to his GP, who suspected primary hyperparathyroidism – a hormonal condition that often goes undetected until complications develop.
Primary hyperparathyroidism is known as a “silent” disorder. Many people – especially younger, active individuals – experience no symptoms until the disease has already begun to affect their bones, kidneys or heart.
While the condition is more commonly diagnosed in women, particularly postmenopausal women, it can occur in men and younger adults, sometimes going unnoticed until detected incidentally through routine testing. Studies suggest up to 43% of primary hyperparathyroidism cases may be classified as asymptomatic.
For Jody, his high level of fitness didn’t protect him from the condition. It simply masked it.
“I was doing everything right. Running, staying fit, eating well. And still, something completely invisible was happening,” he says. “It proves just how important these checks are.”
Jody was referred through the NHS for further investigation. He underwent an ultrasound and a specialist nuclear MIBI scan – an imaging procedure normally used to detect overactive parathyroid tissue.
Despite the lack of symptoms, the seriousness of the condition meant surgery was necessary to remove the overactive gland – yet delays stretched the process out over more than two and a half years.
“All the while, I still felt absolutely fine,” he says. “I had no pain, no fatigue, nothing. Without that first Bluecrest test, I would never have known anything was happening inside my body.”
Left untreated, primary hyperparathyroidism can gradually lead to bone thinning (osteoporosis), kidney stones, high blood pressure, heart rhythm problems, and long-term kidney damage.
Because these complications develop slowly, many people don’t realise anything is wrong until the condition has already caused harm.
Jody is now recovering and looking forward to getting back to the activities that define his life – running, gym training and keeping up with his young child.
“I’m a really active person, so not knowing what was going on was scary in hindsight. I could easily have carried on training for years with this building up in the background,” he says.
Jody’s takeaway is clear: feeling well doesn’t always mean you are well. He now encourages others to get checked even if they feel on top of their game.
“I had zero symptoms – not even small ones. If you’re active, you assume you’ll notice if something’s wrong. But that isn’t always true,” he says.
